Silence....

Awe the joy of silence. Tonight I have treated myself to a roaring fire, a glass of wine (almost said bottle...that would have been the old me) some fresh bread and a hunk of cheese (the old me would have had a Hunk to go with it). The TV is silent and the only noise I hear is is the hissing of the wood and the howling of the wind. Now this is almost nirvana after the last few days. I almost feel sad that I am enjoying my solitude...but then I get over it.
Yesterday I had a conversation with a very dear friend who is like a daughter to me. It seems that all of a sudden our roles have reversed. She used to be the quiet one, content to stand in the background and absorb what was taking place in front of her. Me, I was the one taking place! Me who never missed a party, was the life of the party and life was a party. I used to try to coax her out, come join the fun. "No, I will just watch"... So watch me she did. Now it is her time, her saying to me...come on join the fun. With me replying....no not tonight maybe next time. She is the life of the party now and the party wants her. Wow, how did this happen? Is this part of the CHANGE???? If so I am OK... I have had so many noisy nights in my life the quiet sounds really good for a change.........and I know where the party is if I should change my mind!

the "NEWS"...

Yesterday our restaurant was closed due to a leaking pipe of some sort. The sort that caused us to close for business for the day. Today didn't look any better at the start either. The reason I mention this is that when my "significant other" Frank isn't working he is obsessed with the TV... not just the TV but the talking "Heads" kind of TV (the news) and old movies. Sometimes I am amazed at how many times he can watch the those old classics just like he was seeing them for the first time. As he says: they don't make them like they used too!
Since my home is of the small variety I can't seem to get away from the sound of the TV unless I go to bed. I also need to mention that I do not watch ANY news programs, local or national anymore. I once read a book on health by Andrew Weil M.D. that suggested people need to take a break from the news. It would do a soul good to get away from the gloom and doom for a little news vacation. I found that for me he was completely right. What news I do get is from the Internet, the kind where you can choose what you read or educate yourself about. No bleeding heart stories for me. If I want to feel bad all I need to do is look around me, someone has it worse than I ever have. There is so much sadness and suffering in our own backyards we don't need to watch the news to feel bad. Someone is always dying, someone is always sick. The list goes on and on. I get up every day and am grateful that I do. If I am feeling down and want to feel better about myself I call downtown to the Red Cross Apheresis center and make an appointment to make a donation of plasma and platelets. I look at the pictures of all those who will benefit from my gift and fill such an overwhelming since of contributing and gratefulness. If I have a friend that is in need of some sort I make sure I offer whatever I have that would be of help to them. I make sure I touch peoples lives that touch mine in a good way and at the end of the day I feel pretty good about the day and look forward to tomorrow.
So after spending a day and a half with the TV going non stop I came to the realization that it is no wonder Frank is a GRUMP! He is being feed the most depressing information a person can consume and not just once, he channels surfs! GLOOM AND DOOM INC. should be the name of some of them. What I wonder is where did all of these experts come from??? For every left opinion there is a right opinion and if that isn't enough there is the middle ground. It really isn't the "NEWS" anymore its really programs about all of the EXPERT OPINOINIST that are out there.
If people believe what they are lead to believe from ALL the different OPINIONS that all the EXPERTS are spouting at them they might as well go to bed and never get out. What surprises me the most is how many EXPERTS there are out there? No wonder our economy is in the pits, our biggest employer seems to be the media! What do these experts do to earn their money???
Its not bad enough that we had to listen to one or two at a time they now have views that have more than 8-10 people across your screen. Each one scrambling to be heard over the others. Who can understand one thing that comes out of their mouths???? Still talking about bad news that happened months and months ago that they just keep rehashing like its going to change the outcome?
I can't take it anymore. Frank has got to go to work or I will go to bed and never get out....

Consistency

As I contemplated the New Year on Jan. 1st. I decided that I was really going work at setting goals this year. So as not to overwhelm myself I decided to keep my goals small, somethng to build on. So in reflecting where I needed some "work" I decided my new goal word to sum things up for this year is "Consistancy".
This is a definition from Dictionary.com: steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.: There is consistency in his pattern of behavior.
Yep, that sounds just like what I need. So I am off to the book store to get me some books on becoming "consistent". This is how I tackle things, I find my answers in books.
Wow! I must not be the only one suffering from this affliction. There were literally hundreds of books to choose from. So I needed to narrow it down to specifics. So where did I need to start? I don't want to answer that here so I will just say that the book I chose was "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. Not only did I buy the "book" I also bought the audio book! We cant have too much re enforcement now can we (this is the way my mind works).
Since another goal I set for myself was to start doing something to get myself in better shape physically I figured that I would be really good and listen to it while I was sweating away on my treadmill. Then, when I had some quiet time, I could pick up the book and read what I had listened to on my player. Now wait, I need to tell you that if I was going to really commit to walking the treadmill I needed to treat myself to a brand spanking new player, new walking shoes, new outfits for walking, you get the picture. I am all geared up! So now I am all set to start on my path......this is going to be the year I get my stuff together.
That was at the beginning of January and this is the beginning of February.....and I am sad to report that I have gotten no things done.... treadmill is dusty, shoes still a bright white. I have worn the new outfits because that are really comfy to wear around the house. I haven't even gotten past the beginning of the book! The only thing I have been able to be consistent at is shopping and spending MONEY!!! Why is that such a natural thing with me??? What am I going to do???? Is there help for me and is there a book that covers this??? (and does it come in an audio?) .....

CHANGE

Change
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change the nation.When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older man, I tried to change my family.Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realized that if long ago I had changed myself,I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on my town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
-Unknown Monk, A.D. 1100
Napoleon HillWorld Learning Centerwww.naphill.org

Social networking works how???

Here is a link to a great description of Social Networking and what it can do for you in business and its a visual, for me thats important!
Check this guy out he is a riot but gets the point across. http://perrybelcher.com/blog6/2008/11/30/how-to-make-money-with-social-media/

That GUT feeling

Today I am reflecting on how long it has been since I have felt a sense of hope about our Country. When I think back to how I felt when GW got elected for the first time, I felt????? a major sense of Dread. When I think back to how GW handled going to WAR I felt???? an alarming sense of Dread. I remember thinking nothing good can come of this. To sum it up I have been walking around with a sense of dread for so long I never realized the effect it had on me. Today I have been in tears most of the morning, thinking of what a monumental moment this is. I, for the first time in a long time, woke up excited and full of HOPE and I have learned to trust my gut. This new president comes with a mighty message. We must all be the change we want to see. I don't know about most but I for one will be! I know that Change will not happen overnight, but the idea that we have someone as our leader that believes it can happen is thrilling to me. I wasn't old enough to remember what the feeling was like when John F Kennedy was elected but I bet it was pretty close to what I am feeling today. Oh happy day....

A Family Portrait

Every woman needs a WIFE

I recently had this realization...and I am how old????

I think about all the stress I have put myself through worrying about my financial future without my partner. I really started resenting the fact that he has no pension plan (like he is the only one)! How dare he! It is HIS responsibility to make sure that I am taken care of. What happens if and when he should kick the bucket (of course I am not going to be first). How was I going to survive just on HIS Social Security check (you've heard of inflation). It may help with my living expenses but how am I going to shop? You know how important it is to look good, and I am not cheap. Is my "pack" going to take care of me?

OK if you are not laughing along with me you better keep reading.

Where did this thought that a "man" is expected to be the sole provider come from? Oh yes, I remember, that would be my MOTHER. In the way I was raised, every piece of advice I was ever given. How "girls" were taught to think then (now remember how old I am).

So I ran across this website that I think is great... It is called WIFE.org
The Women’s Institute for Financial Education here is the link: http://www.wife.org/

It contains some great information that us Savvy Wild Women should know. Check it out you may learn something that you didn't know before.

Women Who Run With the Wolves....

Women Who Run With the Wolves

by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.

Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype

I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time with out success. What would I write about, did I have a passion to share? Who would want to read something I had to say? So at dinner with some great women friends the other night during one of our wonderful conversations I was reminded of this book. It has been a long time since I have revisited it but it always is near by. One of the blessings in my life is finding a message at an approiate time. This book provided that powerful message and in being reminded of it, it provided me my material for my first blog.

Some young women are blessed with great women to mentor her and guide her though all the up and down times in a her life. Be it her mother, grandmother or a special teacher. Someone who will share her stories of joys, of laughter, of struggles and of strife. I believe this is esential for women to grow, to make good decisions and have some measure of living a balanced life.

This is a great book for someone who grew up with a skewed view of what womens roles should be in life. It helps to explain why we feel the way we do, why we are treated the way we are.

The book is filled with stories, fables and myths, where women are compared with wolves. Like wolves, the author argues, wild women (by which she means strong women who are in touch with their intuitive nature) have been falsely maligned and unjustly persecuted. Yet like wolves, wild women are playful, intuitive, family-oriented, brave and enduring. Healthy wolves and healthy women share certain psychic characteristics," she writes. "Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mate, and their pack."

When the instinctive inner self is disrupted it manifests itself in to many disruptive traits in our lives. This I have found happens with lots of women. As a result of reading this book I have a much better understanding of myself and other women. If you feel like taking a journey, I would highly suggest this book. It is how I define who I am...... A Wild Woman, and how this blog gets its name...

A weekend with the "Incredibles"

I just returned home from an exciting time spent with some "incredible" women.

This past Sunday I attended the Women's Council of REALTORS Inaugural event. This is a professional women's group (though not restricted to just women today) that was founded in 1938. If you would like more info on us here is a link to an article by JEFFREY M. HORNSTEIN about the formation of the Council. http://www.wcr.org/Portals/0/wcrarticle_revised3.12.08.pdf.

For most of my adult life I have been searching for mentors that would help me move forward on my path through life. I am happy to say I have found it and the beauty is the variety of it. I was surrounded by the most talented and gifted women I have encountered in my lifetime.

One of my favorite ones is an amazing 93 years young (old does not apply to this feisty and beautiful fountain of experience). She has been in the organization for nearly 50 yrs. That is longer than most can say about life. I had the wonderful experience of sitting with her at breakfast one morning and sharing life stories. The amazing thing to me is that we are all so very much alike no matter who, what, when, or where we are or come from. We all have some story that will enlighten the path of another. Then there is the very talented and extremely selfless one that I admire more than I could possible express. To put her resume on paper would fill a book. The things that she can accomplish in a blink of an eye and the people that she touches and cares for is amazing. One could only hope to achieve a portion of what she is about. I could go on and on for there so many that have achieved so much in there private and professional lives.

The theme for the installation our newly installed and very lovely president Karen O'Donnell chose was so appropriate "To Inspire". What a concept, and how fitting. This is something we all could benefit from. To try and inspire someone to a greatness they didn't know that they could aspire to. To lead the way for the ones behind us that will take us even further than we are today. I am so very excited to be a part of this vast network of so many wonderful and talented people.
To look forward to our future knowing that it will be OK. We are going to be just fine, if not I know someone who WILL make it better!