Morning Meditation

" Female friendships that work are relationships in which women help each other to belong to themselves." Louise Bernikow

" To have anything worth giving to a friend, we must belong to ourselves. Are we someone we like? Does our behavior agree with our beliefs? Do our friends share our values, and when we are together do we support one another?

If we don't like our own company, we will try to hide our real selves. The more we hide, the further we are running from wholeness and health. We can assess ourselves, calmly and lovingly, so that we can keep on becoming the women we want to be. The more congruent are our behavior and our beliefs, the more we belong to ourselves. The better we like ourselves, the better friends we can be."

Affirmation:
" The love and sympathy of my women friends can help me in my spiritual journey toward serenity, and I can help theirs. Today, I will accompany others on their journey, and thus find company for my own."
Anon.

Andrew and I were talking about the people we have in our lives now. How important our friends are to us. What we get out of our relationships...who have fallen by the wayside...what kind of folks are we wanting to attract to us now? I feel like this has been a time for re-grouping. For digging down and really looking inward. What is important to us, to our family? There has been a lot of looking back to see if there are unresolved issues that are effecting our now. I have a feeling that there are big lessons for me in doing this. Big lessons for us all really. Here's to looking at ourselves with honesty and compassion. xoxo

This Stage...

" Let us not stifle ourselves any longer. Let us dare to dream and realize those dreams. Let us dare to take risks, having faith that to advance in any respect implies taking risks. We have one another's example to inspire us as we contemplate our own agenda for self expression. Many of us for far too long passively watched others move forward. No longer need we be passive observers, but the familiarity of no action, no choice making, and irresponsibility, makes passivity attractive at times. We must remember responsible choices, for only those make possible our very special contributions. Not every day do we awaken with the strength needed to " do our part." But the strength will be available just as quickly as we call for it. Alone, we are strugglers; however, we have a ready partnership, and it guarantees us guidance, wisdom, and strength when we ask for it."
" I will center on myself. I will nurture the maturing woman within and then reach out."
Anon

School Daze

As we head into the middle of the first full week of school for the big boys, I find myself wondering what my early experiences were like. I don't remember a lot of detail. I remember my preschool graduation. I remember my best friend Tina in Kindergarten. I was in a bilingual class in second grade that I really enjoyed. Third grade I had a harder time. My mom, who was chronically late, got in trouble for never getting me to school on time. I remember being embarrassed having to walk into the classroom knowing I was going to interrupt the lesson.The teacher saying out loud, in front of everyone, how she was going to talk to my mom about it. So I'm in a frenzy in the morning..breakfast..get everyone dressed, lunch for two..brush teeth, spray curls/fluff, kids vitamins, get all our bike gear on, and three days a week getting Tone ready for school too. After the morning craziness is done and I return home, I then realise that I haven't even brushed my teeth and my socks don't match. The house looks like a bomb hit every room and I am starving. So I spend "my" time doing the kids homework. Yes homework for my preschool kid as well as the Kinders! This is all in the guise of fun...crafts for the Family. Then there's PTA..sign up for this and that. Give time...give money!!! But, what keeps me partially sane in all this is that I know I'm not the only harried, fuzzy toothed mom out there. There are a lot of us out there so be kind and beware. ;)

Change Change Change

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Hot Dog!

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Labor Day

Haven't blogged in a few days. This morning on my walk I was doing step ups and two woman came running by me. One shouted out " You go girl! way to go! I will be doing those tomorrow." I was taken aback a little. I haven't been encouraged by a total stranger before. Was kinda nice. We don't always say nice things to each other...on the contrary really. We are more likely to criticize each other. This made me acutely aware of this factor. So today I am going to compliment a stranger. Who knows...I may start a trend. Have an awesome Labor day. xoxo