There’s a different strategy brewing and everyone is starting to get on the ‘brewery wagon’, so to speak.  What’s happening that’s so revolutionary?

It’s relationship marketing!  Marketing our business or advancing our careers by marketing ourselves.  By entering into and forming strong bonded relationships with others who share common goals, interests, skills & similar life circumstances.  Women (and men) who come to care about each other; trust each other; and choose to help each other build their business or advance their career.

Everywhere I go and much of what I read these days, I hear or see something about “relationship-building” strategy as the way our society and culture is headed when it comes to business growth and success.  And it seems it is fueled by the prolific growth of social networking on the internet.  The success of sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.   Indiana has its own successful variation entitled “Smaller Indiana” (they sponsored the Blog-In which I attended late last month).  It seems that everyone is eager to connect with others somewhere in the world for legitimate purposes, including business connections that will payoff handsomely for one or both of the ‘partners’.

Relationship marketing isn’t really all that new because when life was simpler and folks less mobile; business was done in a local venue and everyone knew most everyone else in the vicinity.  Even large metro areas such as NYC had (still does) its “neighborhoods” with all the needed necessities within a certain block radius and the store owners knew everyone by name. 

Then society became very mobile and the extended family concept faded from view - kids on one coast - parents on the other.  People felt a sense of isolation, and as the computer age dawned and the internet became common practice for more and more folks - our isolation was pierced by the advent of social networking.  First the teenage population, then the young adult and finally, those of us in the ‘chrono-mature’ category and beyond; took to the internet as a means of extending our circles of influence and as a way to do business beyond our own geographical area.

I’m convinced that this phenomenon is what has led us back to a new craze called “relationship marketing!”  We’ve always known that people purchase from people they know, like and trust (or brands that equal the same scenario).  But it’s taken some time to figure out that underpinning our human tendency for the previous is the fact that to “know, like & trust” is to first form some level of relationship.  A relationship that is mutually satisfying and beneficial.

Personally & professionally, I’ve never been ahead of a ‘curve’ before when it came to business endeavors.   But with the launch of AWP last summer and the subsequent test & launch of Affiliated Women this spring - I recognize that we’re slightly ahead of the curve on this one.

We knew that the firm foundation of business success, especially for women, is strong relationships that allow us to access each other’s sphere of influence once trust is established.  If you’re reading this & wondering about AWI, send me an email to learn more.

It’s great to ride the wave of revolution and know that you’re in the forefront of change that is rising like the tide. 

My encouragement for you today is to allow the wave to overcome you with strong bonded relationships that over time will yield considerable success - for each of you.

Have an awesome day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Well for some women, it’s down time!  Not for this one however.

I had great plans for the day - a holiday.  I had visions of working from dawn to dusk in the landscaping (weeding, moving, etc.); then a quick dinner and off to see the latest Indiana Jones film!  Now I look at the clock and it’s nearly noon EDT and none of the above has been accomplished.

I also thought about continuing to clean as I started to do yesterday; but that hasn’t happened either.  I can’t decide whether to take the weather at it’s ‘word’ and stay inside without tempting the low hanging clouds that threaten rain at any moment.  Or go outside and dare the rain to start!

So here I sit in my office in front of the laptop that usually occupies most of every day, writing and trying to make a decision.  It just may be that I’ll wile away a perfectly good holiday trying to come to a reasonable and practical solution - without ever coming to one at all.

I call it “down time”.  “Down” because we’re not supposed to do our regular work on holidays.  We’re supposed to relax, spend time with family or friends and just plain ‘veg’ for a full 24 hours.  But I couldn’t resist putting the final touches on tomorrow’s E-letter and answering the few new emails that popped on the screen.  “Just until noon”, I thought!  Well the clock tells me I have 7 minutes left to wind this up and either head for the Swiffer or take up thy trowel!

As chrono-mature women traveling the 2nd half of the journey, we’re not supposed to be so undecided.  We’re supposed to have it all together in one neat package without a hint of indecisiveness. 

‘Tain’t true!’  We aren’t anymore likely to have it all together than our younger counterparts or those of my vintage.  And we’re most likely to use holidays as an excuse to get the work we don’t normally get done - done! 

After all, it’s a day away from the office, the phone, the computer, the meeting or anything else that occupies a normal non-holiday day.  But it’s such a great day for getting the ’stuff’ we can’t get done on normal days because normal days are full of activities that keep us from getting the ’stuff’ done.

My youngest daughter made the comment yesterday that she enjoys working on holidays because what I just said above is the case for her when everyone else is out of the office.  Her high-paying ultra responsible role in a health care setting keeps her hopping 60 hours weekly - so a holiday is a holiday from the normal hustle & bustle.  And those tasks that require quiet and uninterrupted time are perfect for a holiday.

Well maybe we’ll get to do a little of nothing today as the clock strikes NOON EDT.  I must stay true to my promise of “just until noon” and go downstairs to contemplate the clouds and play ‘enny-meeny-miny-moe’ with the Swiffer & trowel!

And I’m shouting “have an awesome day” as I run for the hall and fly downstairs a few moments past noon!

Have an awesome holiday day with little or no work to occupy your “down time!”

Linda, a fellow journeyer

This is the weekend each year that we remember!  Actually, those of us who’ve lost loved ones remember many times during the year; but this weekend has been set aside to officially remember.

Memorial Day started as a way of remembering those who served our country and were killed during that service.  It has been a way of honoring those who gave the “last full measure!”

But over the years, our remembrances took on a much larger scope.  Remembering those who were important and significant in our lives who are gone from our midst!  We gather flowers & plants to decorate the spots where they’re laid to rest to show that we remember.

This is the first year since three significant people in my family’s life died, that we didn’t get the job done.  The large floral tubs remain empty because life simply intervened with an early end to the school year and all that brings; as well as weather that thought it was still very early spring (cold & very damp).

At least that’s the excuse we’ve used as we said to each other, “don’t worry about it, we’ll do it this next week!”  But today, I’m fretting about it and ready to race out to see if any plants remain anywhere in retail-land so that the large tubs on the hill are not empty when tomorrow dawns.

I admit it’s a task.  Taking time away from the regular busy routine of the days to gather the essentials; drive to the place they lay; pull last year’s dead roots from the knotted ground; turn the soil and put in fresh plants that will then require weekly watering if only a moderate summer comes.

Is it that important?  Is a public display for them or for ourselves so that no one says; “oh they’ve forgotten so soon!”

I can’t answer that; but I can say that Memorial Day has become embedded in our society and culture.  It’s simply something we do one day of the year; while remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and those we loved whose earthly lives are no more - each and every day of the remaining 364.

It’s good to remember!  It’s good to take time out to utter a quiet “thank you” for the men and women who gave their lives protecting the freedoms we so often take for granted!  It’s good to let the world know that we care enough to put in the effort to show the world we care - and remember.  For some it is a painful reminder - for others a simple gesture of appreciation for the spouses, moms, dads, children and friends who shared life with us - if only for a while.

As I sit here writing, I feel pressured to get dressed and go out to find what is needed to fill those empty tubs at the top of the hill so that the nagging ‘guilt’ goes away.

Yes, it’s race day in Indiana with the “greatest spectacle in racing” just a few miles from me.  Yes it’s picnic and camping day for some and a quiet day of rest for others as they contemplate another day of refreshment tomorrow.

For me, it’s off to do what should have been done days ago.  As I drive through the iron gates & round the bend, I’ll notice the brightly colored baskets and American flags that dot that quiet spot on a hill.  As I walk from the car to the large black granite stones that rise above the rest, I’ll step carefully as my Mom taught me to do.  I’ll murmur disgust that weeds have invaded the tubs and the dirt is knotted & gnarled; but once the task is completed. . .

I’ll step back and survey the landscape noticing names all too familiar.  I’ll shed a tear as I look to those whose resting place holds a special reminder that they served & gave.  And I’ll reflect on how much those who rest in front of me made life so much richer because we were connected by choice and by nature.

The walk back to the car is always slow and reflective, as well it ought to be.  Once out the gate and down the hill; life returns to normal pace and the mind turns to the tasks of the day.

But for a few brief moments, it has been good to remember!

May your memories of those who meant so much to you and those who gave it all that we might have this opportunity to live, breath and remember - be part of today.  And may God’s richest blessings follow!

Linda, a fellow journeyer

Finally, the Friday that begins a 3-day holiday weekend!  Each day this week, I’ve told myself it’s “Friday” only to discover that it wasn’t.

I look forward to holiday weekends as days to get things I don’t normally get done - done!  Everyone else is at ‘rest’ and for that reason I can work, work, work.  The stress of timely projects drains away and what remains can get caught up and off the “to do” list.

My experience is that when we enter the journey called “2nd half”, we either begin or sharpen existing desires to be more comfortable in our skin - more ethical in our practices - and more diligent in all that we do!  That can and often does create stress.  Not the stress we felt when we were less chrono-mature, but a new kind that says “if we don’t get it done - on time - we haven’t been true to ourselves and credible to others!”

Do you feel that same tension?  That desire to make certain everything is wrapped up in a neat package - by the deadlines - even when everyone else is pausing to refresh?

If not, then you’re one of the fortunate women in our midst.  If so, you’ve joined a whole ‘parcel’ of women who will work, work, work, while the rest of the country walks from the usual chores of business; home management or whatever it is that normally constitutes our days. 

However, here’s some sage advice from an “A” type personality that believes work is one of the best forms of leisure one can experience.  Plan (yes PLAN) some “pause” time during this 3-day breather.  Set an alarm clock and work against its ticking like someone who’s killing snakes (as my Mom used to say).  Then when it rings loud and clear - walk away from the computer or the desk or the filing cabinet or the laundry - whatever it is that’s on that blankety-blank “to do” list and. . . . .

Enjoy a pause that will refresh you and renew your energies for an upcoming Tuesday a.m.

Have an awesome holiday with much love, great fun and a significant “pause that refreshes!”

Linda, a fellow journeyor

Once we’ve entered upon the highway we call “2nd half of the journey”; time becomes either our enemy or a comrade!  I think we are more cognizant of time as something very difficult to redeem or replace.  We tend to look at a 24-hour day as a precious gift from which we must wring every good and potential opportunity.  After all, it’s one less day on the journey in which we can “make hay while the sun shines!”

My ‘yesterday’ was full of so much to accomplish.  Follow up and follow through and answer this and that.  So at a reasonable hour I decided I would quit early - like 9:00ish (in the p.m. that is).  Just as I was letting my brain cool down, the phone rang.  It was a delightful woman from one of our Affiliated Women’s Neighborhood Network.  She called for no other reason than to tell me that she’d had an appointment set from our most recent meeting and - it went very well!  We talked about the appointment and the network in general and her positive comments fueled my conviction that “yes”, we are on the right track with AWI.

She didn’t have to do that. Take time out of her evening to call and tell me that. But what a blessing she did.  She was excited and I was energized and renewed. I hung up believing firmly that all we have to do is keep ‘pluggin’ and it will happen!

Usually, the opposite is true.  I only hear when it’s something that didn’t go right and I may be the handy ‘whipping girl’.  But isn’t that true for all of us at times in our lives?  Don’t we do it ourselves?

Experts tell us that if we’re satisfied with someone or something, we’ll tell about 10 to 15 people.  But look out when we’re not.  We have a tendency to tell the whole world.  We all do it from time to time and feel badly (or at least I do) for having done so.

While ‘vegging’ before sleep, I rolled what had occurred over in my cooled brain and wondered if it takes more time to pass along our negative reaction to something or someone than it takes to pass along the “good”.  I don’t know if that’s been researched or not or if anyone cares.  But I came to the conclusion that it takes less time to “vent” the “good stuff” than it takes to do just the opposite.  It’s all a matter of energy!

It takes energy to relate ’stuff’ to others.  Now I’m not a scientist, but I’ve learned a few things traveling the journey and I think there’s a direct correlation between stuff & energy - personal energy.  If I’m really ‘ticked’ over something - then there’s more energy to deal with - thus more folks I need to vent to in order to dissipate the energy. 

Does that make sense?  And if it does - does it matter?  Is it something that is an earth-shattering revelation?  Probably not.

However, just knowing something can help us make sense of our own feelings, behaviors and actions. 

Well none of the above is really the focus of this chat.  What is the focus is that a very special person found TIME to tell another something that made the other’s day!  Time to say - “it’s good - it works & it just takes TIME”.

We have the same number of seconds, minutes, and hours in the day.  What we do with them sets us apart!  None of us is perfect and we don’t always use the time commodity in the best way possible. 

However, there are those rare moments when someone chooses to use her time well and picks up the phone. . . . How I wish I always did something that simple to bring joy to another’s life.

My encouragement for the day is that in the midst of the seconds, minutes & hours that make up May 22, 2008; we’ll find a moment to make a positive difference in one of our ’sister’s’ lives!

Have an awesome day with much love, great blessings & a little time for self and others!

Linda, a fellow journeyor

Bet that got your attention!

Let me set the stage for the following remarks.  Yes, I bought into the revolution when Friedan was hot and Steinem was just appearing on the horizon.  It was the later 60’s-early 70’s.  I never burned the bra, but I shed it for a number of years and pranced off merrily to college classrooms in my newfound freedom from stays and underwires.  How “with it” I felt.  No matter I was an over 30 gal who should have known better!

I was a feminist in those days, and I made no bones (or stays) about it.  It wasn’t until a number of years later that I realized many women bought into the “grass is greener on the other side. . . and “open marriage” and all that jazz  - only to be very disillusioned and sad that they’d traded something of value for something that had no lasting qualities.

All that leads to this.  In the past few days, I’ve heard women talk about how great it is to meet in fellowship & relationship “just” with women!  As I listened to and entered into these conversations with similar themes, the light bulb went off in my brain.

“You know, I think what is refreshing is that we can be women - be feminine - and it’s okay,” I said!  “For too long, we’ve bought into the misguided nonsense that to be in the marketplace, we need to shed our femininity and act like a man!   Dress like one; talk like one; act like one!  Only problem is, we’re not one.  And thank God for that.” 

Yes, there is definitely a glass ceiling and I don’t think it got any higher just because we put on pants; lowered our voice an octave (just joking) and strode into an executive position like storm troopers!  In fact, I think most males were scared of such tactics and the adverse reaction didn’t do anything to enhance our already weakened condition.

One of the article links posted in yesterday’s AWP Buzz was an article on how recent research or surveys discovered that women are good for corporations.  IMAGINE THAT!  We’re good because what’s good about the feminine compliments what’s good about the masculine.  When we become comfortable in our female or male skin - then we can work cooperatively together while appreciating each other’s unique differences.

The feminine brings compassion, tenderness, understanding, ‘gut’ wisdom, intuition and heightened perceptions to the marketplace!  We soften somewhat the masculine’s need to overpower, intimidate & generally behave in alpha fashion.  Both are needed.  Hard decisions require a sense of compassion and understanding and the team work that’s required to get things done needs a “Sarah’s Circle” approach rather than Up the Down Staircase or “top down” dealing.

The “feminine revolution” brought many good things with it!  It turned the spotlight on the importance of the feminine as equal to the masculine - not subservient.  But like all good things - it may have tended to go too far.  Or as we humans have a tendency to do - we took it too far.

You know, when I made my response to the conversation the other evening, I heard a faint sigh of relief.  I felt the stress of trying to put on something or someone we were never intended to be - drain from the psyche.

It’s okay to be a woman!  It’s absolutely wonderful to bring the feminine into play regardless of where we are or who we are with.  I’m not talking about weepy, wimply, syrupy goobly-goop!  I’m talking about women being women with all our unique gifts, skills & qualities. 

And yes, the marketplace may beat us up from time to time.  But then there’s always that place or two where women gather; express understanding; feel-for; encourage and support each other.  That place where we all say - ah, it’s okay to be a woman!

So I say to the “feminine revolution” - bah humbug!  I’ll keep what’s great about you and send the rest packin’.  Like the phrase in an old broadway tune - “I enjoy bein’ a girl!”

Have an awesome “feminine” day and celebrate yourself and your womanhood!

Linda, a fellow journeyor

I asked the question “are you serious about your business?”  It seems a mute topic.  No one is in business unless they are serious about it.  After all, owning your own business, regardless of what it is, requires seriousness.  Doesn’t it?

Well, yes!  But some folks go about it as if they are not serious at all.  They fail to do the smallest important thing to create a business environment for growth.  They are slow to follow up or don’t at all.  They never say “thank you” for a new contact.  And worse of all, they don’t keep appointments and don’t respect others enough to say why!

When I was young, my parents and friends held dinner parties in our homes as a form of entertainment.  Out came the best china and silverware and the house smelled of great food for days.  One evening, my mother out did herself preparing for another couple to join them for dinner.  Everything was ready and we waited.  We waited 30 minutes - then an hour.  Finally after about 2 hours of the “no show”, my father went looking for the couple concerned that something had happened to them.  To no avail.  The china went back in the closet and the food into the fridge for leftovers the next few days.  My mother was despairing because she couldn’t imagine best friends of many years just not showing up.

Well the outcome was that one spouse had run off with another person.  It took days to learn that, but my parents were in shock.  Not just from what had happened, but because of the lack of consideration shown.  That simply wasn’t done in my young days.

It’s the same situation when we go into business for ourselves.  We leave others wondering and “high and dry” when we fail to remain credible on things so simple as saying “I can’t make it today & here’s why!”

The lack of consideration or simple courtesies gives others the impression that we’re not serious about our business.  We’re not serious about attaining our goals.  We’re not serious about putting the time and effort needed into building relationships that could lead to awesome growth down the road.

One solution for the procrastination that is part of the challenge is to keep a list of weekly “to do’s” that keep relationships growing.  Send a reminder note for a kindness done by another business-builder.  Remember birthdays and anniversaries of long-term clients and customers & send an e-card to let them know you remember.  It’s so easy to send an electronic card.  Send a business referral to a trusted friend and let them know that you’ve done so.  Reward good referral sources with a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant; spa or event.  And if you’ve not heard from a friend with whom you’re building a relationship - call and leave a message of cheer on their voice mail.

These are simple, non-time-consuming tasks that can make all the difference in the world.  They say “I’m serious about my business” in a way that nothing else can.

It’s the same ole’ story.  What we do always speaks louder than words.  When we care enough to send our very best - which is ourselves - we’ll reap positive benefits at some point.  I guarantee it!

So here’s to letting everyone in your sphere of influence know how serious you are about your business and the business of building strong relationships with a mutual payoff.

 Have an awesome day giving as much or more than you gain!

Linda, a fellow journeyor

No, it’s not an official holiday!  It’s not even one of those contrived days that give the greeting card companies an extra sales boost.  It’s not any of those.

It’s a week I made up.  Yes, I made it up.  I decided that we needed to set aside a week to recognize the importance of relationships and relationship-building in our personal and professional lives.

 Much of what I read these days relating to business revolves around how important relationship-building is to business growth.  In fact, a new e-book (The Emergence of the Relationship Economy) is all about a shift in our economic mentality to relationships as the bedrock of customer growth and retention. 

One would not think this is something “new”.  After all, it seems obvious that unless a business owner has good relationships with customers or potential customers - the business isn’t going to succeed. 

But society and culture has changed dramatically since my Dad owned a gas station and my Mom was in real estate.  We lived in small town USA where everyone knew everyone else and my parents’ customers came back again and again because they liked and trusted my Mom and Dad.  They had business growth because they formed relationships and they had relationships because they were in business!

Over the years, we went from a “neighborhood” society to a distant anonymous culture traveling too fast in the fast lane of life.  Mobility became the norm and extended families living in close proximity to each other became a thing of the past.  Strangers became our customers and as long as they returned again and again - that’s all that mattered.

But interestingly, the advent and growth of the internet has turned the tide and it is shifting back toward being “in touch” with others in a personal way that ends up benefitting us professionally.  Just look at the rapid rise of social networking on the web if you have any doubts.  Long term care professionals tell us that the internet is an important tool for the elderly in care facilities as it keeps them connected and their minds alert.  When life throws us a number of curve balls in rapid succession and there is no one, “in the flesh” to turn to - we can turn to Facebook or LinkedIn or one of a vast number of sites that link us with others instantaneously.  It my not fulfill our need for physical warm, but it keeps us from total isolation.

That’s the personal side of the shift.  What does it have to do with business?  Everything the experts tell us.  They say that as we continue down the information highway, the businesses that thrive will be those that focus on growth via building strong interpersonal relationships with others that lead us to clients and customers.  A long steady stream of them.

A dear woman said to me this past week that everyone says “people buy from people they know, like and trust; but no one tells us how to get to that point!”  My, do we not know how to build relationships - for any reason?

We do, but we don’t often equate them with leading to business success.  It seems it’s the most difficult to ask those we know to be our customers or clients (what we call the ‘warm market’).  Our dichotomized western minds want to segment everything - business over here and relationships over there! 

Those of us who know that they are one and the same are left screaming in the wilderness, so to speak.

So I’ve decided that this week, May 19 - May 23 is “Celebrate Relationship Week”.  Think about the people with whom you are in relationship and do something out of the way for them this week.  Make Hallmark happy & show you care enough to send the very best.  Or send a note of thanks for a small deed done that made your day at a time when you needed it most.

And go one step further!  Decide to make one new friend this week.  Invite him or her to lunch or coffee and begin the process of getting to know each other.  Find out your goals, what you’ve accomplished, your interests and the networks you are a part of and the skills each of you bring to the marketplace.  Decide to continue to share together on a regular basis.

And take the risk of not even mentioning doing business together.  Let that come as you get to know each other better, gain each other’s trust, find each other to be very credible and learn that you can hold each other accountable for nothing as simple as keeping an appointment over java.

Over time and in the long run - you’ll be glad you did. 

Happy “Relationship Week” everyone!

Linda, a fellow journeyor

Remember that wonderful Gospel story about the ten lepers who came to Jesus to be healed.  He obliged them by sending them to wash in a stream.  They did so and found they had been healed.  Only one (1) of them returned to say “thank you!”

We have days like that, don’t we?  We offer ourselves; good things happen and only “one” returns to say “thank you!”  It’s really like that when you work in the vacuum called “cyberspace” where we can put forth our best effort and wonder if anyone is paying attention.  The silence can be deafening!

Then something wonderful happens!  Someone who took a taste of what we offered came back to say - “thank you, it is good!”  How awesome it is when that happens.  I’m sure Jesus felt the same way when the lonely “one” returned to express his gratitude for being healed at the hands of the great healer!

But that isn’t all there is to the Gospel story.  As I recall, Jesus taught his beloved 12 that is how life is.  He wouldn’t say it quite this way - but basically it’s the modern equivalent of “you win some and lose some”.  You often give much more than you get in return - and that’s basically okay.  Still, it’s a source of bewilderment and some discouragement when 10 get ‘healed’ and only “one” remembers to thank the Person who made it all possible.

How often do we go back to the source of some significant learning or brilliant piece of wisdom we’ve gained to say “thank you”.  Perhaps it was a favored teacher who encouraged us when others only saw our flaws.  No matter who the person, it’s important to let them know they had a positive impact that made a difference.

Yet life lived out in a world that passes all too quickly, makes more of the messes we make.  It’s easier to tell someone what a sc_ _ _ up they are.  It seems that when the moment of crisis is over and we have emerged from the spring clean and clear - we romp off without a backwards glance.  Why is that?

Jesus often lamented the human condition!  He understood it so well, loved it to the marrow of His bones, but despaired of it often as when He sat on the hillside on the Mount of Olives and wept over Jerusalem.  How joyful he was that the “one” returned; how ‘peeved’ He was with the “nine” who did not.

My encouragement for the day is to take time to “return” to those who’ve touched us in a significantly positive way.  Those who’ve made an impact that may have gone unacknowledged, but not unforgotten.  Make today the day you ‘gird up your cloak’ and ‘run all the way back’ to the ones who made it possible - if only to smile and say “thank you!”

Have an awesome day with much love and sunshine in your soul!

Linda, a fellow journeyor

Today’s conversation comes out of a bruised place in my heart!  A place that holds both hurt and anger.  Have you ever been there?  Where you want to lick the wound and lash out at an other at the same time?

The question in my mind this morning is “Am I my sister’s keeper?”  Am I responsible for what one woman does to another because I made an opportunity available?  Is an organization at fault because of the lack of respect and gross immaturity of a few?

Ultimately the answer is “NO!”  But the process of getting to that understanding can be painful to say the least.

When we are wronged, mistreated or otherwise disrepected in some way - personally or professionally - our ‘knee-jerk’ reaction is to lash out.  At everything and everyone who had anything to do with what led to the offense.  The metaphor that comes to mind is “when egg is thrown on the face, everyone within ’spatter-distance’ gets a little on their faces as well!”

It also occurs to me that maturity is not subject to chrono-age!  One can’t assume that just because a woman has reached a certain point on the chrono-scale, she will be respectful, considerate and otherwise possess all that we call maturity. 

I’ve said all that to say this.  Or perhaps to ask the question - “Am I my sister’s keeper?”  Are we responsible for the actions of others simply because we have come together at some point in life and provided a platform for connections?  Some would say “yes” while those who are more cognizant of human behavior in general might say “maybe” or “in reality, no!”

I do believe we are responsible for correction of our sister’s when correction is needed.  That is what we call “tough love.”  I do think we are responsible for giving as much direction as possible in order to give understanding where understanding is due. 

But there are some things that we can’t do.  We can’t open the gullet and pour in maturity, mutual respect or consideration for others!  We can instruct, chastise and teach, teach, teach - but ultimately it is up to each individual woman to decide she will act in a mature responsible way - or continue to be a petulant child who could care less about the time, energy or feelings of others.

On the other hand, it is equally immature to lash out at everyone in sight simply because one or two ’sisters’ could care less about their credibility with others!  Life is full of them and unfortunately, we bump into them on a regular basis.

One of the hallmarks of the 2nd half of the journey is to know when, where and how to separate the perpetrator from the situation that led to the perpetration.  Jesus called it “separating the sin from the sinner!”  I think it’s one of the most difficult life lessons we have to learn.  And complicating it is our human emotions and bruised feelings.  The “somebody’s got to pay for my pain” syndrome!

It comes back to the question of the day - “am I my sister’s keeper?”  Yes and no!  That truly is the answer.  I can do all that I can humanly do to educate, inform, instruct and lead.  However, I can’t make her drink from the trough!

Life doesn’t come with a guarantee.  And people don’t come with one either!  As a leader, I can’t guarantee all the sister’s have achieved a level of maturity and wisdom that understands mistreating another sister only leads to destruction of the offending sister’s credibility.  And as a caring person, I can’t guarantee that the offended won’t sling some harsh words in my direction as well.

Can I keep you, dear sisters?  No, I can’t!  Can we be kind to each other; speak with honesty and integrity to each other; show others that the 2nd half of the journey is about having learned to speak the truth in love?  Can we be respectful of each other & show we care as much about you as about ourselves?  Yes, hopefully, we can all do that. 

But there will always be the one or two or three. . . . or more who won’t be ‘cut of that cloth’ no matter how chronologically mature they become.

It is from those we must part company.  Perhaps that is another aspect of being “my sister’s keeper?”

Have an awesome day with much love and loads of mutual respect!

Linda, fellow journeyor