For most of my life I had no idea how truly unhappy, sad and angry I was. At one point, I began to realize something was “off.”  I just didn’t know what it was, but I just knew I needed to do something different and that started me on the most amazing journey.

The journey began with the idea that I needed to find some sense of happiness. Everything I tried along the way seemed to help in some measure. I became more self aware and started noticing how I was creating my own unhappiness. However, it wasn’t until I found The Work of Byron Katie that things really started to break loose. Before The Work, I blamed my mother for not listening to me and wanting to run my life, my father for abusing and leaving me, my first husband for having an affair, my daughter for not wanting me in her life and blaming me for her problems. I judged my second husband as unenlightened and not loving enough. I saw my son-in-law as trying to control my daughter. Mentally, I attacked my bosses for not taking advantage of what I had to offer. Then I attacked myself for being judgmental and unable to live according to all the spiritual principles I had learned.

By questioning my beliefs through Inquiry those stories have melted away. I find I am a better listener, more understanding, clear, compassionate and, ultimately, kinder to myself and others.

I have discovered that I love my mother, father, daughter, ex-husbands, son-in-law, bosses and myself more than I thought possible. From that loving perspective, I live with an amazing sense of internal peace and deep gratitude.

I have learned to trust the process of Inquiry and have realized that Inquiry held with a loving heart can hold anything!!

What is important to me is how I show up in the world, which, for me, means to be fully present with myself and with you. It also means being able to sit in the questions that arise with all of the accompanying discomfort and uncertainty. Sit in the questions for the love of truth.

The me that shows up as Maggie in this life is mother to beautiful Wendy, mother-in-law to entrepreneur Mike and Grandmother to amazing Callie and Carson. They show me the way.  The human side of me experiences sadness, anger and moments when I behave in the exact opposite way I want to behave.

I have learned to “follow my heart” which has required jumping off a few cliffs into the unknown. I make “mistakes” on a regular basis and know that each brings a unique gift if I am open to it. All this humanness leads to laughter, compassion and gratitude. I have come to love the gifts Life brings my way.

In my professional life I have worked as an educator, a director of staff development, a director of human resources, a consultant to organizations, a master facilitator and trainer, personal life coach and facilitator of Inquiry and The Work of Byron Katie.

If my story resonates with you, give me a call, I would love to hear from you! As a Facilitator of Inquiry I work with individuals, couples and families to facilitate transformational change and explore new ways of being in the world. I experience my greatest joy when I am sharing Inquiry with those who are drawn to work with me either individually or by attending one of my workshops.

Following My Heart and Jumping off Cliffs

“Following my Heart” hasn’t always been easy. It has, however, led me to amazing and life changing experiences. I have changed career paths a few times, found myself exploring new ways of living in the world, and followed a spiritual path that has led me to some wonderful mentors and teachers.

Jumping Off Cliffs

• I changed both my first and last name at the age of 38. I chose “Maggie” because I loved it and the name “Carter” because it was the maiden name of a favorite great aunt.
• I left the secure and wonderful job of classroom teacher and director of staff development to start my own consulting business at the age of 45.
• For my 50th year my then-husband and I took a year away from regular life to travel around the world with just a backpack. It was a magical, spiritual, adventurous journey. If you want to learn more, email me for a free PDF copy of this book. Click here to read an article about the journey.
• I left my job as Human Resource Director for a fabulous and innovative company when it become evident that the fit was no longer there and traveled for a few months in Europe.
• I’ve entered into two marriages with amazing men and in both cases we decided to go our separate ways. Each “divorce” resulted in very powerful experiences. I love each of them in ways I never imagined possible.
• In April of 2008 I sold my house and “moved” to Mallorca, Spain with the thought I would live there, become an ex-patriot and learn Spanish. I left four months later, wandered a bit and landed in Ojai, California for a year.
• In July 2010 I put everything in storage again, packed my car for what I thought would be a 6-months period of traveling and after one month I found myself renting a lovely place in Bend, Oregon.
• And once again, it seems that I am moving – this time to Boulder, Colorado in August.  People ask “Why?” and my most honest answer is “I don’t know.”

Accreditations and Affiliations
Graduate – Institute for Life Coach Training
Graduate- The School for The Work of Byron Katie

BA in Elementary Education
MA in Reading and Linguistics
Ph.D. in Staff Development, Adult Learning, and Leadership