Darn Near 50: Afraid to look foolish?
When I was growing up I was a complete chicken. Total scaredy-cat. I wouldn’t attempt anything that I thought might possibly make me look foolish.
I missed out on a lot.
This fear pretty much stayed with me throughout my twenties. In my thirties, I started to test the waters. I went back to school full time. I started singing at open stages.
In my early forties, I was forced to stare another kind of fear right in the eyes. The fear of being alone and lonely. After conquering that fear, the other fear started to dissipate. Having come into my own, I no longer seemed to be attached to what other people thought of me.
This lead to a huge epiphany!
People can only perceive me as being foolish based on their own world view.
Perceive away, folks! That is your right. But when I am being true to myself, I am never being foolish. Even when I publicly make mistakes, I am not being foolish, I am simply being human.
Holy crumpets! The FREEDOM associated with this epiphany is incredible. I just get to be me, and in being me, I can try out all sorts of fantastic things.
This week I even appeared on TV. LIVE!
The scaredy-cat me would never have done that in a million gazillion years. The true-to-myself darn near fifty me had an absolute blast.
I wonder what I will be doing at darn near one hundred?
Be part of my book Darn Near 50!
Your valuable feedback will be used indirectly in the content of the book, or directly as quotes. Before the book is published, I will contact contributors to verify if they want to be anonymous, or if their real names can be used.
Ready?
- Do you relate to my fear of appearing foolish?
- In what way did that fear, or does that fear, limit you?
- Looking back on your younger years, what are you doing now that you never would have done back then?
You can provide your thoughts
- right here in the comment section
- email me directly at eliza@silverandgrace.com
- by using this convenient form
Book Review: 30 Days to Online PR & Marketing Success
30 Days to Online PR & Marketing Success, by Gail Z. Martin, is a comprehensive How-to guide to getting Online. This is a practical and efficient book if you are not already using Online methods to promote and grow your business.
The 30 day program is designed for your success. This How-to book provides 30, easy to read and understand, chapters with a recap of the chapters concept and homework…yes homework, so you can implement the lesson in each chapter. With books like this I personally like to skim read the whole book and then to go back and do the work in each chapter as outlined in the process.
The author explained that Marketing Success begins with RESULTS.
Standing for:
Recommit to marketing
Expect Success
Seek Partners
Understand your audience
Look for win-win scenarios
Take Strategic action
Stay visible
If you are not sure how to use online methods to promote your business this is a great resource to help you in your decision and how to make it all happen.
Elaine Shannon is a leading expert in de-cluttering time and space issues for business owners, individuals and families across the globe. She acts as a life strategist, mentor, second-in command, partner and energizer for people that are seriously ready to move their lives and business(es) forward and are seeking self-sustaining, long-lasting results. You can find her at Empress of Inspiration.
Products For Women by Women
30 Days to Online PR & Marketing Success has the Silver & Grace Seal of Approval as an excellent resource for women. It is available through Amazon.
You might also enjoy
The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams
Ideas in Reality: Making Your Ideas Happen
For more Silver & Grace approved books check out Eliza’s Recommendations.
Book review: Killing Time
Killing Time, by Amy Beth Arkawy, is a pleasant summertime read or for in front of a roaring fire in winter. Not quite a “cozy” in the original sense as the circle of characters isn’t closed, it’s set in a modern small town reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting gone askew. Even so, if you’re currently living in a large urban centre you’ll be very tempted to move and find a similar place to call home.
This tantalizing little mystery starts with a long ago scandal and jumps to the present time and murder. The “heroine” is both attractive and appealing, as well as being a talented soup chef and minor sleuth. There is also a handsome, kind and besotted police chief who is bound to become a fixture in future books.
The mystery is convoluted and you probably won’t guess the solution until near the end, if then. Chock full of colorful characters, there’s no shortage of suspects. This is a satisfying read that won’t strain your little gray cells too much if you’re a Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher fan. However, you may lose track of which local character is which unless you make a note of each, or read the book from front to back without too many days in between.
The bonus for any readers who are also good in the kitchen are two soup recipes included at the end of the book.
My only real criticism is that there are too many Brand names dropped. And my one recommendation for this author, and many contemporary mystery writers, is to include a character list at the front of the book, along with their relationships to each other. This is something that all the most renowned old time authors used to do and it would be more than welcome in a book like this with so many local characters.
Pamela Young is a member of the Silver & Grace community and an official Silver & Grace book reviewer. Do you love to read and share your thoughts on books with others, just like Pamela? Get free books by registering to review books for Silver & Grace. Simply click here to register:Silver & Grace Book Reviewer
Products for Women By Women
Killing Time has the Silver & Grace Seal of Approval as a fun book for women. It is available through Amazon.
Killing Time: An Eliza Gordon Mystery (Volume 1)
You might also enjoy:
The Widow’s Walk League
Bonds of Blood &Spirit: Loyalties
For more Silver & Grace approved books check out Eliza’s Recommendations.
Darn Near 50: Are girlfriends important to you?
Women were not always important to me. Sure, in high school I hung out with a small gaggle of girls. One of them is still in my life darn near thirty-five years later, and I cherish that friendship. But I was always in awe of women who started off as a gaggle in their teens and are still a gaggle decades later.
Actually, to be quite honest, I never understood it.
Individual women have come and gone in my life, and I honour what they brought to me in that friendship. Some, like my high school friend, have endured the test of time. But note the emphasis on individual women. I never belonged to a community of women, nor had a desire to.
Until I reached my mid forties. Then all of sudden I craved women in my life. In fact, Silver & Grace sprang forth from this craving. I figured if I desperately wanted to belong to a community, then other women did too. So, I set out to create one!
As I approach darn near 50, I cannot imagine life without female friends. I absolutely need to share and explore and cry and laugh with them. They keep me grounded, and I like to think I provide the same for them. By the way, the photograph shows me and two of my special gals.
Maybe its because the longer you live, the more you experience, and the more you need to be part of a group that understands those experiences.
Or maybe its because I have discovered that women my age are a whole heck of a lot of fun!
Be part of my book Darn Near 50!
Your valuable feedback will be used indirectly in the content of the book, or directly as quotes. Before the book is published, I will contact contributors to verify if they want to be anonymous, or if their real names can be used.
Ready?
- How important are female friends to you?
- Have they always been, or did this become more important later in life?
- What benefits do you get from being part of a community of women?
- Is there a unique power that comes from being part of a group? If so, what is that communal power capable of?
You can provide your thoughts
- right here in the comment section
- email me directly at eliza@silverandgrace.com
- by using this convenient form
Book Review: Magic Bridge
I just finished Magic Bridge, by Thomasina Burke. An intriguing story about a love relationship.
To be honest, I have never been one to read love stories, so I wasn’t sure about reading it, but wanted to step outside the box for a change. As it goes along, I found myself drawn into the drama.
Magic Bridge is a story of two journeys. One, the journey of loves between two people, and two, the journey of those two people around the world.
Thomasina Burke’s style of short little entries from the different characters made it easy to follow and easy to put down and come back to without losing your place.
Magic Bridge is a good summer read, short and sweet. But for those of you like me normally not into romance novels, also not too sweet.
Put it on your reading list.
Kathy Weber is a very active member of the Silver & Grace community and one of our official Book Reviewers. She is 64 years old, retired and loves to read informative, self help, nonfiction books. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and now enjoys her free time to do what makes her happy. Reading is one of them.
Silver & Grace Approved Products
Magic Bridge has the Silver & Grace Seal of Approval as an excellent book for women. It is available on Amazon.
You might also enjoy
The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone
The Widow’s Walk League
The Ring Rivals
For more Silver & Grace approved books check out Eliza’s Recommendations.
Book Review: Thanksgiving Tales
Dear American Readers,
Here I am reading this book about Thanksgiving in early spring. But it has kept my interest. I thought I would wait to read it closer to the holiday, but curiosity got me. I am happy that it did; the read was much fun.
Thanksgiving Tales is full of true and varied situations all around one single American day. I think it helps one think beyond his own experiences and sometimes mundane rituals.
I am sure that if you like to celebrate Thanksgiving, you will love the book. It is unique because it is many short stories in one volume. I like the fact that they re short because you can read it just a few one or at a time when time allows.
The author Brian D.Jaffe, makes it appealing by saying,” there is really nothing to dislike about this holiday-no expects a greeting card or gift, and everything to love about it…..”
So in closing American readers, you must put this on your reading list to enforce in your heart the blessing that we have at the best of all family traditions, Thanksgiving.
Giving thanks,
Kathy Dav-web
Kathy Weber is a very active member of the Silver & Grace community and one of our official Book Reviewers. She is 64 years old, retired and loves to read informative, self help, nonfiction books. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and now enjoys her free time to do what makes her happy. Reading is one of them.
Silver & Grace Approved Products
Thanksgiving Tales has the Silver & Grace Seal of Approval as an excellent book for women. It is available through Amazon.
Thanksgiving Tales: True Stories of the Holiday in America
You might also enjoy
Going Gray, Looking Great!: The Modern Woman’s Guide to Unfading Glory
The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams
Discover Your Psychic Type: Developing and Using Your Natural Intuition
For more Silver & Grace approved books check out Eliza’s Recommendations.
Tarot for Writers and Artists
I use Tarot readings, personally and with my clients, for spiritual and personal development. But, Tarot can also be used in your profession as an artist or writer. That’s right! It is a valuable tool, just like your sketch pad, paints and brushes, or computer, journal and pens.
Tarot works by fast tracking you right through to your intuition.
And how does your intuition work? Through the rich world of your imagination. Information is presented to you in words, feelings, even taste and smell. Entire scenarios can play out in your mind’s eye like a movie clip.
Tarot readings are performed by telling a story. First you tell the story of each individual card in a Tarot spread. You then tell the story of the entire reading. You can literally start with ‘once upon a time’ and end with ‘and lived happily ever after’.
Let’s walk through a simple example of someone wondering about a career change, looking at these three cards: Two of Coins; Five of Cups; Ace of Wands.
Once upon a time
I was wondering whether to look for a new job. According to the Two of Coins it was a question of money. Because of my past work efforts, I was nice and comfortable with money. But now I had the potential to make money in a different manner. However, I needed to balance the pros of taking a new job against the cons of taking a new job.
The next card in this story, the Five of Cups, refers to emotions. There are two cups upright and three knocked over. In the Four of Cups there is emotional stability. Five represents something new causing instablity. At this present moment, I sure am feeling emotionally unstable trying to decide about this new job. The man looks like he is thinking things through. What do I need to think about?
Finally, the Ace of Wands. Wands represent creativity and energy. And the Ace talks about brand new beginnings. That’s interesting, in the background of this card is a kingdom. So, in the immediate future I need to take time to think about what new energy and creativity this new job will bring into my life. That kingdom. Hmmm .. fortress …safety. But it is in the distance. Oh! Also, I need to think about whether I am willing to go through a period of unknowns if I take this new job before it becomes stable and safe.
Once I put thought to all this, I can live happily ever after.
That entire story was contained in the symbols and images on just three cards, and I just scratched the surface. There was a whole whack of information I didn’t even delve into. Not to mention the fact, I never even went inside myself to let Tarot inspired visions come to mind.
Now imagine you are writing a book.
You are stuck on some character development or storyline. Drawing some Tarot cards, interpreting them, and allowing inspired visions to come to mind is a perfect method to bust through writer’s block or take the story in a direction you had not even considered.
Or you are staring at a blank canvass
You have no idea where to start with your paints. This short reading alone produced enough images and feelings for multiple paintings. Energy! Castles! A single male figure! Knocked over cups! Travelling to distant kingdoms!
Now here is the clincher. There is a tried and true adage to write what you know. As an amateur artist, I also sketch what I know. Interpreting Tarot is all based on common sense and what you experience in your every day life. It is what you already know.
The beauty is Tarot comes at what you know from an entirely new perspective, rich in imagery and emotion. All which can be captured in your next story or painting.
Ready to tap into the creative power of Tarot for your art or writing?
Have my fun, interactive and common sense Tarot courses sent right to your Inbox by clicking here: Tarot Online Workshops
Discover Your Inner Goddess: Amazon
Welcome to the last article in my series on discovering your Inner Goddess. This all started because I did a Tarot reading for myself using a fun layout that looked at different aspects of my femininity. In each post I share my reading with you and then expand upon the concepts that make up our Inner Goddess. So far, we have looked at:
Mother
Virgin
Siren
Sorceress
Wise Woman
Fairy Godmother
Wife
Hag
Today we close this series with:
Amazon
Amazon – What would I fight for? How can I develop my courage and determination?
Three of Cups – Cups represents emotion and spirit. Three represents the start of stability. I fight for spiritual stability. The three women in this card represent the trinity of womanhood: Maid, Mother, Crone. I fight to embrace all three within myself. I fight to get the word out to other women that enhanced positive energy and contentment comes through embracing all three aspects of ourselves. I develop my determination by walking my talk. By living an energized and contented life.
Amazon in Your Inner Goddess
It is interesting how my Amazon has evolved over the decades. In my twenties she fought to raise babies while in a state of confusion being a mere baby herself. In my thirties, my Amazon fought for a sustainable career, while in a state of confusion about her relationship. In my early forties, my Amazon fought to live on her own for the first time ever, while in a state of confusion about self-image and self-worth.
Now at darn near fifty, my Amazon is ready to fight for other women. Holy crumpets is she ever determined. She has been there, done that, and not only won the battle but the entire war on fear and confusion. Her reward is vibrancy and contentment and she wants the same for other women.
Take a look at the Amazon in your Inner Goddess:
- Have the battles your Amazon has fought evolved or changed over the years?
- Is she battle weary or full of victorious energy?
- How does she keep up her strength and stamina?
- What cause is she passionate about right now?
- In what way is she fighting for that cause?
There is an iron willed chieftess in all of us. Give her a worthy cause and watch what she can accomplish.
Discover the Incredible Power of Tarot
I love working with Tarot. It is a powerful tool to explore answers to life’s challenges or simply bring out wondrous information about yourself. It is also a very simple tool to use once you learn some very basic common sense concepts. I have created a guide to get you up and running reading Tarot quickly. Click here to learn the basics for just 99 cents: Tarot & Oracle Card User Guide.
Want to learn more and perform richer readings? Sign up for my fun and interactive online Tarot courses by clicking here: Tarot Online Workshops
Embracing the fun, sexy, intelligent and real you
Do you feel your Amazon is fighting too many losing battles? Let’s work together through my intuitive mentoring to focus your energy and tap into the power of your Amazon to make real and sustainable life changes. For details check out Eliza’s Mentoring.
Products For Women By Women: Not Dead Yet
I am always on the hunt down for products created by women that will enrich the Silver & Grace community. Well, I definitely found one in the form of the movie Not Dead Yet. Written, produced, and acted in by former model and actress Susan Hess Logeais, this movie manages to capture the agony and joy of the over forty woman in space of 90 minutes or so.
In short, I bawled.
Okay, in one spot I was sobbing.
Not Dead Yet is not a slick Hollywood production. Think more made for TV style filming, so I was admittedly a bit dubious in the first five minutes. But then I started to pay attention to the lives and thought processes of the three women portrayed in the movie. I recognized elements of the experiences and thought processes I had to go through to get to the fun, sexy, intelligent and real Darn Near Fifty me. Oh, well, except for that spot where I was sobbing. Apparently, I haven’t completely gone through that particular thought process yet.
This movie is a dialogue starter. I am all about dialogue, so I have come up with a plan.
You know that book The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants? Three young women share the same pair of pants and write about their adventures in them. Well, I have started the Sisterhood of Not Dead Yet. My copy of the movie will be travelling, and I am asking women to watch the movie and respond to some questions. Their answers will be posted here on Silver & Grace.
In fact, the very first Sisterhood review is taking place tonight by a Book Club! I cannot wait to share their responses to my questions with you.
My goal with Silver & Grace is to open up conversation about this sometimes scary, but more often wonderful phase of being age forty plus. Susan Hess Logeais pulls no punches in Not Dead Yet, and I applaud her for the raw interpretation of this stage of our lives. Thank you, Susan.
I encourage you to rent or buy Not Dead Yet. Watch it alone, or better yet watch it with your girlfriends. Even better yet, watch it with your husband. It is sure to spark some very interesting conversation.
You can rent or buy Not Dead Yet by clicking on one of these options:
Discover Your Inner Goddess: Hag
Welcome to the next article in my series on discovering your Inner Goddess. This all started because I did a Tarot reading for myself using a fun layout that looked at different aspects of my femininity. In each post I share my reading with you and then expand upon the concepts that make up our Inner Goddess. So far, we have looked at:
Mother
Virgin
Siren
Sorceress
Wise Woman
Fairy Godmother
Wife
Today we look at:
Hag
And in last article we will explore:
Amazon
Hag – What in my life is ugly and terrifying? How can I tame this monster?
The Empress – The Empress is the third stage of Maiden, Mother, Crone. She is constantly giving birth to new ideas, dreams and wishes. Interesting that this shows up as my monster, but she is both beautiful and ugly. Ugly because she can run amok causing utter chaos in my life. Creative ideas flow in abundance. I can become overwhelmed and action comes to a screeching stop. How can I tame her? By capturing the ideas down on paper, then releasing them while I focus on actioning just one or two at a time.
The Hag in Your Inner Goddess
No matter how much we invest in our spiritual and personal development there is some aspect that needs work. Quite often, like my creative thoughts, it is a positive aspect of you that has run amok. Perhaps you are very nurturing, but at times this tips the scales into smothering. Or you are very wise, but at times your advice giving becomes meddlesome. Another aspect of me that runs amok is the fact that I am task driven. I know that when there are too many tasks piling up I become officious. I can hear that authoritative tone in my voice and I cringe.
I tame my ‘monsters’ through awareness. Awareness of the fact that I most definitely not perfect, so I self-monitor for aspects of my personality that go a little bit crazy. I don’t beat myself up, I just say to myself “Self, you cannot possibly accomplish all those wonderful ideas and you are bogging yourself down” or “Self, let it go. You sound like a task master. Trust that everything will get done at some point.”
I actually like my hag. Sometimes she can turn into cranky old lady, but she has the wisdom derived from Darn Near 50 years of life. When she remembers to let go and let be, she has a lot to give in a very positive way.
Take a look at the Hag in your Inner Goddess:
- What parts of yourself make you cringe?
- Are they positive traits run amok, or traits that need to be eliminated altogether?
- If they are positive traits run amok, what do you need to let go of in order to tame these traits?
- How do you feel about your Hag? Is she cranky and annoying, or she more like your Wise Woman on a bad day?
Discover the Incredible Power of Tarot
I love working with Tarot. It is a powerful tool to explore answers to life’s challenges or simply bring out wondrous information about yourself. It is also a very simple tool to use once you learn some very basic common sense concepts. I have created a guide to get you up and running reading Tarot quickly. Click here to learn the basics for just 99 cents: Tarot & Oracle Card User Guide.
Want to learn more and perform richer readings? Sign up for my fun and interactive online Tarot courses by clicking here: Tarot Online Workshops
Embracing the fun, sexy, intelligent and real you
Everything in moderation, even positive aspects of ourselves. Struggling to identify the positive side of undesirable traits? Let’s work together through my intuitive mentoring to identify the beautiful side of your Hag and let her wisdom shine forth. For details check out Eliza’s Mentoring.
