It’s 2 AM, and I cannot sleep. Not too unusual for me. Reasons for my erratic sleep pattern include a sick cat, two Doberman Pinchers who prefer my bed to theirs, and having an open ear for my horses. However, there is another reason this morning; a wildfire is lurking. Those of us who weathered last year’s fire are feeling the stress of the what if’s a fire can bring.…
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Driving away from the Veterinarian yielded the exact results I knew in my heart: my beloved cat Cloudy had bone cancer in her jaw. At 20 yrs she has lived a whole and happy life, so hearing the news was bittersweet. All of us who have four-legged companions dread the day they will depart; some people refuse to endure the heartache of the loss again; I, on the other hand,…
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That she bear children is not a woman’s significance. But that she bear herself, that is her supreme and risky fate.” ~ D.H. Lawrence I was not the woman who went starry-eyed when I saw a baby. However, I always thought I would be a fantastic mother. My maternal and caretaking instincts were honed. The comment “You’ll be a great mom” was shared amongst friends, and in my mind,…
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The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is. ~Alan Watts In the ’80s, I lived in NYC and worked in the fashion industry at a high-pressure job. I was overworked, unhappily married, and in need of an escape. I had found myself living a life that did not resonate with my true…
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Men, this is for you and to all of the women who care about you. While men are keeping in step with their evolution becoming more sensitive and spiritual, there is an insurgence of women empowerment rising in society. Men are being challenged, many are feeling out of sorts, misplaced and frustrated. We have found equality in the workplace and chores are no longer gender-specific. Men are staying home caring…
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”A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” ~gloria steinem The strength of a woman comes in many forms. Women have been entering the workforce for decades now with their power suits and “I can elbow my way into a man’s world” attitude. We have succeeded in acquiring the CEO, CFO, and COO statuses. By doing so, we have become more challenging and…
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Women over 50 have been talking about the feeling of invisibility for years. Most women have felt it—some more than others. What are the connotations and ramifications of the label of invisibility? Becoming invisible happens slowly; we don’t suddenly disappear; it is a gradual fading, almost invisible. So except for the feeling that something is changing, we barely realize it is happening. Then one day, we realize we are irrelevant…
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An ex-beau once referred to me as “granola girl,” which was ironic because I didn’t even like granola. It was merely a way for him to categorize me. Conscientious with how I choose to live my life, I ate healthy, recycled, practiced yoga, at one point even lived off the grid. For him, the label represented not only my eating habits but also my mindset. However, he was wrong; it was…
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Sometimes who we are is more apparent to strangers than to ourselves. A chance encounter made me look deeply into the core of who I am. While having sushi with a friend, a man sat down beside me. As he ordered a sake, he said to me, “You have beautiful hands.” Although, obviously chatting me up, could he not see what my hands looked like? I wouldn’t say I liked…
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The only justice is to follow the sincere intuition of the soul, angry or gentle. Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgement is never just. ~ D. H. Lawrence Animals are my most outstanding teachers. Occasionally, I foster dogs in need, primarily Dobermans. Each time I accept a new dog, I vow it will be the last time, yet I cannot resist stepping into the lives of these…
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