When the stars align

For those of you who know me well, you know I wasn't thrilled about the move to Charlotte.  Not that I had anything against this town.  It was just that I loved my friends in St. Louis, where were going to live and what I was able to do.  Charlotte meant me starting all over in business and with friends.

We've been here a year this month.  I know, that is crazy to imagine.  But, we have been inundated with house stuff, family stuff and sports!  This is the first time I have been able to focus on what is next for me.  I know, I said I was going to find myself before dinner, but I think it is more like finding myself before Christmas!!

I decided a couple of weeks ago to attend the eWomen Networking luncheon.  The St. Louis chapter was a great place for me in terms of connecting me to people who have turned into life-long friends.  I didn't really have high hopes for one meeting.  It takes several to begin to develop a relationship.  So, I collected cards and sent emails as soon as I got home.

This week I have had coffee with 3 fantastic women that I met that day.  All of them have been wonderful.  But today was a particularly exciting.  I met Coliesta Vidak at Amelie's French Bakery for coffee.  We instantly talked about a hundred things that we had in common.  I told her that I was trying to find someone to smudge my house and get rid of all the bad energy.  She does that!!  Then Charlene Neville, a great friend of Coliesta's joined us.  We chatted for over an hour.

I had arranged for Sydney Duarte to meet me at this coffee shop so she joined us.  Her zest for life inspired all of us!  We were having a wonderful time and another woman asked what we were talking about.  She is a makeup artist and heard us talking about image.  Turns out we live in the same part of town and her husband played football at the university my stepson is looking at.  He also played for the Bears, which is just really cool to throw in.   A lady at the table behind us introduced herself and talked with us for awhile.

Clearly the attraction energy was very high today.  I know that I met some women who will be long term friends.  I had hoped to meet some new friends.  But, what I received today was way beyond expectation!!

Color me grateful :)

Gratitude

My last two posts have been practical steps about reaching inside and discovering talents and defining values.  Difficult things to do for most people.  When it is time to share or verbalize these things, it can be a little uncomfortable.  Any time that we are exposed and vulnerable is uncomfortable.  Which brings me to the point of this post.  To feel gratitude for all of our gifts, talents, skills and values is an essential part of self-acceptance and growth.

I am addicted to The Biggest Loser.  I wouldn't watch it for the first four seasons because I hated the name.  I hated that they called people who needed love and support big losers.  Clearly I didn't understand the premise of the show.  So, when I watched the show for the first time I was completely hooked.  I love the moments that people make discoveries about themselves that turn their lives around.  But, tonight was the first time that I felt gratitude.


Tears rolled down my face as Rulon Gardner, a gold medal Olympian, stood on the scale with his jaw quivering.  He was overwhelmed by emotion because he would achieve a 100 lb. weight loss tonight.  When asked why it made him so emotional he said that it was because he was getting his life back.  I was so moved that this tough Olympian felt so deeply this new accomplishment.  And it made me feel grateful.

I am grateful that we, as humans, can feel so deeply for others.  My friend, Emily, wrote about love and how it isn't a one day thing but an every day thing.  If we didn't have the ability to feel deeply then we wouldn't have the ability to love.

I'm also grateful that we were give the free will to make choices.  When our life doesn't feel like it is on the right path we can choose to make it different.  Regardless of circumstances, we have what it takes within us (every one of us) to decide to change.  How amazing is that!!

I don't want to make this an official step of the journey.  I think that gratitude should be eternal not part of a limited process.  I am grateful that I was reminded today to be grateful!!