women

Good Morning, Monday! The Art of Rest

September 19, 2011 by admin

Lying on my mat, I have pillows under my knees and another, smaller pillow under my back. A bag of lavender encircles my neck. Breathing in and out, I pay attention as minutes pass. I feel my back starting to sink into the floor, then my arms, then my legs. Fifteen minutes or so in (I have set a timer for 25), I feel my being start to shift and let go. I have moved from relaxation into something deeper, the mystery of savasana, or “corpse pose.” I stay there until the timer dings, then slowly move back into my day with a calmer, quieter mind.

Modern lives are filled with tension. Some of it is obvious: the demands of work and home, lack of adequate sleep, and a 24/7 news cycle reminding us that we’re all going to hell in a handbasket. Perhaps there are health issues, financial problems, marital difficulties, challenges with elderly parents or struggling children. No wonder we women have a tough time just hanging out and resting. Something always needs to be done!

This past week I listened to Shiva Rea talk about Yoga Energy Activism, and she crystallized many of my own thoughts about the need to relax and recharge our batteries. She suggests that we conserve energy of all kinds, from unplugging unused appliances to taking time to rest our bodies. As I listened to her ideas, letting her thoughts swirl and blend with mine, I made some commitments to myself. Specifically, I decided to make time on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis for what I call active rest.

On Saturday I took a morning sabbath and spent it in various relaxation practices, including yoga nidra and restorative yoga, both practices designed to take the body to deep levels of nourishing rest. When I had finished my practices, I picked up a pleasurable book that has sat in a stack for too long. The computer stayed off for the entire morning!

For the rest of the week, I plan to take time in restorative poses for about a half hour in the late afternoon. I also plan to build some sort of resting ritual around the new moon, though I haven’t quite worked out those details just yet.

We may feel as though we can’t afford to take the time, but can we afford not to? The cost of stress on our health is enormous, making us look and feel older than we are. Taking even a few quiet minutes per day can add years to our lives and greater pleasure to those years.

I also know that when I take the time I need, I get more done with less effort. So, if you’re into productivity, efficiency, and accomplishment, you’ll see the benefits of taking time to rest.

This week we’ll delve further into the concepts of “active rest.” We’ll discuss ways we can not just slow down, but put the brakes on so we can refresh ourselves. On Tuesday I’ll recommend a CD series that I find helpful, and on Wednesday I’ll write more about “il dolce far niente” – an Italian phrase meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing.” Sound radical? Trust me. If you’re a busy woman, you’ll love this — and don’t worry, you’ll still get it all done! Or, if you don’t, you won’t worry so much!

I hope you’ll come back and visit tomorrow! May you have a restful day!

Forest Hike — Enjoy This Restful Image From San Juan Island, WA

The Foreign Language of Friends: Ch. 1

September 16, 2011 by admin

Welcome to Friday Fun! Today begins a new “chapter,” so to speak, in this blog as I offer a section of my new novel, now known as The Foreign Language of Friends. I hope you enjoy!

***

CHAPTER ONE – OCTOBER 23

The kayaks glided in colorful formation along the shore of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, headed from the coast’s safety toward the open water. It was a quiet morning, with only a few tourist groups exploring. The occasional fishing boat punctuated the stillness. Four women paddled and steered, their faces tense with concentration, as their guide called out instructions. For most of the women, it was their first visit to Costa Rica; for all, their first kayaking experience.

Roberto had assured them that he would keep them safe on their trip. Small and compact, with trim, muscled arms, he had soothed their nervousness. “I’ve guided many people over the years,” he said, “and I haven’t lost anyone yet.” With his warm, friendly smile and easygoing manner, they had relaxed, at least until now.

In the quiet waters of the Gulf, they had seen starfish, purple and golden, scattered serenely where land met water. Eagles flew overhead, and iguanas scampered up and down trees. At one point, even a raccoon popped up his head with a questioning look as the kayakers glided by.

So far the morning trek had been peaceful, but to get to remote Cabo Blanco at the peninsula’s southern tip, and to fulfill the promise of spectacular views of wildlife, they would need to navigate rougher waters as the briny gulf swirled and mixed with the Pacific. Roberto motioned for the women to stop. “We can take a break here where the waters are calm,” he said. “The last stretch will take some work.”

They brought their kayaks to a stop and looked around. Rocking with deeper swells, the women rested and pondered the next test of their new skills. The brochures had said they needed experience to get to this point. Roberto, however, had said “No problem.” He had fitted each of them with a safety vest and made them practice undoing the kayak’s skirt. He had them overturn their kayaks in the water, using their paddles to bring them upright again.

After a brief rest, Roberto assessed their enthusiasm. “Ready, ladies?”

“We’re ready,” Mickey called out. The others, less certain, stayed quiet.

“You don’t sound convincing,” Roberto said. “You all seem pretty capable, or I would stop, but we don’t have to go further if you don’t feel ready. You can always take a guide boat to Cabo Blanco.” His voice, with lightly accented English, comforted and soothed as he gave the women the option to stay in quiet waters.

“I’m in.” Ellen spoke in a small voice, her face twitching with apprehension.

“Julia? Claire?” Roberto asked.

They looked at each other, then nodded.

“Okay, then,” he said, “Let’s get moving.” He started to paddle, moving out slowly and just slightly ahead of the group, displaying caramel-colored, muscled arms. Mickey kept up with him, her electric blue kayak in sharp contrast with his red one. Julia in yellow and Ellen in green followed just behind them, with Claire in gleaming white bringing up the rear.

They paddled toward the open waters, wilder than those protected by the Nicoya Peninsula, feeling the kayaks pitch and rock.

“Are you all right?” Roberto called out to Julia. As Julia floated aimlessly over the waves, allowing her kayak to be jostled to and fro, Roberto called, “Keep moving your paddles, ladies. They’ll keep the kayaks stable.”

“Okay, I’m okay,” said Julia, though her voice quivered. With her skin tanned and arms strong from near-daily tennis at the club, Julia could hold her own in the water as long as she kept her nerve. She set her jaw and narrowed her eyes, then regrouped and returned to determined paddling.

Ellen followed closely behind Julia, her thick brown hair tucked under a baseball cap, her neck smeared with fresh sunblock. One can’t be too careful, she had advised her friends. “This was your brilliant idea, Jules!” She had to force herself to yell above the sound of the waves. “Next time, we lie out on the beach and have martinis, okay?”

“You had to remind me, didn’t you! When did you start drinking, anyway?”

“Just now!”

Julia grinned then, though she continued to tremble and strain with each movement, digging in as the current grew stronger. The swells rocked and shook the kayak as increasingly deeper waters coming from the Gulf swirled and mixed with those from the sea, and she pursed her lips. Local kayakers lived for the lively action of the waters, but Julia, a tourist, shook with fear. Roberto had watched the movement of the water and decided that their journey would be easier if they moved further from shore. Julia, who had been comforted knowing that terra firma was nearby, grew more nervous with their increased distance from the beach. You’re not that far away, she assured herself, but it didn’t help.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Julia?” Roberto asked again. “You look a little green.”

“I’m a bit seasick,” Julia confessed.

“Well, hang in there,” he said. “You’re doing great. Just keep going.”

Mickey, the strongest and most athletic of the group, a tangle of arms and legs, led the way. Her youthful toned arms moved the paddle easily through the water. “You’re fine, you’re safe,” she called out. “We’re almost there.”

Claire brought up the rear, silent, her steel-gray hair, normally drawn back in a chignon with nary a strand out of place, now defied her pins and sprays, with wisps undone. Still, she sat like a queen in her yellow kayak, the lean, elegant lines of her back erect, maneuvering her paddle with the same efficiency she had dispatched for years as a corporate lawyer.

They were at the end of the world where, if swept out to sea, they would find nothing but water. The Pacific roared with unrelenting intensity.

Only a few motorboats competed with them, and the group fought against their wakes, amazed at how even a smaller boat affected them, hundreds of yards away, and the rocking of the ocean. Waves crashed against them, the tourmaline waters bursting into white spray. Mickey, still in the lead, tried to point at what she saw ahead, but quickly returned her paddle to the water to steady herself. “Oh, my God! Look at that! Dolphin, I think? Roberto? Is that right?”

“Sure is,” he called out. “Plenty of them out here. Let’s try to get a little closer to them for a better view. Come on, everyone, keep paddling. It will help you stay stable in the water. It gets calmer once we’re through this part, I promise!”

Ellen and Julia struggled more than the others, Ellen from weak arm muscles and Julia, from fear and nausea.

No one ever worried about Claire, who lingered behind the other women. Though she was still within shouting distance of Roberto, she had fallen farther back. Even Roberto had learned during their short acquaintance that Claire Malone was a force of nature all her own, who could scare off even the tide if she wanted to.

When she screamed, , they all stopped in collective shock. True to Claire, her scream made a mighty sound, deep, rich, almost masculine. The group looked to see that her kayak had overturned, leaving a silent, white streak in the water. Despite the lesson, her friends and Roberto watched in disbelief, waiting for Claire to right the boat with her paddle.

“Keep paddling,” Roberto yelled to the other women. He had already turned around, paddling against the current, and would reach Claire’s kayak in a matter of seconds. “You’re fine, just get over to the shore. I’ll help her.” Julia, Ellen, and Mickey headed toward the rocky beach, their movements more tentative with less strength and experience. They didn’t have far to go, perhaps fifty feet, but in that moment, the shore seemed miles away. Each woman cast worried glances over her shoulder, seeking a glimpse of her friend, and the lack of concentration caused them to begin to drift further downstream.

“Get to the shore!” Roberto shouted again. “You’re almost there! Trust me, I’ll get Claire.”

The three women paddled even harder, not looking and not wanting to look. When they reached the shore, they aimed the fronts of their boats toward the beach as Roberto had instructed them to. No longer interested in the wildlife, they focused only on the drama behind them. Roberto had reached Claire’s capsized kayak quickly, and turned it over. No Claire. He called for help on his radio, then dived into the frigid waters over and over, looking for her.

“This can’t be happening,” Julia said. “What’s going on? I can’t look.”

Mickey, who felt more comfortable maneuvering her kayak, turned it around to see. “Nothing yet. Here comes a rescue boat. She was wearing a vest, so she should be here somewhere.”

“That won’t help her if something is holding her underwater,” Ellen said. “I’m scared. What if we killed her?”

“Don’t think that way,” Julia said. “Look at all we’ve been through together. We can’t lose her now. She’ll be okay. She has to be!”

“I want to go look for her,” Mickey said. “I feel like this is all my fault. I pushed for this. What an idiot I am. God is punishing me for being so awful.”

“Don’t say that,” Julia said. “That doesn’t help us.”

Mickey still hesitated, staring out at the rescue effort now in full swing. “I still should go. I can help.”

“We can’t have you going out there and getting yourself hurt or killed,” Julia said. “I can’t imagine losing one of us, let alone two.”

“Fine.” Mickey fiddled with her ponytail, undoing and redoing it several times, still staring off into the distance, waiting and waiting. Time froze, with each minute feeling like a lifetime. A rescue boat had arrived to assist Roberto, and they watched as two other men joined him diving into the water, their heads bobbing as they came up for air. “This can’t be happening,” Julia said again. “It’s just too much.”

“She’ll be fine,” Ellen said. “She has to.”

Only Mickey said nothing, waiting and watching, praying for her friend Claire Malone, the most unlikely ally a young woman could ever have.

When Dreams Turn to Nightmares, Part II: How to Wake Up

September 7, 2011 by admin

Here I am, about to post a blog about handling disappointment, when people I know have had to leave their homes due to the wildfires in Texas. In this case it’s appropriate, because they are finding resilience and leaning on others near their area to get through. I dedicate this post with great honor to those who still struggle not knowing if their homes and businesses will survive this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this devastating, painful time. I think that for today I will skip posting Switzerland photos. I’ll offer more tomorrow…but for today, out of respect to those caught in the fire, I will have a photo-free post. Please, if you’re reading this, take a moment of silence for those who are suffering. If you pray, please pray for them. Thank you!

***

Last week I wrote about the many ways that our dreams can turn into nightmares. We find ourselves struggling to get started or have unexpected obstacles block us. In some cases, we lose our dreams altogether. I am well aware, for example, that many people are unable to travel in the way that I can, either due to physical problems or financial losses. Many of our fellow American brothers an sisters are dealing with long-term unemployment and a disappearing job market. It may feel too painful even to dream at this point. So what do we do when that happens? How do we keep the faith in ourselves and in our personal callings? And who am I to think I might have a solution to offer? After all, I have a pretty cushy life.

Here, in brief, is the reality of my life: I have been married three times. My first marriage was brief and, at times, abusive. My second marriage, though much more pleasant, fell apart in large degree after we lost two babies and were unable to have more children. In the midst of all that, I had a long-term, chronic illness, and our finances went south. While in the worst of my illness, I lost my ability to concentrate, let alone write. I wondered if I had squandered my talent and if I would never be able to write again.

In the midst of this long, deep, dark night of the soul, I had a revelation. I realized that I could still be happy, no matter what had been given to me. I didn’t know what that meant at the time, but I undertook to find out.

Discouragement can hurt. We may be willing and able to go for our dreams, but we struggle to start or get stuck somewhere in the process. Either we don’t know enough about our craft, or we get scared. Here are some tips that may help:

Know that Self-Doubt and Discouragement are Normal – I used to think that if something was hard, it meant that I was doing the wrong thing. Now I know that’s not the case. Yes, we can learn to let go of struggle, but if you haven’t (I sure haven’t!), just know that your feelings are normal and natural. Some days fear and self-loathing just flat get in the way!
Let Your Efforts Be Lousy – Often we can’t get started because we want to be great right off the bat. Allow yourself time to experiment, to fail, to experience efforts that make you cringe. Do you get angry with a baby learning to walk because he falls down? Of course not. We understand that babies won’t get it right the first time. See yourself as a little baby just starting to learn, and treat yourself with the same kindness and love.
Find an Expert – Take a class or two or three. If you can’t afford that, buy a book on the subject. If you can’t afford that, go to your lending library. Become a student. Look for people who do well what you want to do, and soak up any information you can find.
Give Yourself Time – It sounds trite, but it’s true that the journey is the destination. Let yourself know the joy of learning and blossoming. Let go of self-judgment about how you’re too old, too ugly, or too broke. Let the process unfold, and savor every moment.
Learn to Listen to Your Heart – This may sound contradictory to #3, but it’s not. Sometimes even your teachers will say things that don’t ring true. Allow your own personal truth to emerge, and make your stand. There is power in having conviction about what you’re doing.
Find Friends Along the Way – This has been a tougher quest for me. I’ve tried and discarded several writers’ groups because they didn’t feel right. However, I have found a good mix of supportive women on She Writes, and it makes a huge difference! When I have a difficult day, I have people who understand and who will help me keep going.
Feel the Pain – Too often we think we have to be stoic and strong. If we give ourselves even a few minutes to feel and release our pain, we can get back to our dreams quickly.
Ask for Help – It’s okay to reach out and tell people what you need. Often if we are going through major difficulties, people are standing by not knowing what to do or say. Let people show their goodness. They will often surprise you with how generous they can be. When your crisis has ended, you can pay it forward by doing the same for someone else.

What if a dream has ended for good? Well, the first question is, is that absolutely true? I wanted to be a mother but couldn’t have children, and yet I ended up with two stepchildren that are two of the joys of my life. Had I children of my own, I may never have met them. Sometimes, as they say, “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” Of course, some days this can also come under the heading of, “Be careful what you wish for — you just might get it!” (Kidding, kiddos)

If it is true, is there some way you could have the essence of your dream? I always had the itchy feet to travel but never much money to do so. Back in those days, I learned to travel internally through meditation, breathwork, and writing. I learned to be fascinated with the world within. When I could, I traveled locally, making day trips to small towns accessible by car. I read books — again, the library is a great resource — and traveled to other worlds that authors made for me.

Health matters are tough, too. One night my doctor told my support group: “Part of your healing may be to accept that you may never be well.” That sentence shocked me at first. I had to think about it. She wasn’t saying that I would stop trying to heal my body. She was saying I could have a good life in spite of my health. She was right.

One of the symptoms of my illness was an inability to concentrate. I learned that if I drew a picture of what I was reading, it would stay in my head better. I discovered that I could do certain activities in 15-minute increments. It wasn’t much, but each little nugget of success cheered me. I worked hard on my health, filling my body with nutrition and self-care. I slowed my life down, and in the process I learned to listen better to what I needed for myself. That’s when I began to heal. Even now, years later, I have to be careful. I overdid it one day with a personal trainer and got knocked out with a “crash” for nearly two weeks. Most of the time, though, I judge well when I need to rest.

When you are struggling and have physical limits, it may be hard to look around at what you do have — but if you look hard enough, there’s real beauty all around you. Springtime flowers, summer warmth, a home that provides shelter, loved ones — even the beauty of your very breath. If you can find a way, even in the darkest moments, to find or create beauty, then your discouragement will lessen.

May you find the path through your discouragement! I hope all of you find some way to live your dreams.

Book Discovery Tuesday: Meditation Secrets for Women by Camille Maurine

September 6, 2011 by admin

***Please lend your thoughts and prayers to those dealing with Texas wildfires. The post that follows feels almost silly given what people are going through, but perhaps, while meditation cannot bring back a house or a loved one, it can help manage life’s stresses. If anyone reading this is or has been in the path of the fires, please know that I am sending you big hugs and hopes that your home, animals, and family are safe.***

Our Swiss adventure continues. Today we combined cable cars and a long hike (about five hours) to reach Corvatsch, which, at 3,300 meters, provides a breathtaking 360-degree view of mountains and glaciers. Or should I say breath-giving?

The hike was challenging but felt safe all the way, and we agreed that this was one of our best hikes to date — and that’s saying something! We toured several mountain lakes filled with quartz and malachite.

Once we had finished our climb, I felt euphoric. My mind felt soft and peaceful, and I found myself in a state of “alert rest.”

Camille Maurine might say that I was in a meditative state, a state that I entered into naturally — and that state is available to all of us, all the time. When I taught yoga, I can’t tell you how many people said, “I can’t meditate. My mind never gets quiet.” Maurine would suggest that we allow all of the thoughts, emotions, and noisiness to just be there. I’m excited about Meditation Secrets for Women because I believe it provides people with a nonjudgmental, loving, sweet approach to meditation.

I confess that like many of the women Maurine spoke with about meditation, I did things that some teachers considered “wrong.” I often keep a notepad and pen next to me, for example, in case I get a really interesting idea. I open my eyes, jot down my thoughts, then return to my concentration. I sometimes move around during meditation, and occasionally I have a really good cry. I love my meditation, but I have often kept my methods to myself.

Glacier at Corvatsch — If these views don't inspire meditation, there's no hope for me!

Why haven’t I — or these other women — shared our experiences of wanting more movement? Why do we not discuss the pleasure we feel or express our deepening passion for life?

Maurine shares some horror stories about how women’s psyches can be wounded with more authoritarian forms of meditation training. I’ve definitely run across teachers who say that their method is the ONLY method of true meditation — which makes me nervous. I also know that over the years, the more alive I felt in my body, the more certain teachers seemed to want me to “settle down.” I didn’t want to be calmer, or quieter, or anything other than my genuine self, which is sometimes loud, bawdy, and ludicrous, but which is me nonetheless. I got tired of disapproval and made the decision that I needed less self-improvement and more self-acceptance.

Still, where meditation was concerned, I always wondered: “Am I doing it right?”

For fourteen years, nearly every morning, I have written three pages longhand, a method I learned from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. She called them a form of meditation. That felt true to me, but still…

I found myself drawn to the Kripalu style of yoga, with its emphasis on “meditation in motion.” The idea is to free the body so it moves spontaneously into poses. But is that meditation?

Maurine would say yes. She provides twelve “secrets” to a woman’s meditation practice. Examples include Celebrate Your Senses, Claim Your Inner Authority, Be Tender With Yourself, Say Yes to Every Part of Yourself. She provides opportunities to explore, a variety of meditations to try, and opportunities to reflect on the meditations at the end of each section.

For a few weeks now I have written about September being a month of stillness and relaxation. Maurine would remind me that we are more flow than stillness, and I like that very much. For me, stillness is not about lack of movement, but about a sense of peace that pervades even when we feel in turmoil, a sense of knowing that we are always, in every moment, all right. So, I don’t think we disagree…but I think that from now on I will adopt the use of “flow.” I think it’s closer to the essence of what I hope to share this month.

Meditation Secrets for Women can benefit anyone, whether or not they are experienced meditators. In my opinion, even a man could benefit from the gentle approaches in this book. If you are a beginner, it’s a great instruction manual for getting started. If you’re experienced, you may find opportunities to explore different or new methods, or to just give yourself permission to enjoy what you’re already doing. For me, this book is an affirmation of what I have felt and experienced inside for years.

Wasserweg — Here's my sweetie in front of one of the many mountain lakes we viewed today.

Good Morning, Monday! Guten Morgen, Montag! Buongiorno, Lunedi!

September 5, 2011 by admin

Terrace View — View From a Restaurant Terrace - prices are high, but the view is worth it!

***HAPPY LABOR DAY!***

As we begin our second week in Sils, Switzerland, we have discovered that seeing everything on this trip, our second, is impossible. We hike or bike to one town and find trails to others, snaking out across the Engadin Region through mountains, valleys, and charming towns. The Italian tourists, who fill the area in August, are headed home to start their autumn, so this should be a quieter week. On Saturday we dodged tour groups, bikes, hikers, and horse-drawn carriages in a manner that felt more like being in a live video game than anything.

Funny…when we travel we get tired of seeing art and ruins, but I never tire of seeing another mountain or glacier. My husband, Henry, is already planning next year’s return!

I want to welcome visiting bloggers who are participating in the Platform-Building Challenge. I’m excited about making new friends and getting to know your blogs better! I’m impressed with the quality of writing I’ve seen.

For those new to A Woman’s Nest, here’s how I do things: on Mondays I preview the week, offering a few reflections along the way.

Tuesdays are days for book and DVD reviews that may be of interest to women at midlife. This week, I will review Meditation Secrets for Women by Camille Maurine. Since this month’s focus is on finding stillness and relaxation, I thought this book would be a great way to launch the new month.

By the way, in a curious synchronicity, Yogawoman.tv is promoting a free telesummit that fits in well with our September topic, so I want to pass along the info. If you’re interested, click on the Divine Feminine Yoga Telesummit link to get information. If you can’t listen to the telesummit live, you can listen to recordings later at your leisure. Some great teachers are contributing, and I’m sure they’ll be sharing info similar to what I’ll be sharing this month.

Wednesdays are for feature posts based on the monthly topic. I’ll start by offering tips on what to do when we struggle with doubt and discouragement as we pursue our dreams. Thursdays, I recommend a blog that I’ve run across during the week. I didn’t used to post on Friday, but will offer fun stuff then, including my own fiction within the next month or so.

Swiss Flowers — Though wildflower season has passed, there are plenty of beautiful flowers to enjoy!

Welcome to old friends and new! Thank you for visiting my site. If you know someone who may have an interest, please share the link, and I will do the same for you!

Pumpkin Risotto — How about a little pumpkin risotto with goat cheese?

Friday Shout-Outs and Fun

September 2, 2011 by admin

Okay, I lied. I said I would see everyone on Monday, but a lot is happening in the blogosphere, and I’m adapting to the changes as fast as I can. I’ve left Fridays open thus far because I hadn’t come up with a clear focus for that day, and I waited for inspiration to visit. I know that I will serialize my upcoming novel, Change of Plans, on Fridays once we complete the editing process. But since I am a lover of reading as well as writing, why not use Fridays for some fun? After all, we’re focusing on fairly serious topics during the week here at A Woman’s Nest.

I want to thank my new friend Julie Ferrar for helping me find this new direction. She told me I deserved a Leibster blog award. I scratched my head, never having heard of such a thing. She told me that the award is to connect bloggers, especially those with fewer than 200 followers. I think this is a great idea! I’ve been reading some wonderful blogs lately that the world does not yet know about, and I’m happy to share the love.

If I accept the award, she told me, I must:

* Show my thanks to the blogger who gave me the award by linking back

* Make my own top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

* Post the award on my blog.

* Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the internet—other writers.

* And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.

I’m up for the task! Here are my faves (so far):

Traveling Through – I’ve been reading Julie Ferrar’s blog for a while now, and her musings about travel are well-written and fun. She always writes something that I want to comment on. I’m sending the love back to her not because I feel as though I can call her a friend (we have only met in this fabulous thing called cyberspace), but because she does a great blog. Period.

Over 50 and Happy – Go visit Nina and share a chat with her about life after 50. She’s having a wonderful time, and she’s guaranteed to make you smile! Attitude is everything, and Nina knows this.

Blooming Late Journal – Samantha Stacia is a new blogger who is honing her writing skills. If you’re a writer trying to get started, check out her blog and learn along with her! What I love most about Samantha is her ability to motivate and inspire others. She is the ringleader of the Blooming Late group on She Writes, giving more than 80 of us regular support and encouragement despite health and other challenges.

DebutAuthors – Robin Yaklin – Spotlights and promotes new authors. What a wonderful thing to do! It’s great to find fresh voices that would otherwise be hard to find.

Wanderlust and Lipstick – Nancy Mueller – Okay, so I like travel blogs! Nancy is a freelance travel writer, and when I ran across this one it became one of my new faves. Not as “small” a blog as some of the others, but so worthwhile I had to include it.

Thanks, you wonderful women writers, for keeping the faith and sharing yourselves on your blogs!

NOW I’m done for the weekend. I’m resting my feet from another gorgeous hike in the Swiss Engadin region, and we’ll be biking all weekend. I’m less comfortable on bikes than with my feet on terra firma, so wish me luck!