Day 15 in Gratitude

Wow, where do I begin? I have so many things to be grateful for today.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to purchase a pair of comfortable shoes this morning! Last night, I walked through an Atlanta mall asking a security guard what time the shoe store in the mall opened the next morning, he told me 8:30. This morning, sitting outside of the shoe store at 8:20am there I was, feet still throbbing from the night before in anticipation of some relief. To my surprise, the mall opened at 8:30 but the shoe store opened at 10:00. You guessed correctly, I waited patiently! I was successful. Truth be told, the damage to my feet had already been done but at least tonight, I didn't limp back to my hotel room like the previous night.

I am grateful to have met an amazing women while waiting for the shoe store to open. With both our noses pressed against the store window waiting to try on any and all comfortable shoes was another woman. We started up a conversation and I found this woman to be fascinating. She was running a gift shop in Alabama. Her husband was a pharmacist and she opened a gift shop attached to the pharmacy. As I asked more questions, it turns out, she also owns and operates the local newspaper. After asking a few more questions found that she's also the mayor of that town! We had a wonderful conversation about life and doing what you love. I'm thrilled to have met her acquaintance.

Before meeting this woman who, from what little I learned, runs this small town in Alabama, I met a women from Michigan. We started talking about Global Warming, the importance of treating our earth gently, recycling, etc. Once the conversation really got going we were discussing how we both felt very strongly about the power of oneness and how we are all connected yet some days that thought isn't in the forefront. (Remember, I had 1 1/2 hours to kill) We talked about Oprah and the power she wields. How she can make or break a product and/or book. How she was trying to raise her children with the awareness that there are more important things than getting good grades. That treating people with respect is or should be a top priority. I am so grateful that I took the time to engage all these people in conversation. The more I do this, the more I truly understand and firmly believe we are all together in this. Yes, we do come wrapped in different packages. But we all have the same fears and desires. And even tho we may have different names for what we believe in, we are all connected.

What are you grateful for?

Day 9 in Gratitude

Today has been an amazing day. I had the opportunity to speak with an entrepreneurial woman from South Carolina who is starting an Elite Mastermind Group. She was focused, passionate and driven. I always marvel at the power of women who know what they want and go out and get it - very inspiring. I am grateful to have had an inspiring conversation with such an amazing woman. You know who you are - thank you.

My youngest son was home for a very short time this weekend. I mentioned in a previous post that he was home to attend the wedding of a dear friend of his. I am thankful to have spent the time I had with him, I enjoy him so.

I'm leaving out of town in a few days. I'm not ready to go on this trip. Tomorrow night after work I have a class from 7-9pm. I have Tuesday after work to pack and leave Wednesday morning. My fabulous husband helped me in every way today. He had gone out to run some of his own errands and stopped at the health food store to buy me some of the things I need to go on my trip. Then as I was starting to get my clothes ready for the trip, he came into the bedroom with fresh fruit because he knew I was hungry. I know, I know, you're all falling in love with him...how can you not?!? I am so thankful to have him in my life!! Thank you baby, I appreciate you.

What are you grateful for?

Amazing Women

I came home from a Woman’s Retreat this weekend tired but refreshed and inspired.

This retreat was up in the mountains of Arizona, 7000 feet. Driving up to the campus my ears kept popping and my sinus was confused and sometimes angry. I was constantly air chewing and yawning to keep the pressure in my ears from blowing! The air was crisp and clean, the sun glistened on the lakes, the trees smelled of pine. If I closed my eyes and forgot where I was, I would believe I was in Wisconsin. At night the stars appeared brilliantly in the sky, I was awestruck. Being away from the bright skyline of Las Vegas was welcoming.

I met many inspiring women. Women who have gone through trials and tribulations that you wouldn’t wish on anyone yet have come out stronger and more beautiful than they ever would have imagined. This wasn’t a retreat to pour your heart out and hope that someone was there to pick up the pieces. This was more a retreat to introduce yourself, to connect, to talk about what matters most to you and to share, if you were willing, your fears, your dreams, your aspirations.

The most awe inspiring of the weekend was the simple fact that these women have such a strong faith in God. A faith that is unwavering, a faith that is constant, neverending. Let me give you a few lines of a song that they sung, to give you a better idea of the level of their faith;

Nothing can separate, even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes but
You have new mercies for me every day
Your love never fails
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage, I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
And your love never fails
‘Cause you make all things work together for my good

I have to be honest, I do not have a faith like this. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God but I do not live at the level that these women do. They’re on a first name basis with God, they have daily conversations with God. They have devoured the Bible at Bible study classes. They put their hopes, their fears, their dreams in his hands and … let go.

I, on the other hand, am a continually reforming control freak. I, most times, feel that if I only did this…or if I would have done that…or, I can and will do this and it will fix that. It is exhausting! And, when things are going well, I can pat myself on the back and say “great job!” but with that thought process, when things are not going well I can beat myself up knowing that I must have done something wrong and only I can and will fix it NOW. What an ego! Seriously!!

I truly believe as women, mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, business professionals, we think we should have the answers for every situation that arises. Is the title we carry how we define ourselves? Why is this? Is this the way we were raised? I don’t have all the answers. All I know is that I honor and respect these marvelous women I spent a weekend with. I honor and respect them for who they are and the faith that they live by during good times and bad. I honor and respect them for the passion that lives inside them and keeps them going day after day after day. And I hope to call them friends.