For my beautiful friend and mentor Margaret Keys, on her 70th birthday:
Who knew?
I had my head down, fingers at the keyboard, blinders on.
Something was missing but I was deaf to the clamor within. My spirit was yearning and because it hurt to listen – I drowned her out with work and buying things for my house and getting married and raising children and more work and attempting to climb the corporate ladder many people around me seemed so eager to top.
And then I was invited to meet you.
Coming in to your space, feeling your presence that evening, I became aware that the invitation I had received was bigger than me. Eyes aglow, I couldn’t wait to return the next morning for more.
The twelve of us were brought deeper into your private sanctuary. We encircled you and sat waiting, knowing our awakening was at hand.
Everything came into focus during those hours communing with our assembled tribe.
Glimpses of possibilities.
Women who hold each other and listen, really hear, don’t compete, judge or keep distance from.
Leaders who nurture, teach rituals and lessons learned over years of life experiences, draw the circle so that we see how ageless we all are. That we are one woman.
A life worth paying attention to. Practices worth cultivating. Relationships worthy of our authentic voices.
And I knew I was being called.
In the space of the women’s circle you created – I heard my own voice call me to Life.
Are there women who’ve made a powerful difference in your life? Wise ones who see into the real you, they do not diminish you because of your relative age or experience, but lift you up? Please share your powerful experiences of women’s circles and cherished mentors in the comments below!
I had dinner with a friend last week who I hadn’t seen in months (aside from Facebook). She said ‘Your career looks like it’s going great, I’m so happy for you!’ I said ‘Yeah, it really is, thanks!’ and then she told me, ‘You know, it’s almost annoying, you look so happy.’ with a sheepish grin.
She’s right. I’m pretty happy and I love the work I do. This didn’t happen overnight, I’ve been cultivating my happiness and success for a few years now. And I think it’s available to anyone, no matter what their career situation is. Here’s ... Read More
I love my birthday! Yes it does get better & better every year. Here are just some of the expressions of gratitude I wish to share today.
Waking up before 5AM to sit in centering prayer (meditation) w/ my spirit co-pilot sweetie.
Out the door in time to walk around the pond, graced by the presence of dragonflies, taking in the golden light glinting off the tall grasses as the sun makes her ascent.
To my body, by now I have learned to honor and keep you. Thank you for looking back at me so glowingly all these years, sexy!
My ... Read More
The cookies are coming, the cookies are coming!
Before we learned Grandmommy is coming for Christmas this year (she promises to do the baking), my son asked me with a woeful expression “Um, mom, are we going to have any cookies this Christmas?” And because I delight in torturing my children I said… “Why no! In fact, let’s make it a completely sugar-free holiday! Maybe we should do gluten-free. Heck, let’s go for vegan!” Poor kid, said he felt like crying… I guess he didn’t find it quite as a funny as I did (gotta make procrastination a ... Read More
Last night I was up late, pouring my heart & soul into a post on a private community forum when POOF it was gone from my screen and replaced by a cheery message that network updates were being performed and I could happily come back later. WTF?!?!?!?! It's moments like this when I become more aware of my inner Pele (Hawaiian Goddess of the volcano, creator and destroyer). A seemingly small disruption and VOOM. Unfortunately for innocent bystanders, this can happen somewhat regularly ~ and since I'm a woman who loves her husband, kids & dog, and prefers to keep them around, I've had to find some tools to ... Read More
