SNOW DAY— GROW DAY?
Have you ever gotten a gift that you didn’t know exactly what to do with? You know it could be useful if you could just figure it out.
That’s just what I felt when I awoke to a snow filled world on Monday.
The world had stopped…
Of course I had heard it was coming but the reality that the world had “stopped” was different.
Suddenly I had a whole day or more open with all my plans put on hold. No places to go and nothing to do. It really felt strange but somehow exciting. What could I do with this gift of time?
I thought about all the many times I had complained about having too much to do and all the times I had wished I could go back to bed. How often had I said that I didn’t have time to do something? I have often felt like I didn’t have enough time.
Yet when “free time “was given to me, I was a little lost. But on vacation. I could easily do little all day and feel great about it. Why was this different? I know I could fill it up with household chores but that didn’t seem right. It felt like a time to do something different that would mark this special; not just marking time until I could get back to life as usual.
This was a gift that I wasn’t sure how to unwrap.
And then I remembered a friend who was a high level manger who regularly scheduled a “Pajama Day”.
She didn’t get out of her jammies all day and did only things that were relaxing- no guilt & no chores. She said those days made it possible to continue with her otherwise hectic life.
So what would it be like to have a “mini-vacation’? How about a nap at 11:00 or lunch of cookies at 3:00? What if I only did things that felt good even if I was “wasting time “?
What a radical idea!
So a little awkwardly, I proceeded. Some of the ”shoulds” lingered but they left when I got excited about doing something different even if was to just prove I could. It was amazing how easily my day flowed as I just asked myself. ”What so you feel like doing now?” Some of the answers were surprising like when I decided to watch some daytime TV…but all opened up some pocket of permission At the end of the day, I felt really good…renewed and relaxed and ready to make this a habit.
So now part of my New Years Intentions is to have more “Snow Days/Grow Days” even if it summer!
I think I’ll buy some new pajamas to make them official.
Thank You for Being in My Life
” If the only prayer you ever say is Thank You , that is enough.” Meister Eckhart
Dear Friends,
This year, I have had the privilege of working with many people going thru major life transitions and their courage and resilience has been an inspiration to me.I think one the great gifts of living a while is to realize that we do have the strength to get thru tough times.. we have done it before.
I’m sure you there are people you know who are like that too.
Surely,we all have a heritage that has both survived and thrived & so can we.I am grateful to remember that.
Sometimes the gifts I get from a “growing experience ” are the ones that really last,
although I usually can’t see it at the time!
And so I want to let you know that I am grateful to you for staying on my list,for reading what I send to you and for giving me feedback.I am also very grateful that you ask me to support you by becoming a client,a workshop participant or taking the time to write a comment to me.
So, just know that you are appreciated and valued.
Thank you for enriching my life…and pass the turkey!
Jeannie
WITH A SONG IN HER HEART
Meet Cindy Thomson, a woman who reclaimed her dream and inspires us to remember that is never too late to spread some joy.
Cindy has just recorded her first CD & on 11/14 she is having a CD release party party with the live band who recorded with her. It will be a great way to applaud her and her dream. (See info in sidebar). We hear that Tommy Tomlinson columnist for the Charlotte Observer will be there to write a story about her journey.
She did what she had to do.
Like many single moms, Cindy did what she had to do to support her two kids. She went back to college to finish her degree in accounting, rather than one in music, as she really wanted. . She sang when she could but never felt that she could pursue a music career. Her dream was put up and put off. But dreams are persistent & she finally got her chance and took it.
Now was the time…Music was calling.
She was laided off last year and tried to get another accounting job but music kept calling her. As a boomer and grandmother, she realized that if she was ever going to do it, now was the time. She felt that she needed to do this for herself and others like her who had had to put their dreams aside.
“With some coaching & family support, I finally began to believe that I deserved to do what I really wanted to do. I have never been so happy”.
And as often happens when we take a risk, many unexpected sources of support …like the Grammy nominated musicians, an outstanding producer and the superb sound studio…came to assist her. Her mother’s lovely artwork is on the CD cover.And so she created a CD.
THE SWEET THINGS IN LIFE CD is full of uplifting music and old favorites because Cindy feels we all need a lift these days. These songs have been a good reminder of hope for many year
And so in sharing the song that has always been in her heart, Cindy has put a song in our lives. And what a sweet thing that is.
Want to Get Something Done ? Get Some Old Broads to Do It!
“GREAT OLD BROADS FOR WILDERNESS”,
I had to check it out.
And I was totally hooked when saw their quote:
“Time & trouble can tame an young woman but an advanced old woman is a uncontrollable by any earthly force”.
And having come from a long line of “uncontrollable women ”
I knew exactly what they meant…and maybe you do too.And maybe you are one,I hope
so!
is a national grassroots organization that uses the voices and activisim of “elders” & others to protect & preserve wilderness.They work to preserve roadless public lands & other areas.
In Oct. they helped to create a new wilderness area in the Cherokee National Forest & avocated passing the first expansion of the Tenn. Wilderess Act in 24 years.They have been active in land preservation in almost every state by hosting “BroadWalks” camps where they eat great food, laugh a lot and
support the preservation of local wilderness areas.
They really know how to poke fun at politics and have some too.
Check out their antics in D.C.
Having Fun + Making a Difference
After all, places to have wonderful experiences is about all we can we can truly leave to those that come after us.
PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE & PASSION
MEET SOME AMAZING WOMEN !
I am so fortunate in my work and life because many people I meet are making a difference simply because they have purpose and passion…and love to share it!
Part of my business is coaching entrepreneurs, some in the beginning of their dream & others who are growing their business and their life. And, SOULO,the entrepreneur mastermind group I have been facilitating for 8 years, has introduced me to many more of these purposed passionate people. These people may not always get the spotlight, but they shine a bright light all around. I think you would like to meet them.
Carolyn Cook, a great example of taking your knowledge and making life better for others, created LiveSmartDesign to modify houses for people with physical challenges to stay in their homes. Sometimes people can’t sell their homes or don’t want to move, yet their houses are no longer safe or functional for them. Carolyn helps change their situation with her business.
Carolyn was a senior designer for an architectural firm when she was laid off at the same time as her husband. It was a scary time, but she decided that it was the perfect time to launch her business idea. She took courses in business & green building, got her Aging In Place Certification, and attended many meetings to learn what was needed in our community.
She also joined SOULO and shared her experiences. Now she teaches a course on “Aging in Place Design” for Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). Carolyn is wonderful example of a woman who refused to be put on the shelf and is making sure to share her experiences so others have the same opportunity.
Another person who turned her layoff into a new service with purpose and passion is Rev Ellizabeth Hyland She was a Presbyterian Chaplin working in a large medical center when she was laid off. She experienced firsthand the stress, isolation and depression that a job loss can generate. She began to do something about it by organizing the inspirational, “From Stress to Success” seminars. These were very successful and helpful to unemployed folks. (A gift to me was sharing in the experience because I was one the speakers.)
Then she wrote a book, Surviving The Unemployment Roller Coaster: From Stress to Success, about her experiences and now is a spiritual coach for job seekers. You can get her book & lots helpful hints on her website: Elizabeth Hyland webbiste
Elizabeth, with her example and her work, is changing the lives of many.
And people with purpose & passion inspire me to do the same…thank you..
New Blog Bite-An Energizing Event!
CPSE Dress For Success Event
CHRISTMAS IN JULY …
And I got the gift.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Isn’t it amazing — when we give to someone we often receive much more than we have given? I do believe that “paying it forward” is one of the most important actions we can take. Sometimes, though, I feel overwhelmed at the many problems facing us. This is why I love being a part of an “Energizing Event” to experience the Margaret Mead quote firsthand and sharing gift with you. I know small groups really do make big changes.
Recently, my favorite networking group, Carolina Professional Sales & Entrepreneurs (CPSE) did what they do best by supporting women who are making a difference. I have the honor of serving on the CPSE Board and it has been a big support for my business and personal life.
The CPSE held their July meeting at the “Dress for Success” organization in Charlotte where we learned about this very powerful program which helps women get & keep jobs…some for the first time in their lives! The Dress for Success program, a national organization, thoroughly prepares women to enter the workforce. Not only do they give women the appropriate clothes for a job interview (we all know how important that is), they also teach them how to be successful in their jobs and in their personal lives. The Charlotte Dress for Success program is so effective, the women they help have a 90%+ job retention rate — much better than other locations.
While CPSE has traditionally held a “fun social” in the summer, this year we decided to support the Charlotte Dress for Success program’s with our presence, lunch for their staff and the $500 we donated. We also enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by King’s Kitchen, a nonprofit organization which teaches culinary skills to people who have been homeless and donates the proceeds to hunger relief projects. Supporting two helpful organizations in one day was such a gift to us!
At this event, memories served another gift to me. I was reminded of the women I worked with for years who were coming out of jail or rehabilitation programs. Up close, I saw the enormous obstacles they faced. Their indomitable courage and unwavering devotion to their families both inspired and humbled me. It was a great gift to share their lives.
And so attending this year’s CPSE event was a wonderful reminder to honor those for whom I am grateful, to remember what is important and to look for times to gift other people by “paying it forward.”
We don’t have to wait until Christmas for our gifts!
Down the Rabbit Hole and Back Again
LifeLearnings…Musings and Perspectives on our changing times
Remember what happened to Alice in Wonderland?
She fell down a rabbit hole into a strange land where the rules didn’t make sense and the all the signposts were backwards.
Alice kept asking for help to find her way but got confusing instructions. The queen of the land threatened to take off her head if Alice didn’t follow orders, but the orders were impossible to execute.
Over the last year or so,I have been feeling like Alice. The world seemed crazy. And I know many who feel the same. We have fallen down a hole and can’t get out. The signposts don’t make any sense. The landscape is different. What we are “supposed” to do is impossible and real directions seemed hard to find.
But as I have stumbled around myself and have helped others navigate through their changes, I have found out something very helpful and comforting.
That something is my essential self.
What’s the essential self? Our heart and our soul — those parts of us that are our character, are the same. They have not changed, no matter what else has. The essential self is as distinctive as the shape of our head or the way we walk. Whatever happened externally, the inside is much the same. On the inside is our values, our integrity and yes, our quirks and eccentric ways. Whatever made us valuable and unique is still there and usable, even if dented and scratched.
Whew..Realizing that was a great relief. I can count on those things within me that I have honed over my lifetime…they are not going to desert me. I can feel safe. I have only lost the outside stuff, not what is really valuable.
Realizing this, a quiet joy began to emerge because while everything else can be replaced or discarded, I, the essential me, will never go away.
And while I’m not grinning like the Cheshire Cat, I am smiling more and that’s a good sign. And yes, as the song says.”Still crazy after all these years” and I refuse to lose that.
And I hope you are the same.
5 Mistakes That Can Cost You Business
I will be giving a talk on this topic to The Midlands Business Association on May 18, 2010 @ 12:00 .
The Midland Business Association has invited me to speak on this topic at their monthly luncheon. In this talk I will discuss the common mistakes in using time, money & reputation that undermine many entrepreneurs and give some simple solutions to avoid them. After making lost of mistakes myself and years of coaching entrepreneurs, I have some suggestions that can help to avoid costly missteps.
This business group is made up of small businesses and entrepreneurs who are located just on the outskirts of Charlotte NC in a fast growing area close to the 485 loop.
I was recommended by Pat Allen, a former SOULO member and owner of Grannanny Soaps & Lotions. Ifelt that I could give useful information to this group and I am delighted to support them since “start up entrepreneurs “ are some of my favorite people to work with.
For more info, contact me or : joyce@weeklypostnc.com
SHIFT Drumming Circle
A group for Women who desire a shift from the routine of everyday life and move towards experiencing the ancient heartbeat of the Earth using drums, rattles, dance, song and heart to heart conversation.
A sacred place to rediscover women’s spirituality and wisdom using rhythm.
No Experience Necessary!
Love Offering Accepted.
UPCOMING DATES: MAY 14TH & JUNE 25
7:00-9:00 pm
Contact me for location.
For 2 years I have hosted a free drumming circle in the summer. This circle is facilitated by Belinda Haverdill, http://www.belindahaverdill.com/ a counselor & a member of Soulo entrepreneur’s group. She wanted to have the drumming be outside and I volunteered my back porch. I’ve enjoyed it a lot & met some great women.
I really appreciate having Belinda organize it and I just get to be a participant; a welcome change of pace for me.
I’m really not a drummer but I like to make noise so I have lots of rattles and other toys to play with. I find it a great way to release stress and have some fun.
THE CIRCLE THAT MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND
Women Holding Up the World
“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Women Holding Up the World
I was crying…
It was a very hot August day and I was crying. I felt depressed and lonely. I was overwhelmed, stressed and didn’t know where to get any help.
I had started my business and while it was slowly growing, so was my despair.
The isolation of working alone, trying to know all I needed to know and keep up with it all was overwhelming me. It was just too much to do by myself. Friends and family just didn’t get what I was doing and thought I just laid around all day.
A job a Wal-Mart was looking good
Slowly it dawned on me that I could not be the only person who felt like this and maybe by getting us together we could help each other.
So out of my despair, the entrepreneurs support group, SOULO was born. Seven years later I now know help is close by in the lives of other women; I just have to as
Ordinary women making history
So this is an article about “ordinary” women making history by just being themselves and making a difference right where they are.
Most of them started a business because of economic necessity and equally important, because they wanted to make a difference in their world.
And I can honestly say, without their ideas, inspiration, advice and savvy, I would be working at Wal-Mart.
Over the years, women with a variety of businesses have been a part of the group. From a goat farmer to CEOs…all have come together to grow themselves, their businesses and each other. Someday I’m going to write a book about all of them but for now, let me introduce the current members and you will see what what I mean.
Meet these amazing Women
Meg Houlihan, Ph.D. ,has been in the group almost since it started and her quiet wisdom has added so much to all us.Meg is a psychologist in private practice and she supports people, especially children, to deal with stress thru connections with nature. Her community activism and her commitment to the environment as well as her family inspire us.(Dr. Houlihan)
Carolyn Cook is the newest member and created her business, LiveSmart Designs after she was laid off. Carolyn helps people with physical issues stay in their homes by redesigning & configuring ways to both be “green” and to be accessible. She is currently teaching “Aging in Place ” at CPCC. Her energy and openness is contagious.
Belinda Haverdill, psychotherapist, came to SOULO to find way to expand her work with woman and support their healing. Belinda has studied many traditions and spiritual paths and wanted to share her knowledge. She now leads retreats, a drumming circle and many other growth experiences.She now sees herself as a expanding entrepreneur. Belinda’s gentle caring supports us all. www.belindahaverdill.com
Tamela Rich came to the group after her business had to close and she wanted to find a way a create work out of her love of writing. She is now a sought after writer for financial markets. She is planning a cross-country motorcycle tour to gather material for a book and even has a book agent. Tam inspires us by her use of social media and willingness to take risks. www.TamelaRich.com
They think they are ordinary...
And they think they are just “ordinary” women….making history by being themselves.
I am honored to know them and to know I am not alone.
They are holding up the world…. each other, and especially me.
Without them, I would be lucky to working at Wal-Mart!
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