Have you ever picked up a magazine or opened up your web brower to find a story about a woman who altered the course of her life voluntarily, and felt a pang of jealousy? Just a little bit? Women who have kicked the corporate world to the curb or changed vocations 180 degrees from the one they were in? Or how about those ladies that are forced by circumstance to dig a little deeper or reach a little farther just to make ends meet, and in the process their level of personal happiness and satisfaction as well as thier contribution to society is increased expotentially. Just this week I have read several articles on women that raise the bar for the rest of us. These stories are not hard to find. They are in magazines like ‘O’, or on websites like ‘Marlo Thomas‘. These women are not an exception any more. They have become the rule. I am inspired by women who can turn ‘water into wine’. Maybe not necessarily a profitable ‘wine’, but one that is worth savoring and enjoying. These women have become the leaders by which I have come to shape my Second Wind. We all have the responsibility of ensuring we are leading by example. While I have always tried to teach my daughters the rules of motherhood and encouraged them in their pursuits of education and careers, I never thought about myself in regards to what I really wanted or needed at this point in my life. It can be daunting to follow one’s dream. I feel a sense of support and guidance from the many woman who don’t know me but have shared their journey’s through the media. I hope I can be the same kind of example of vision and accomplishment as all of these women. I hope my daughters can see that there isn’t just one way of doing things, or one goal in life. Sometimes life grab you up and blows you down a path you did not intend to travel. But eventually when the wind stops blowing and you have an opportunity to slow down and look around, it’s amazing how many places you can land. This Thanksgiving I will give thanks to my wonderful, funny, loving family. I will appreciate ALL of the paths I have been down, even the ones I did not choose. I will offer my gratitude to good friends like Viv; who knows just where I am coming from at this point in my life. And I will promise to live up to the amazing examples of every woman who has questioned her current status and had the courage to change it.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 06:16:37 +0000