What is with “bright & early”?

The light is just now appearing in the sky and I’m up and about.  It’s a day when much is happening.  Much that has nothing to do with the vision and mission for AWP & Affiliated Women.

First comes breakfast with 2 great friends with whom I graduated high school.  Believe it or not, we’ve remained friends all these years and have great fun together!  They are bright intelligent women, one is co-owner with her husband of a highly successful insurance company; and their friendship is precious to me.

Then comes “Special Persons Day” at my g’children’s school.  They attend parochial school and both have a part in the worship service today; then chili lunch and a talent show.  G’daughter (she’s 7) is leading a cheer as her talent, so of course, g’ma must stay for all the festivities.

So that’s why I’m here this a.m. before the sun (or lack thereof!) lights the sky.

I don’t think life for women changes all that much when the children grow up and leave home.  There may be those ‘lean years’ when they’re away at college and finding out who they are without mom or dad to tell them.  But then they marry and the g’children come along, and. . . wha-la, we’re at it again.

Just when we think we’ve found the time to be our own person without some label such as “mom” in tow; and can stride forward to achieve our visions and dreams - we’ve picked up a new label!

Now I’m not complaining!  I returned to home territory because I was missing out on the lives of beautiful g’kids.  But, gee whiz, they have a busier life than when their parents were that age. 

I’ve come to the conclusion at this ripe ‘chrono-age’ that God made women with a special knack to multi-task and do it well.  I’ve noted that it gets a little easier to get what needs to be done - done with more organization and less stress as time passes.

Some folks want to tell me that God never intended that women “work outside the home”.  Well, I say, read Proverbs 31!  The Proverbs 31 woman was not only a wife and mother - she was a savvy business woman.  She went into the ‘market place’ every day.  In fact, it says that to be a Proverbs 31 woman, she had to be ‘out there’ and in commerce.

So for all those that think we should stay home and languish on some vine, I have this to say.  I want to model my life along Scriptual lines.  And if Solomon wrote that wise women had a flair for and sense of good business practices and could engage in savvy business deals - then why would I (or you) not do the same.

There, needed to say that!  And when those days come that require us to turn our focus to the ‘home fires’ and the busyness of children, g’children or aging parents; we have all the resources we need.

Why, because we’re ‘wired’ that way!  So pat yourself on the back and thank God that He gave us the inner strength and provided resources about us to handle umpteen chores from kids to commerce.

And enjoy the day with all it’s challenges knowing that whatever you face today, you have what it takes!

Make it an awesome day with much love and rich multiple blessings.

Linda

Wow, it’s almost noon Indiana time!

I was so engrossed in what I’m doing that I didn’t realize the time.  Neither did I realize I hadn’t come here to chat just a little.  Days and times like this - when I’m totally focused and totally engrossed are some of the best for me.

Why?  I feel productive!  I feel that I’m getting somewhere.  That I’m doing something I want to do, that needs to be done.  Something that’s a part of my passion & purpose.

Most days when I come here to share with you, I haven’t a clue what I’m going to talk about.  Mind’s a blank until the page pops up before me and I settle in to be ‘writer’ for a few moments. 

A few days ago, a new member wrote to say that she’s in the target age range (in terms of chronological age), maturing nicely, and sandwiched in between kids preparing for college and aging parents.  That about sums up what we are about.  Or least one or more of the aspects that mark those years we call the “2nd half of the journey”!

Do we or can we or will we offer what women in our new ’sister’s’ demographic need?

It occurs to me that most often what we need, as women, is not answers.  But a kind and listening ear who will let us just ‘vent’.  Or recognize what we’re going through because they too have ‘been there’.

A wise mentor once shared with me that husbands make a huge mistake when they don’t just listen to their wives; but feel a need to quickly offer practical advice or realistic options.

“I DON’T WANT PRACTICAL ADVICE or REALISTIC OPTIONS!” 

What most of us want is someone who will take the time to listen - really listen.  Maybe not saying a word.  On occasion, it might be nice for someone to pat our shoulder or smile and nod the head in understanding.

There’s plenty of wise advice out there for those of us in the ’sandwich’ generation (today I’m ’sandwiched’ between work that must be done and entertaining 2 delightful g’kids for 1.5 hours).  If advice is what we want or realistic practical solutions, we can find those for you.  But what we do best here, I think, is understand and share our common experiences. 

It’s in those common experiences  that the solutions are often found.  The dilemna I’m in today, a ’sister’ was in yesterday.  And how she resolved it for herself may just have a piece of resolution for me today!

Life has gotten so hectic.  The pace is breathtaking!  Sometimes, all we need at the close of the day is a quiet house (all accounted for and sound to sleep); a cup of Java and the communion of friends spread across the country who just might have something to say that will ease my burden, lighten my load, or produce a chuckle.

If I were an artist, I would draw a picture of “Maxine” in her frumpy night clothes sitting in the dark before the computer screen - coffee in hand - peering at page after page finding refreshment and renewal in the night.

Ahhh, just thinking about it brings a sense of peace. 

Now of course, it’s back to the sandwich of time and a mile-long list of today’s “to-dos”.  Maybe I’ll go downstairs and brew some of ”Linda’s Blend” from The Fine Grind before tackling the next item on my list.

Suppose you do the same?!

Have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings.

Linda 

Today’s post introduces Theresia Whitfield, a professional writer in Indiana.  We are thrilled to have Theresia join our blog team and today’s conversation is awesome.

 Let me just say it may be okay to be “square” depending on which square we are.  Without further ado - here’s Theresia:

Four SquaresBy: Theresia Whitfield Isn’t it great being a woman? I could pontificate on the many wonders about being a woman but I won’t bore you with what you probably already know. But I will tell you one of my favorite things about being a woman: Having other women friends.  As a professional writer who works out of her home, I find that I isolate myself, although I don’t usually discover it until I’m having a fit about my work or something else going on with my writing/communications company. Oh, sure, I get out to networking events and have meetings with friends and clients. But I am always thrilled when I can sit down at my computer to be creative. I get lost in those moments when I can bring a story to life through the creative written word.  But lately, I have found myself in a funk. Truth be told, part of my funk is that I’m going to hit the Big 4-0 in a week. But that’s for another blog entirely!  

My funk is that I’m not writing what I want to write. I started my own business so I could do it my way and be free. And yet, I’m not doing it my way nor am I free. There are more times than not where I feel I am spinning my wheels but going nowhere fast. Adding age to the equation just reminds me that I’m not where I wanted to be at this stage in life.  Now, here’s where being a woman is so great. I know several of the local writers in the Indianapolis area; some from church, some from writing or networking opportunities. One writer and friend had never met another writer and knew we were friends so she asked if the three of us could get together. I was thrilled at the chance to introduce these two wonderful artists and to get to spend some time with them.  It was an amazing time of bonding, sharing, commiserating, laughing, almost crying, and brain-storming. One of the women shared with us something she had learned from a seminar given through our church. She said that, essentially there are four squares and each of us has these four squares. It goes something like this: One square is what you’re really BAD at; for example, I’m bad at drawing. I can’t even draw stick people. So, I don’t bother spending much time drawing. Another square is what you’re ADEQUATE at. In this scenario, I am an adequate house-keeper. I’m not as good as my mom but I’m also not a slob – just adequate. The third square is what you’re GOOD at. This square takes a great deal of energy; perhaps it takes too much energy. For this analogy, it may mean that I’m good at running a business but it takes so much energy from me that I don’t have much energy left to be a creative writer in my areas of passion.  

Finally, there is the square which represents what you’re EXCELLENT at. This square doesn’t take energy, rather, it creates it. This square is the one thing that, when you’re doing it, you could keep doing it without hesitation, without tire, without shutting down, without dread or trepidation. This is how I am with my creative writing.  Can you see the light bulb going off over my head?!  That’s what’s so great about being a woman. When we commiserate with other women who face similar circumstances, we talk and we talk and we talk and eventually, someone will say something that triggers a realization God intended for us to find. Today was that moment for me.   Of course, the real issue is what do I do with this newfound information? That’s where prayer and a loving, supportive husband come into the picture.  In which square are you spending most of your time? Do you need to switch squares?

My goodness it’s Sunday already!

It was a full day at the Atlanta conference on Saturday that left time for little else but soaking up what was offered then racing off to the car rental place and my return flight.  Finally, shortly after 10:00 p.m., I fell in the door of home with suitcases and computer dropped nearby while I headed upstairs to bed.

Too much in one day for a ‘chronologically maturing woman’ of my age!

I often wonder what one can say consistently when it comes to “Sunday Subjects”.  We normally think of reading something ’spiritual’ because it’s ‘Sunday’ and after all, aren’t we supposed to be spiritual on Sunday.

I don’t mean to sound fascitious or sarcastic, but I just came from a conference about how our “work is our worship” and that the ‘church’ ought to be operating within the marketplace.  Yet, most folks still think of Sunday as the day to be ’spiritual’ - think spiritual thoughts, do spiritual things, don’t do unspiritual things like shopping, reading, gardening or the likes (that’s what my grandma used to tell me - don’t work on Sunday).

Well I think that’s hogwash!  The question comes down to “what’s spiritual”?

What is spiritual?  How do we define it?  And is being spiritual only something we do on Sunday (or Friday if we’re Jewish)?

“Being spiritual” is really a matter of who we are.  We are spiritual beings.  You can argue the point or deny it, but the fact remains - that’s the way we’re made.  We are spiritual by nature.  So it stands to reason that everything we do - the sum total of our thoughts, actions, activities, etc. are a function of our spiritual nature in some way, shape or form.

When we come into the marketplace, which is where most of us go from Monday through Friday, we bring our spirituality with us.  I’m not talking about our expression thereof.  I’m talking about the essence of who we are. 

One of the things I heard over the last several days was that “our work is our worship”.  When we answer the call of our passion and put it into the context of our destiny-design (our God-given purpose), then what we do is our worship to the One Who made us.  The One Who gave us the passion-for whatever it is that we do.  The same One Who made it possible for us to develop native skills and abilities so we could fulfill the purpose for which we were made.

So thinking that what we do on Sunday is “be spiritual” by going to church or some other ‘religious’ function is only a small piece of the whole pie.  The whole pie is who we are, what we love and desire, what we do with that love and desire (passion) and how we live it out in a meaningful way.  The by-product is not only how we live it out, but how in living it out, we impact other’s lives for good.

Now that’s a mouthful!  You can tell I’ve been to the “mountaintop” for a “peak experience” when I talk in this way.  I came home full of creative thought and energy with my passion to be a resource to women firing with both barrels.

In all seriousness and without denigrating our Sunday morning worship time; if we don’t take that time and experience with us on Monday morning into whatever endeavor we have chosen for ourselves - then it’s been just an exercise in playing “spiritual”.

So my encouragement is that with the morning hour, as you head for the office or wherever it is that you go to do whatever it is that you do - you be reminded that you are as much going to ‘worship’ as you did today. That you take ‘being spiritual’ as you were expected to be on Sunday into Monday, Tuesday and the next days of the week with the same fervor and devotion as you might have today.

TaDa, that’s it for Women’s Sunday Subjects.  Didn’t start this with the idea of ‘preachin’, but it’s hard for those of us who have a passion for helping others tackle the ‘big questions of life’ and find reasonable practical answers; to not ‘preach’ a little along the way.

Have an awesome evening with much love and many blessings!  Stay tune and stay connected.

Linda

Our precious Willy sent this to me to post here today.  After sitting and ’soaking’ all that I heard yesterday and having the privilege of speaking to a small, but mighty group of women yesterday - this poetic prose is so “right on” for this morning.  Enjoy!

We all need prayer and encouragement at times.  I believe this will encourage someone today.

“Women of AWP Shine as you were created to do.

Thanks to Marianne Williamson
 
 Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
 
A return to love - Marianne Williamson”

Thanks so much, Willy for sharing this.  We are awesome!  We are women who have much to offer - much to give.  We are a gift to our world, regardless of the size of that world.

Hopefully I’ll have time later today to say a little more, but what I can say at the moment is “Wow, what an awesome conference!”

Today, more of the same and another session with the fabulously bright, witty, wise and profound Dr. Lance Wallnau.  Last night I/we discovered that Lance is Jewish by birth, but is now Messianic.  Same is true for the woman (Linda Rios Brook) who led yesterday’s women’s conference.  And they are so rich in knowledge and wisdom.  I’ll have a difficult time - once again - with ‘re-entry’.

Have you had those ‘mountaintop experiences’ that lifted you way beyond the mundane of daily living?  Only to have to make the not-so-exciting descent back to common ground?

It’s not easy, but it’s necessary!  We can’t live on the peak of life all our days, no matter how much we want to.  What the mountain tops are for is to equip us with ‘new stuff’ that we are to cart back with us and share with others so that the learning goes beyond ‘me’ to ‘you’!

It no longer comes in the form of clay tablets, but it’s just as important and profound as if it were.  What we learn while gazing from on high is meant to return to earth and water the lives of others who are ‘thirsty’ for fresh water.

So over the next several days, I’ll try to bring ‘fresh water’ from the well of wisdom that is a part of these days on the northside of Atlanta.  It’s good to get a fresh viewpoint and see things from a different angle and vantage point.  It’s good to sit at the feet of those more knowledgeable than me and chew on the morsels of greater understanding they graciously share.

I hope you like learning new things!  I do and I love sharing them with all of you.  So hopefully they won’t drop into the deep well of memory to be forgotten before I carve them here in ‘wet cement’!

Stay tuned and stay connected.  Have an awesome day with much love and many blessings.

 Linda & Willy

“Have you always had such a large vision?”

That’s a question I’m being asked today as part of the panel discussion and I haven’t even broached an answer as yet.

What is “large vision”?  Is it necessary to our success in fulfilling our purpose and ’scratching’ our passion?

More importantly, what do we do with our “large vision”?

Most of us here and I suspect around the globe, have a sizeable vision about our lives and life in general!  But what do we do about it and how do we use it to make an impact in our communities and beyond. . . ?

Some time ago, I wrote here and published on some of the web article directories, an article entitled, “We Are Women . . Here Us Roar!” (an obvious take off of the popular Helen Reddy song).

Thinking of “large vision”, I’m inclined to ask the question - how large is our “ROAR”?  Does it resonate beyond the confines of our home, office, church or workplace? 

Is it a ’sqeak’ or does it ‘bellow’?  Does it touch anyone else’s life for the better or do we simply dream of being heard beyond our 4 walls?  Does one ’sqeak’ in a room full of ’sqeaks’ make a ‘roar’?

I raise these questions less to antagonize or incite each of you and more to encourage myself that one small roar, even if emitted in a forest, can and often does make a ROAR.  When we blend our voices, know matter how timid or bold we may be personally; we make a difference.  The challenge is to open our mouths and let it roll! 

I think the greater good is always accomplished when we ‘gather’ and lend our voices to a collective voice that makes a dent in the din of a society and culture overrun with noise.

Dear sisters!  There are women around us whose hearts are hurting.  They long to be part of a supportive community who will understand and underpin their need to heal, to move on and to give voice to their ‘roar’. 

Am I just ’tilting at windmills’ in Quixote fashion? Or is there a groundswell of women who are coming together in community around the globe to make a difference?  In their own lives and in so doing, in the lives of others.

Too long we’ve been silent or at the very most, a ’sqeaky’ voice that barely rises above a whisper.  We’ve sat in the back of the pew, so to speak, believing our role was silent complicency with the status quo.  I don’t say this in any way as to demean the ‘powers that be’; but more to encourage and exhort us to rise up out of our slumber and give rise to the roar that resides within.

I don’t know that ’size’ of vision is the rule by which we measure our impact.  I think it’s our willingness to recognize our own power-for as women; take ownership of and for it; and then come together to do what needs to be done - whatever that happens to be.

There are rumblings of movement among us!  They are everywhere I go and voiced by every woman with whom I share.  YES, many of us have businesses to run or careers to advance or social causes to support. 

I believe that as we grow our business, advance our career or work for admirable causes, we can and do engage in the ’cause and effect’ of positive change.  I believe that nothing happens in a vacuum and that all things are somehow part and parcel of a whole that either impacts for good or not so good.

When we reach out to each other in a cooperative manner, we defeat competitiveness.  I believe that working together to advance each other’s passion and purpose is a HUGE NET GAIN for each of us.

But we can’t do it alone!  It takes a community - a ‘village’ - to take our individual narrow visions to a new level.  It takes women gathering together to expand our individual visions in a way that benefits more than just ‘me’.

I believe that women have an awesome role to play in healing what hurts in the lives of other women - in our local communities as well as around the world.  The burst of technology, especially the internet, makes that possible.  Touching women’s lives - electronically - may be where it all begins in a world that shrinks with each new advance of global technology.

Oh my, I’ve gone on a ‘rant’!  I could write on and on, but time fleets and I’ve got a conference to attend. 

Let me leave you with this.  Today, in your rare quiet moments; think about your own vision - your own ‘voice’.  Think about what you could do with your passion and purpose when gathering together with other women whose passion and purpose interweaves with our own.  Think about our growing, but still small community of ‘chronologically maturing women’ and how we can make more of our voice.

Think about how we can turn our ’sqeak’ into a ‘roar’.

Have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings.

Linda

Traveling has become such a chore!  Gone are the days of rolling up to the door, leisurely checking in your luggage and walking to the gate with friends or family while we wait for our flight.

Early today I flew to Atlanta for a women’s conference.   I have the privilege of speaking on the panel and I expect some great and wonderful things. 

Tonight’s event included dinner with Angie Hillman, who with her husband Os, has lead Workplace Ministry workshops over the past 10 years.  This year’s event has over 500 registrants and some of the world’s leading voices in ministry in the marketplace.  We spent the evening getting acquainted and sharing “our stories”.  What awesome personal histories were shared around the table.

Nothing happens by accident or coincidence.  As we shared, we all agreed there is something very significant about 2008!  We all felt it, but couldn’t put our finger on it.  Instead we noted that the Biblical number ‘8′ means “new beginnings”. 

But what beginnings?  What will come in this year that will catapult us onto a new plane with a greater sphere of influence and much more success than we could hope for or imagine?

Sometimes we don’t have a clue.  New beginnings are often the culmination of a process that began years ago and the changes are subtle and almost undetectible as we move from year to year.  A good metaphor is an underground stream that rumbles just beneath the surface only to emerge from the ground as a mighty waterfall!

It must be true!  True that this is a special year for which many of us are predisposed to have great things occur.  

My question is - as much for me as for all of you - are we ready?  If we’ve been expecting some miracle or the emergence of some wonderful breakthrough; will we know it when we see or - or experience it?  And will it live up to our expectations?

We humans are funny creatures!  We long for distinction, recognition, more and greater achievement and then when we’re on the brink. . .we hardly know what we’ll do or how we’ll handle it.

Well I’m wondering what’s in store for me because I invested time and money into a trip to Atlanta; a few words shared and materials put into women’s hands.  I may not know when I board my return flight - but I’m going to pay close attention as the days pass because it’s 2008 and I’m expecting new and grand things in this year of new beginnings.

 I’m expecting new and grand things for each of you as well.  In fact, I can almost guarantee breakthroughs; advancements; promotions and awesome opportunities for the year of new beginnings.

And just think, it’s only January! 

Be on alert and watch for the trickle to begin.

You probably won’t find this until the a.m., so have an awesome day.  Stay connected and enjoy much love and rich blessings.

Linda

I needed that.  Except louder and deeper.  Please forgive me if I’ve hurt your hearing in any way.  I just need to vent after my daughter’s baby shower.  It was a very nice shower.  That’s not what I’m screaming on paper about at all.

I had such hopes for 2008.  Still do.  I feel that every day can and should be a new beginning.  Right now however, I’m warning “it” that so far I’m unimpressed with the demeanor it has shown so far.

By the time you read this, I hope our grandson will still be able to turn one without becoming a big brother.  But with our family’s history of early births you never know.  Sarah (our daughter) was opening gifts between contractions, the baby had “dropped” and she hadn’t sleep in several nights.  Not due to the baby moving (although “Aidan” is probably going to be a soccer player like his Uncle Adam), but she’s rightfully worried about what’s going on in her life.

My son-in-law came home a few days ago with news no adult wants to give, or have happen, EVER-he was laid off from his underwriting job.  The third in 20 months.  It’s not his fault in the least-in fact, all 3 employers wanted to keep him, they didn’t have enough work for him-in fact 2 of the 3 companies went out of business.

What a way to start a new year:  Sarah has been considered “high risk” during both pregnancies.   She was laid off from her underwriting job one month after she found out she was pregnant the first time. She hasn’t had the health (or time, with another high risk pregnancy) to find another job.  Her husband hasn’t been able to find a stable position since that same faithful date. 

As I sit here, the mother of two adults, I realize I’ll never stop worrying about either ones welfare and happiness.  It’s in the genes.  My mother still worries about my sister and I.  And, let’s face it, even though my dear sister is 6 years younger, we’re not exactly little kids anymore.

Stress is running high in not only Sarah’s home but ours as well.  We’re worried about my daughter’s health, the baby’s health, my son-in-law, their finances (actually the lack there of) and their future in general.  They even swallowed their pride and went to the welfare office to sign up for subsidies.

Guess what?  They cannot qualify for any of them because they make a slight bit more than the maximum in unemployment payments.  Then the woman who was helping them suggested this piece of advice: “You know if you weren’t married you’d qualify for all the programs we have to offer”.

Both my daughter and son-in-law couldn’t believe their ears-they were being penalized by being having a family while married!

It seems when bad things happen no one and nothing is spared.  In life, things can change in a single breath, in a single moment-may the next one taken in by our daughter is a good deep one.  So deep that when she exhales-it’s becomes even stronger. May it be so strong that she’s able to blow away all this present sad luck and not only give birth to a healthy baby but to some better fortune.

In the meantime, please have an absolutely awesome day!

 Carine Nadel

I’ve just realized this is a holiday.  Martin Luther King Day.  May it be a blessed one for all.

Holiday’s usually give us a time to relax, sit back and change our focus.  Not for me.  I look forward to ‘holiday’s’ as a time when I can get all the things I don’t normally get done on ‘work’ days. 

Today I’m working diligently to wrap up all the things I need to take with me to the Atlanta women’s conference.  These opportunities are all too rare these days and I want to make certain I take advantage of every door that opens while I’m there.  One thing is sure - I get to meet with a few of our AWP members from the Atlanta area.

I want to say a few things about my role in the Atlanta “Lydia Conference”.  I am blessed with the opportunity to be part of a panel that closes the conference on Thursday.  It came about (in the natural as we say) through an AWP member who is part of the planning committee.  Last week she mailed me the 2 questions I’ll be asked as part of my intro remarks.  It’s the first question that I want to address.

“You’ve shared with me that you’re an entrepreneur at heart, and what impresses me most is your enthusiasm and willingness to venture into new creative endeavors and yet, at the same time, help others get ahead.  Doing that requires a foundation of security.  What’s your secret for fearlessness?”

I’ve been thinking about my response for days!  Because how I answer may have an effect on all the women who hear it.  So I’m trying it out here.

 First, I don’t consider myself to be “fearless”.  Fear in any new endeavor, change, transition - whatever life brings or we create for ourselves - involves an element of human fear!  I hear it all the time from women who are at a crossroads in life or against the wall in what appears to be an impossible situation.

There’s no way we can distance ourselves from fear.  It’s part of our human condition and a viable emotion that protects us in dangerous times and causes us to take actions we might never take otherwise.

However, it can be the one thing that prevents us from achieving our God-given purpose.  It has the potential to override our passion for moving beyond the ’status quo’.  It’s all the “what ifs” that crowd out the “wow, why not”!

Beginning from that position is our healthiest response to ‘taking the bull by the horns’ and moving into the ‘leap of faith’ that change requires.  I don’t know anyone who has answered the Call to move on down the road who has not done so with human fear as their traveling companion.

So what is it that we need to draw on?  What’s the word we need to replace “fearlessness” with “faith” (and I’m sure that’s the answer I’m expected to come up with)?

 For me, that word is courage.  Courage is what it takes to put in our Essential Business Tool Bag for life!  I don’t know about you, but I believe that courage is also built into us, as is “faith the size of a grain of mustard seed”.  When the two of them meet (courage and the mustard seed), we can overcome any obstacle that presents itself - with the support and encouragement of others! 

Even fear!  Because fear in the sense of which we are speaking is usually a phantom.  It’s based on a personal history that wants to whisper things such as “what if you fail?”; “oh, that won’t work”; “I don’t have what it takes”.  Lies that have been set in motion from birth and heaped upon as life dealt us some pretty ’stinky’ moments.

The antidote to all this is courage combined with a mustard seed of faith that no matter what, something positive and significant will come of this venture upon which I am about to embark.

Courage doesn’t destroy fear.  It neutralizes it.  It recognizes that its on for the ride, but pays it no mind.  Even when the road gets a little bumpy!

I don’t think it matters what challenge we face at anytime in our lives.  Even when we know we’ve entered the 2nd half of the journey because we’ve been convinced it comes with chronological age or by life circumstances.  There are at least two key things we need to get us through:  (1) to recognize that as a human being, we will have to deal with fear and say it out loud to ourselves if necessary.  Then be at peace with the fact that it will accompany us no matter where we go because that’s simply the way it is; and (2) I can live with “it” in my carry-on when there are others who love and support me and call forth courage and the mustard seed by standing solidly with me at all times. 

I think the greatest words we can hear as we journey through life - yes even the 2nd half of it - are “You can do it!”  Remember how we said those words to our babes as they struggled to let go of the coffee table and take those wonderful first steps alone?  We’re never far from the coffee table. 

And hopefully there is always someone sitting near who continues to say, “You Can Do It!”

That my dear sisters, is one of life’s greatest blessings.

Have an awesome day with much love and rich blessings indeed!

Linda

The following was forwarded to me by a dear friend of countless years.  In fact, he has been my spiritual director for nearly 30 years - imagine that!  The excerpt is from George Carlin musing on “Aging” and it is brilliant.  Too priceless to keep to myself.  ENJOY!

“George Carlin’s Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we’re kids? If you’re less than 10 years old, you’re so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

“How old are you?” “I’m four and a half!” You’re never thirty-six and a half. You’re four and a half, going on five! That’s the key.

You get into your teens, now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

“How old are you?” “I’m gonna be 16!” You could be 13, but hey, you’re gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21 YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There’s no fun now, you’re Just a sour-dumpling. What’s wrong? What’s changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you’re PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it’s all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn’t think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 a nd MAKE it to 60.

You’ve built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it’s a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80’s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime And it doesn’t end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; “I Was JUST 92.”

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. “I’m 100 and a half!”

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay “them.”

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

 AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,   But by the moments that take our breath away.”

Is this AWESOME of what?

Don’t need to add a thing.  

Linda