Posted by Mary on June 30, 2009
Mom - An Independent Woman
One of my mother’s key values was the importance of “Choice,” her underlying principal was for women to be independent, strong and employed. “It’s important to work hard and get an education” she said, typical values growing up in Minnesota during the 1950’s and 60’s. I lived my life believing this until I became a Director several times over and learned that budget cuts are painful choices and that we let people go even though they had an education and worked hard. It’s been two years since I “chose” to leave my corporate job and reinvent myself, I’ve moved away from health care management and sales management in private industry back to healthcare but from a holistic health and wellness perspective.
I’ve made lots of choices, trying on different ideas based on a holistic perspective and building from my healing practice foundation. I’ve experimented the past two years thinking through what type of business I wanted to create until something became clear and the clarity came through personal discomfort. What are my strengths, what work is satisfying and can I evolve the business into an eventual retirement practice?
After my father died last fall I realized I used my nursing skills to manage his medical care over several years, I did the same when my mother died from cancer and subsequently other family members requested my support. When my sister died recently I organized the work that needed to be done with my remaining sisters, closing out all her final affairs. Having assisted with end of life activities for both parents and a younger sister I learned a lot through very different experiences and it became clear that being a daughter, sister and friend with a health and healing background could be helpful to others.
Some choices are obvious and other opportunities come to us unlooked for but life is an interesting journey and I have a myriad of choices. I consider myself a strong independent woman, I learned from my Mother.
Mary
Subscribe to blog posts by Email
Posted by Mary on April 2, 2009
I dropped my little dog off to be groomed today for the first time, some of you are aware that I took in a rescue poodle, a tiny toy male at 3.6 lbs. We’ve had him for a month now and it’s been a wonderful addition to our family, I’d forgotten the unconditional love you get from a small pet. It’s been a joy to have this lively little dog in our lives as we care for him, play with him and watch him make us laugh. We’ve also had the unexpected joy of running to the emergency Vet Clinic after hours and adding extra Dr. exams as we “remember” what it’s like to be responsible for a tiny little life but it’s worth it, the joy, the laughter and the sense of wonder at life’s blessings.
It helps me to remember life’s gifts in the mist of my own personal disappointments. As I listen to the news or hear personal stories from friends and family as they try to balance and make sense out of difficult situations, job loss, putting homes up for sale, spending down retirement funds and just trying to make ends meet I’m too embarrassed to acknowledge any personal defeats. Everyone else has burdens that somehow seem bigger than mine and I’m constantly reminded as someone tentatively asks for my help with some personal matter, how can I say “No?” At times like these I think about my Dad, I miss him on Sundays when my husband and I took him out for breakfast, he liked to go early before the fancy Sunday brunch crowd. My Dad loved to laugh, he was a WWII veteran, a POW for over 3 years and survived the Bataan Death March, when I think of the stories he shared over the years and the joy for life that he had it’s hard to feel sorry for myself. Dad was a “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of guy; when he died last September we had lots of wonderful memories, he left a lot of friends and family behind. Dad always believed in Hope – that there was always something better just waiting for you around the corner and if you worked hard enough it would all pay off.
So for today Dad, I’m going to think about my small disappointment as a place holder, creating space for something more wonderful that’s just around the corner. What about you, are you looking at what space is opening up for you in your life and what that means? I got an email from a friend this morning that said due to the economy they are putting their home in Florida up for sale and moving back to Minnesota and my response was a resounding “HURRAH!” Well, Hurrah for me and my friends as we open our arms to welcome her back to our loving fold no matter what the reason.
Eternally Optimistic,
Mary
Subscribe to blog posts by Email
