I had the privilege to sit still and enjoy the company of some pretty amazing women the other evening. We were winding down after the usual slam –jam week. You know, the one that occurs after being blissfully lulled into a different rhythm due to the holidays.
We used these conversation cards to help us get started in an effort to acknowledge the good and the bad in a truthful way. (What? Women who need help getting a conversation started...really?) Getting a chance to speak authentically is enriching and energizing.
Susan shared with us her adventure to launch a business. A resourceful, creative woman choose to confront the inevitable change in job (the position is being phase out), trying to hang on to the remnants of a career until retirement, and balance her commitment to her family to stay finically solvent, while being authentic. No small order. But what the heck, women are known for taking on insurmountable orders. (Note to self: A good reason why it is important to make a point of regularly sitting still and reflecting.)
What did she do? She started an amazing, fun business restoring furniture. She is like a magician with old stuff discarded on the side of the road. I can’t begin to fathom all the details of restored furniture. I just like to sit in it and enjoy the end results. For Susan, restoring old discarded furniture, making it beautiful again, and helping others learn how to restore furniture in this simple process makes her happy. When she shared with us her WHY, an amazing process took place: she remembered and got excited again about her journey.
In a few ticks of the clock she was energized and ready to take on a new challenge. Running her own workshops. She knew this was always the plan, and she got excited and energized again. It is a beautiful thing to be a part of a group that holds someone accountable to their excitement and their adventure.
Here are a few pictures of her finished projects ( remember, this was old discarded stuff!)
It is why we need to hear ourselves state our WHY to others frequently. It is better than a warm security blanket and in some cases it is a hug of encouragement to hear ourselves talk about what we are passionate about amidst all the chaos.
And that is WHY we are having these discussions BETWEEN THE WOMEN.
We need to be able to celebrate perseverance, to be inspired for when we ourselves need to persevere and get energized. WE need to be ready for all the wonderment spun from what appears to be slam -jam weeks of chaos.
