When you listen generously to people they can hear the truth in themselves, often for the first time. ~ Rachel Naomi Remen

Crying

Crying is powerful. When we cry we release. We release our fears, our sorrow, our anger, our beliefs that hold us back.

I am in the uniquely wonderful position of witnessing the healing qualities of crying. So many of us are taught not to cry in front of others (or at all); we apologize and hide our face. We are afraid we are weak and look ugly when we express our pain. Who came up with that silly idea?

The idea that something so natural and cleansing looks unattractive and is weak is, simply put, wacky.

I say let’s embrace the grace and release that crying brings. If we could all cry to let go our emotions when we feel them, instead of stuffing them in and holding them in our body, we would be so much healthier and content.

So, the next time someone cries in front of you, consider thanking them for their bravery. Even better, next time you cry, thank yourself for your courage.

Chicken Soup for the Whole

Wholeness. That's it. That is why I run my groups for women over 40 without children. I lead those groups as a pathway for women to see themselves as complete and whole.

Complete whether or not they have children. Complete whether or not they have partners. Complete whether or not they have jobs, friends, a house, a degree, whatever it is by which we judge our wholeness.

The 7th group for women over 40 with out children started yesterday, on the Martin Luther King Holiday. A couple of the women mentioned the freedom they have in their lives because they don't have children. They gave thanks for the freedom they have as women, freedom our foremothers didn't have.

To see ourselves as whole, regardless of our external or internal circumstances is freedom--perhaps the greatest freedom we can have.