Wave of Awakenings

Now is the time for all good women to step up, step forward, carry the lanterns of light and initiate change.

We are a collective of women from past generations who have bound together to bring forth the light.

We are gathering en masse to assist through this dark period.

It is NOT as dark as the darkness of past – and it holds great possibility and hope but we must march – we are marching and we know we will make a difference –

The question is – will you? Read More


What’s In Your Bag?

As the holiday season rapidly approaches you may find yourself wondering what sort of mixed bag you’ll be receiving.

Can you guess what I am referring to when I say “mixed bag?”

Many are bracing themselves, others are waiting with open arms while others have no thoughts whatsoever on the matter.

The contents of the bags which I refer to may dictate how your holidays pan out. Will they be a delight or a disaster? Read More


Lessons My Father Taught Me

I hope you will enjoy a Free Bird Times news article I wrote about my Dad, ‘Woody’ in June of 2007.
Although he passed in 2018, he continues to impart his wisdom.
May your Dad, wherever he may be, continue to inspire, support and love you.

 

It’s no coincidence June 17th is not only Father’s Day, but Eat Your Vegetables Day as well. If it weren’t for fathers, or mothers, for that matter, telling us we could not leave the table until we ate our vegetables, imagine all the bushels and bunches of vegetables that may have gone to waste.

It might surprise those who know me to hear me say I do not intend to expound upon the healthy benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, despite that being one of the lessons my father taught me’. What I prefer to touch upon is something my father has been teaching me my entire life, and the one which has impacted me on the deepest level … the lesson of positive thinking and living. Read More


Cross That Bridge

Levels of stress, anxiety, worry, sadness and anger among women worldwide are at a 10-year high, according to a new report.

In one of the largest studies on women’s well-being, analytics firm Gallup and medical tech company Hologic, Inc. teamed up to survey over 66,000 women in 122 countries around the world.

Study authors found 43% of respondents said they experienced worry in 2021, 41% reported feeling stress, 32% reported feeling sadness, and 26% reported feeling anger.*

Can you relate to the results of that study? Do you find your levels of stress have increased over the past couple of years and if so, do you find your levels of worry have also increased? An increase of stress or worry certainly increases your chances of feeling sad or angry. These feelings can manifest into depression, rage and even physical ailments.

What’s a woman (or person) to do?

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Collective Sigh of Relief

The events of these past 16 months have tested our patience, resilience and faith.
The effects of the pandemic brought out the best in many and the worst in many.

Many rose to the occasion and achieved their personal best to make a challenging period of time more rewarding and beneficial for themselves and others while many contributed to the angst, frustration and negative newness of it all.

Family and friends suffered losses – of businesses, livelihoods, health and most of all loved ones. We as a collective suffered more deaths as a result of this pandemic than deaths during World War II.

As we approach Memorial Day, “the day of honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces,” I believe it is also fitting to honor those who have lost their lives during the pandemic. I am not alone in my beliefs. Read More


Return If Possible

While reading tributes for a friend’s daughter who recently passed away (and crying my eyes out as I did) I came across this sentence “I wish RIP meant Return If Possible.” That sentence got me to thinking.

The first thought I had was how comforting is that? I am used to seeing Rest In Peace, or Rest In Power but never Return If Possible.

How many of us would want our deceased loved ones to return if possible?

Then I got to thinking, well, they can, and they do. Return that is. We simply need to trust in that process and their ability to do so, and see it for what it is worth. Read More


Until We Meet Again

Sweetness and light, peacekeeper and heart of our home – Charlotte Mae GilpinFord.

You stole our hearts the moment we looked into your big brown eyes, twelve and a half years ago, an abused rescue mutt from Tennessee, without a care in the world. You had so much love to give.

“Cat magnet”, “chicken love bug”, and the “great protectress”, you saw to it that we all felt safe and cared for, without even realizing that is what you were doing. Read More


High Hopes

We bid adieu to a year which has challenged and pushed us to dig deep within, within to the very best of who we are.

While we were digging in, we were also reaching out with compassion, generosity patience and love.

Congratulations – we’ve made it this far. Some more tattered and threadbare, others, stronger and more determined than they were when 2020 began. Of one thing I am sure, we are all wealthier for and better positioned because of the love we have given and received. Friendship, caring and camaraderie has overflowed throughout this entire year. And for that I am grateful.

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Vote for Love or Fear

One cannot help but see the stark differences between our presidential candidates. Our current political arena is replete with opportunities for the American voter. The most glaring opportunity, as I see it, is the choice between love and fear.

The choice is quite simple, I do believe, if one applies a basic principle, the principle I have been applying quite effectively, I might add, over the last few decades.

I am of the belief all humans operate from a place of either love or fear. Love is easy to detect. We all know how a loving person feels, looks and acts. Fear, on the other hand, while simply the absence of love, can be challenging to detect. How does a fearful person feel, look, and act? Let’s take a look at that. Once you recognize the telltale signs, your life will take on new meaning. You will become an emotional environmentalist, saving energy every step of your way.

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