The Awakening

A Woman Awoke

I feel inspired to write about awakenings today. I have returned from a trip from Central America in which I experienced a renewal and an awakening.

The love, hope and resilience and faith in God of people living in extreme poverty was moving and powerful.

I met an older woman who lived in fear for most of her life. Fear to leave her home, fear of her spouse and fear of the outside world.

She met other women who were also fearful. These primary fears were overtaken with fear for the lives of their children.

These women were giving birth on the side of the road; had no potable water; collecting contaminated water for their children because there was no clean water; no medical or dental facilities within miles or hours…..many infant deaths…many unnecessary deaths of loved ones…

 These women were fearful of what would happened to their children so they mobilized eight years ago as mothers, sisters, and friends.

Women who came from miles to join the movement…women who fought for their basic rights as human beings.  

The right to have access to clean water. The right to have medical services for themselves and their families. The right to have bridges to cross. The right to have roads. The right to have education.

Hearing their testimony.... hearing them say over and over again “We were afraid to speak, afraid to leave or homes, afraid of our husbands…..since joining other women, we have not been afraid”.

Hearing the empowerment and pride in their stories, themselves and in their voices has moved me to assess what my life is and what I can do to live in solidarity with people having their human rights violated.

From this experience I am a woman awoke.

How can you be awaken to the needs of your neighbors, your friends, your community?

What motivates you to feel passion, pride, love and solidarity?

Find what makes you feel alive and go for it! The thought of helping others awakens my spirit.

No matter what awakens your spirit and your soul… now is the time…..

Awaken with me

 “If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old, you will just keep growing”   Gail Sheehy

Keeping it Real with Dr. Mary G.

The Tight Rope of Selflessness and Selfishness

Selfless or Selfish?

My nature really is one of selflessness.

I give with or without being asked. I give unconditionally. I give out of love, respect, empathy and care.  The only problem is that somewhere along the line I started giving so much I felt empty. 

 I gave so much I forgot what I needed for myself. I convinced myself that I should not take care of myself and so I worked hard to put everyone else’s needs first.

I forgot how to ask for what I needed. I forgot how to say “NO”.  

I started to forget that I was important enough to ask for what I needed. I forgot that I could advocate for myself. I forgot that I didn’t have to feel guilty saying no or putting my needs first.

So I flipped the other way momentarily; just recently…

I neglected someone I love. I thought of my own emotional wellbeing above theirs. I upchucked my emotions without considering how it would impact them….

I took on a different role than I usually do…

I don’t believe there was irreversible damage in what happened but....I was an ass!

I apologized and self-reflected….what did I learn?

I learned that for me I would rather give than take and I learned that I can give and take in the same scenario...it doesn't have to be either or..

I learned that I can put on my oxygen mask first and then assist the person next to me with theirs...

In my life the extreme of either giving to much or taking too much doesn’t work…

I am learning how to walk the tight rope of caring for self and caring for others. Balancing my needs and the needs of others…realizing both can be done simultaneously.

I have not come up with the secret formula…when I do I will be sure to share it with you.

What is important to me…what I want…is to give more than I take…but I do believe that my needs are important…I am working on finding the balance without hurting myself or others…if I am suffocating I am of no use to anyone..

Find balance with me..

Keeping it Real with Dr. Mary G