There is so much to love. Where do we begin? Perhaps expanding our view of love. 
My friend Bob Day sent this inspiration on the ‘Wonders’ of love: 

A class of students was asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the world. Though there was some disagreement, Egypt’s Great Pyramids, The Taj Mahal, The Grand Canyon, The Panama Canal, The Empire State Building, St. Peter’s Basilica, and China’s Great Wall received the most votes from the students. 

I met Karen Drucker twenty years ago when she entertained and inspired a group of women at a spiritual retreat I hosted along with two other ministers in Flagstaff, Arizona. Reverends Michelle Medrano and Michele Whittington and I organized and presented weekend long retreats for several years in northern Arizona. Karen was our favorite singer, entertainer for our gatherings.

Karen is a keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, singer, songwriter, and author.  She has produced twenty CD’s and written her book, Let go of the Shore, and performed throughout the country inspiring others with her songs and powerful message; live a life worth living. Once you hear Karen sing and perform, you will never forget her message…live a life worth living.           www.karendrucker.com

​Faith is not a vision; it is a connection.
Hope is not only a feeling; it is a commitment.
Trust is not a submission; it is a certainty.
Gratitude is not placating; it is an obligation.
Miracles are not scarce; they are abound.
Prayers are not petitions; they are comfort.
Love is not stationary; it is fluid.
Friendship is not selfish; it is a connection, commitment, certainty, obligation, abound, comfort and fluid.

I remember clearly when my son Ron first said to me, “I want to do it my way.” 
As Thanksgiving peaks around the corner, I begin thinking of the reasons why I am truly, madly, deeply, thankful. At the top, I’m thankful for being in my seventies and still able to do it my way. Finally! I can take the blame or accept the accolades equally and say, “yep, I did it my way!”  I am sure many of you reading this can relate to this statement. Aging has its benefits. 
 As the veil of pandemic uncertainty seems to be lifting, our salon has weathered the storm with a few added rays of sunshine: Samantha’s baby Elaina, a sweet blessing; an extra pair of hands at Pluma, our Beverly is back; new clients to the salon; and gratitude for our clients who stayed and kept us going for the past two years for whom we are absolutely thankful. You stayed and together we did it your way, our way, and their way. 

​A friend sent me an email with a humorous look at walking. It started me laughing and then thinking about the word walking. I will share her email at the end. But first, the obvious benefits of walking from the Mayo Clinic Staff: Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat. Prevent or manage various conditions; including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones and muscles. Improve muscle endurance, increase energy levels, improve mood, cognition, memory and sleep. Recover balance and coordination, strengthen immune system and reduce stress and tension.

​At the age of 17, in my junior year of high school in Ajo, Arizona, my goal was to attend cosmetology school in Phoenix. A year later and a month before my senior graduation, I knew I did not have the funds I needed and withdrew my application in a letter to the school. Fortunately for me, in their reply, I received a full scholarship to the cosmetology school. How well I remember my gratitude for the gift of a career that would sustain me for a lifetime. 

The beauty industry has taught me the value of relationships, the benefits of education, the skills of technology, management, patience and competence. Although it is certainly a work in perpetual progress, because of the scholarship, I have lived a life worth living. 

​Although science, research, books and articles have been dedicated to prove ‘multitasking’ isn’t possible, I believe women are capable of ‘multitasking.’

Last week, coming home from work, talking on the phone to my friend Karen, I simultaneously checked my mail box, sorted the mail, threw the junk mail into recycle garbage can outside and continued having a conversation with my friend. Easy ‘multitasking’ at my best.
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Or so I thought. Until I sat in my office to pay my bills later that evening. (Yes! I still right checks. No judgment please. I do other tasks well.) Going through the statements, I realized I had thrown away the self-addressed envelopes for the statements. I looked everywhere on my desk. Could I have thrown them away with the recycle junk mail. No Way! I am a skillful ‘multitasker’. I would never have made such a mistake.  

I found this beautiful piece in the summer issue of Magnolia magazine on Flourish. It reminded me of the spirit of summer, to nurture ourselves. 

As summer vacations and travel begin, this year in particular after not traveling for two years, people are running to other parts of the country for vacations, reunions and self-nurture and growing relationships.
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I trust you will enjoy the words and essence of the article as much as I have.   

“You’re like the seed from which a plant grows: almost everything you need to be fully who you are is already inside of you-waiting for the things that nurture you, the things that bring you to life. 

​CATCHING ANSWERED PRAYERS

I don’t know what others do when they’re struggling. I pray. I pray for answers or a change in the circumstances I am struggling with. I pray for gratitude to take me over instead of the struggle that has absorbed me. I pray to catch the answered prayer when it comes to me.

On January 22nd of this year, I woke up early with the strong desire to have a word with God, or whoever was not listening to my prayers for the past several months. I needed help. Samantha and I had worked 6 and 7 days a week for the past year and a half, keeping up with our salon clients. While following the rules of social distancing, sanitizing absolutely everything, taking temperatures, masking and breaking out with rashes around our mouth and nose and experiencing a dull headache from not getting enough oxygen, we were exhausted. We were working hard and with Samantha pregnant, we needed prayers answered.

Recently I presented a talk at ASU to a group of students in their undergrad senior year. They are attending a Political History and Leadership program.
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As much as I try to read my audience when speaking, the best confirmation of their connection to the subject and presentation is afterwards, when they ask questions. Several raised their hands. 
One of the students asked what keeps me motivated and inspired. Although I gave him an answer that at the time made sense, I kept thinking about the question days after. What does motivate and inspire us as we grow older?

And as ‘chance’ would have its way with me, days later I received my favorite monthly magazine, American Essence, in which an article, "A Constant State of Growth, The pursuit of curiosity and its key to a happy life" by Poppy Richie, confirmed what we know about motivation and inspiration.