Women Who Thrive, Change The World!

Busting Loose From The Aging Game

October 9, 2010

72 year old Ernestine tells it like it is in this video!  At this writing I believe that she is now 73 years old and still going strong.  This didn’t happen overnight for her.  What it took was daily commitment to her health and fitness, and an inner faith that she could change her life for the better…and in turn change many other women’s lives as well.

A new friend and I had breakfast this morning and we were discussing the manner in which our generation is aging.  Some of you may have read Busting Loose From The Money Game by Robert Scheinfeld.  Well, my friend Lorraine came up with Busting Loose From the Aging Game. In other words, we get to choose and create how we play the aging game and what kind of “rules” we want to live by.  What fun!!

For example, Ernestine started out when she was 56 years old.  Going shopping for bathing suits with her sister for a pool party they were invited to, both of them realized that they definitely wanted to look a little bit different than what they saw in the mirror.  They were taking on the aging game of their generation, and both decided to invent a new one!

Beginning with an aerobics class, they both started to feel better and look better.  It wasn’t however, until Ernestine’s sister died suddenly of an brain aneurysm, that Ernestine decided to commit to much more than she had been doing to work through the grief over her sister’s passing.  Now 17 years later, at age 73, she runs 80 miles a week, lifts weights most days, can bench press 150 pounds, has completed 8 marathons, and teaches other women how to believe in themselves, find health, vitality and empowerment, and create a different game for aging. 

If we create our reality, and I believe that we do, then what kind of aging game would you like to create?? It will be uniquely your own…so ready, start, GO!!

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Manifesting Your Dreams, Vital Health & Well Being

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For Those With Ears to Hear, Let Them Hear It

September 29, 2010

I offer this video as an expression of the creative soul that is in all of us.  I know nothing more at this writing of Angelica, but will certainly explore more of her work.  It is within each of us that we hold amazing gifts to bring clearly, and without holding back, into this world –  especially as women.  Perhaps in my recent reading of The Book of Love by Kathleen McGowan, my perception is colored – but deeply and truthfully so.  Stories, no matter whether they resonate with our present knowing or not, can bring shifts in thinking, shake us up, delight us, or reaffirm our own Truth.   They always have the potential to open our hearts. “For those with ears to hear, let them hear it”.

It is in “coming as we are” in all of our glory, power and wildness that the masculine principles shift, joining us with their gifts.  Watching this video with tears streaming down my face at the beauty, grace, and expansiveness of Angelica’s singing I watched the men behind her.  It is LOVE and our soul’s creative expression that will light the lives of others that may be struggling in this moment.  How could anyone not feel the heart of what she is bringing?  How can anyone not have a smile break across their face?  How can anyone check their watch during this offering, instead of being enraptured with what is right before them in this moment?

What is your part in all of this?

Gaye Abbott

OTHER BLOGS:  www.BreathingSpaces.net

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Creative Expression, Divine Inspiration

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Married to Amazement

September 26, 2010

……“And therefore I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility,and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular, and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, tending, as all music does, toward silence, and each body a lion of courage, and something precious to the earth.  When it’s over, I want to say:  all my life I was a bride married to amazement.  I was the bridegroom taking the world into my arms.  When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real.  I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened or full of argument.  I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

–Mary Oliver from “When Death Comes”

Having entered into the season of Fall we start to see “death” coming to the leaves on the trees and the “leave taking” of the geese flying overhead.  It is a reminder of the preciousness of each day and the creative opportunities that we hold inside, like a chrysalis that is creating an astounding one of a kind life form.  

Remind yourself daily that there is mystery that surrounds you.  That their are questions that you cannot find answers to – and it is those very questions that you should live within.  Feeling as if you know all the answers is a prescription for just “having visited” this world.  Be curious, and be vulnerable within your curiosity.  Decide on the way in which you wish to live your life –

“There are two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is.” – Albert Einstein

Gaye Abbott, A WildlyFreeWoman 

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Awareness

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The “Divine Shove”

September 15, 2010


Standing in the group shower of my gym today after a weight training session, I almost lost all sense of propriety as I imagined all 4 other women and myself breaking out in a gospel song with harmonizing and all, stark naked, shampoo in our hair, and sounding like angels from heaven – well, soulful, grounded angels that is!  Our name, of course, would be Divine Soulful Naked Babes.

It is this kind of imaginative play that seems to be striking my fancy quite often these days.  Why, one might ask?  I do believe that when a person realizes that she/he is the direct creator of their life, a freedom of sorts comes in that enhances the innate imagination and dreaming potential.  This potential doesn’t seem to have an off and on switch – let’s just say you can’t control it!  Thank God!

Also in these times of direct conscious creation we can be given what I call a “Divine Shove”.  This very sacred and creative push is directly powered by, and on behalf of, YOU expressing fully in the world.  This is in place of hanging out in resistance and the illusions of fear and doubt which some might call  “stuck” or “paralyzed”.  I call it opportunity beckoning.

When this “Shove” comes it is like a death of sorts where we step out of our old ways of creating (patterns and limiting beliefs) directly into “coming as you really are”.  I have written about this before, but now it has an additional depth to it that may call to what you may be up against in your own life. Connecting with a friend of mine in Ireland I explained it is like riding in a roller coaster – which I really don’t like thank you very much – and realizing that the only thing you can do is put your hands in the air and yell a little (or a lot) and let go!

This transition time may seem like living in two worlds – and you might wonder if a bit of schizophrenia is taking hold.  Here is an example.  I thrive in the worlds of writing and creation, as well as motivating and empowering.  I also work in a scientific world where everything must be exact – no room for error – rigid.  My “Divine Shove” this week came within the medical world, which for a long time now has not been in alignment with my heart, soul, or desires.  This “Shove” came in the disguise of “corrective action” for not living up to set standards by a technical error that I made.  No details are necessary here, but let’s just say that the system that meted out this “punishment”, which is “you will be terminated if you do it again”, was the push that I needed to co-create my life in alignment with my passions.  This had already been initiated, but a speeding up process was definitely under way!

Now, one could be a victim of circumstances that happen, or one can take the immense gifts of this “Divine Shove” and run with it knowing full well that you are the Master Creator.  I took the latter choice, but not without some moments of panic I must admit.  Coming home from that day at work, however,  I decided to positively brain storm about everything that I love to do and which can provide a flow of income for me.  Every possible idea that I could think of was written down.  Thoughts were not on the “corrective action” but were on stepping out into my creativity and aliveness.  I went to sleep that night filled with possibility.

Now,  I would like to say that there was no repercussion from what happened at my day job, but there is, and that is part of the gift.  I get to watch myself feel doubt in my abilities where before I never even thought about my competency and skill in this area.  How to work with this until I can move completely into the life of my dreams and vision is a task that is directly in front of me.  On the other hand the same day that the “corrective action” took place I came home to find that I was sent the draft of a book to “take a look at and see what I thought”.  This turns out to be a possibility to co-create with someone I greatly admire.

Are you ready for a “Divine Shove”?  Just remember it has many disguises.  I am beginning to love roller coaster rides!

Gaye Abbott     

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Manifesting Your Dreams

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Cut Loose!

September 9, 2010

What if there was nothing in the way of you expressing exactly what you wanted to in the moment.   Have you ever thought of that?  A multitude of examples have placed themselves in my path this week…so here are a couple of them.

I adore dancing in most all of it’s forms for to me it sets the body free to explore the boundaries of timing, space, limitations (or not!) and freedom of expression in our finite bodies expressing from an infinite source.  Besides that it can be fun!  For all of those non-dancers out there, do not despair…this video may entice you to wiggle just a little.  Just try to stay still!  I can see those toes moving!   For all of you dancers out there I am certain this will delight you…and I wish I had a video cam focused on you right now as I just know that you are movin and groovin – footloose!


Thank you to Cheryl Richardson’s weekly newsletter for this video.  I often find bits of wisdom from her newsletters and would recommend that you sign up to receive it.  Just click here:  www.cherylrichardson.com to subscribe and go to “Newsletter”.

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia Gorge in Oregon is breathtaking (or should I say breath giving) especially this time of year in the transition season of Fall soon to come.  I am fortunate to be able to be in the heart of it within a couple of hours, and this past weekend found me there.

Being the wind surfing capitol of the world, Hood River is a spectacular place to have the experience of sailing along the water propelled by the ever present wind – or to merely watch from on shore and vicariously enjoy this “cutting loose” sport.

This is the sport

After being taken captive by a beautiful older woman (looking to be in her 70’s!) who was busily instructing a man about 20 years younger than her on “how to do it”, I decided that this was an experience that I just had to try (next season mind you).  Usually going up to people to connect with them I held back this time being content to watch this wildly free woman in action.  She was the “queen bee” of this particular area and seemed to have admirers everywhere….and what was she doing?  She was expressing every bit of herself and seemed to be savoring every moment of it.  She delighted and entranced me – a real life WildlyFreeWoman cutting loose.

And...this is the woman, earrings and all!

So…ask yourself this question one more time.   What if there was nothing in the way of you expressing yourself exactly the way you want in the moment.  Julia Cameron has you finish this sentence using your imagination:  If the best of all possible worlds were reality…….

Examples:

*My writing would be published and have an appreciative global readership
*I would be dancing with indigenous people all over the world
*I would have a home in Bali where I would spend part of my time each year

Now take this a step further and begin to make the best a reality by doing things a little bit differently every day.  Have fun!!  Cut Loose!

Gaye Abbott, A WildlyFreeWoman

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Creative Expression, Manifesting Your Dreams

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Pivotal Points – You Are THE Creator

September 2, 2010

“I learn and love in the liquid flow of life standing in my strength and in my weakness, shining with the light of ten thousand moons over water…I flow with the lightness of the emancipated soul”. Marilyn Patterson from Wrapped in Sunrise

Breath coming in gasps, yet expanding to power you along the “straight up” hillside.  Instead of being weakened or drained by the climb you are strengthened and filled with more life energy.  Why?  You have decided that it is so as you show up as you are in the moment…. YOU are the creator of your experience.

At a brief pause about half way up you see a blackberry bush just loaded with the largest, juiciest blackberries that you have every seen!  But…that bush… although a short distance away, is surrounded by tall grasses and potentially prickly things which you must traverse before sampling the sweetness.  Who knows what is lurking in the hidden depths??  You have a choice – chart new territory and take the risk, or walk on by perhaps regretting that you did not go the distance.  Both are possible actions that you can take.

At the top you reflect on a journey from the past navigating the Na Pali coast on the Hawaiian island of Kauai many years ago.  One day into the 11 mile one way hike terror reigns supreme in your mind and transfers to your body the night before crossing a particularly treacherous piece of the trail.  The full day’s hike had seen you in the back following everyone else, negotiating streams where, we were told, people had been washed away to the sea….and using every muscle, some of which you didn’t know you had.

Once at the evening camp site while reviewing the next days trail ahead,  the inner voices ask, “would they really miss me if I didn’t go ahead with them in the morning?”  Do you turn back…or do you, the next morning, get an early start and start hiking before the others so that you are first and they follow?

Well, here is the truth telling, as this was my journey today…..and several years ago.  I passed by the blackberry bush… satiated by the luscious berries that I had already amply and easily sampled on my way up.  Sometimes we take the challenge and learn new skills and gain awareness (or taste the sweetness in this case!), and other times we take our attention back to what is right in front or inside of us – resting easily in the flow of receiving.

On the 11 mile one way to Kalalau via the old Hawaiian trial along the breath taking beauty of the Na Pali coast on the island of Kaua’i…. I did go ahead of everyone else that morning turning a 90 degree corner on a very narrow trail with sheer drop off to the cliffs and ocean below on my right, a fierce wind blowing, carrying a heavy backpack, with nothing to hang on to but trust in my ability to breathe one breath, and take one step…. at a time.

The destination reached – Kalalau – with prawns in the streams, fruit on the trees, a waterfall for a shower, nightly sunsets painted by the Divine, a Hawaiian mythology story teller for late night entertainment, an astronomer to show us the magic of the night skies where stars and planets covered every inch of sky, a chiropractor to soothe our misaligned and sore bodies, and even a composting toilet!   We came together from varying parts of the world ,separately along the trial, to convene at pivotal points in our lives.

Are you at a crossroads in your life?  You are the Creator.  There are a multitude of choices…trust your intuitive creation!

Gaye Abbott – Catalyst, Guide & Creative Mentor

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Come As You Are – An Invitation to the “Artist” In Each of Us

August 25, 2010

AWAKENING by Fran Bouwman (Please watch her video at www.franbouwman.com)

All right – I just arrived home from sharing breakfast with an amazingly creative, beautiful, naturally funny, and wise woman of 68 years.   Threw on my long gauzy skirt and a deep red silky camisole – my writing clothes for the day I have decided – and plunked a piece of rich dark chocolate in my mouth.  What could be better!

I am dedicating this post to you Sue, for you have inspired me to make an offer to my 50+ age women readers out there (or under if you find your way to this blog site!).   I dare you (and you first Sue!) to take me up on this!  Listening to Julia Cameron’s Walking in This World, the Practical Art of Creativity, read by a most wonderful reader, on my way home in the car…and reflecting on the conversations that Sue and I had this morning, I realized that WildlyFreeWoman has always been about supporting, encouraging, guiding, and at times giving a gentle kick in the butt, to women to bring their creative wild soul out into the physical world – NOW!  

It is not always clear how a woman can do that with all of the other pulls on her time and attention – but from 50 on we have a new perspective, tons of life experience, more “our time” than we have ever had, and the opportunity to say YES! to our unique and individual expression – whatever that is.  For me right in this moment it is sitting down at my Mac computer, or putting my favorite fountain pen in my hand, and waiting for the creator’s juice to move through me into my hands and on this page.

As Sue wove her story at the breakfast table of her recent visit to the Trappist monastery, I had very upturned mouth and tears of laughter rolling down my face.  I was able to see and feel her sitting there in the chapel attempting to connect with “the Divine” as an ancient monk shuffled his way (she knew which one it was by his walk) down the aisle and sat near to her, stamping his walking stick and making snuffling noises as he moved his dentures around in his mouth.  What a disturbance she thought to herself…and on the story goes to reveal some wise and profound observations – and great humor directed at our humanness.

I invite Sue to finish this story and have me put it here on the blog.  The worst that could happen is that no one will read it …the best that can happen is that no one will read it – but Sue would have put something out there for public viewing and said YES to her creative expression.  You can’t lose Sue!

That goes for everyone else out there that is sitting on a creative expression – or is just tentatively beginning to get nearer to “putting it out there”.  Allow this to be the sacred container which births IT and YOU out into the world.  Julia Cameron says, “Doubt is a signal of the creative process.  It is a signal that you are doing something right…. Creativity is a spiritual issue.  Although we seldom look at this squarely the creative life features the same spiritual obstacles as any other spiritual path.” Doubt can then lead to the courage to go ahead and put it out there anyway,  no matter what…and yes it is a leap…and yes it is way worth it.  (Besides I have the power to monitor any comments that are made public on this blog….so again, you can’t lose…)

There are women (and men!) out there that need our stories, our art, our creative expression and example to take them one more step further along in their inside journey to letting loose and breaking free of the restrictions that may keep us bound up like a tightly closed bud that is doomed never to flower, or open at all.  The way I see it WE need US to do it!

So…here is the deal!  Write to me about your art, creative activity, or projects; give me a website;  or send me some samples if that is appropriate.   Allow WildlyFreeWoman to be your creative muse and the readers of this blog to be your adoring supporters.  We each have a unique expression to bring…and we each are a incredibly important part of the whole web of creative interconnection globally.  The creation is not complete without our unique and individual expression.

As Marilyn Patterson in South Africa wrote to me when sending her brand new book, “Wrapped in Sunrise”  in the mail – let yourself be “the kind of person that inspires others towards a greater more heart felt life expression”.  Bring it on and let’s play!

Gaye Abbott
A WildlyFreeWoman

SUE RESPONDS WITHIN HOURS!! Here is her courageous launching and she promises me that a picture will be forth coming.  WFW will be sending an official “Courageously Creative” certificate to each woman that brings her expression to this blog site!
*************
To a Very Special Wildly Free Woman and Dear Friend,

I feel as if I am being Published..me head is swelling.   Several times, I have had the exquisite experience of spending even a small amount of time observing these men in robes, who we define as Monks. Are they freaks of nature, recluse on the run from life, or do they actually contribute to the world in which we live?  The answer for me is a resounding, Yes they do, in ways we will never know.  I learned this from My Very Dearest Friend, Thomas Merton, Trappist Monk, who left this unruly world, far too young. So now, I have told you the name of My Mentor.  Now you must know my Funny Personality, so to speak, is derived from an Irish Family Background and as far back as I can remember the Exquisite need to laugh and give laughter to others.

Going to the Monastery/Abby is a place where you will actually see smiles on peoples faces.  Silence evokes quiet thought, which in turn, gives us all periods of thought you had forgotten and which later appear very funny, when measured against the Seriousness of Life.

A few weeks ago, I had again decided to drive up to Lafayette, just a little north of McMinnville, Oregon for a quiet time in their garden and some meditation regarding making a decision on a special matter. While there, I left the chapel and proceeded outside to the gardens and passed the private graveyard in their enclose.  Mother of God I thought, imagine sleeping next to all those dead people. Anyway, a quiet little monk came up next to me and asked, “would you like to share lunch with the brothers? “  I of course said yes.  Good chance some of them would be cute..know what I mean.  Anyway, we proceeded to the QUIET hall where they were all seated in SILENCE. I proceeded to go over to the table and serve myself, then proceeded to sit down and eat. I kept looking out over the tops of my glasses to see, as a lay person, what they looked like and were all about. After about 35 minutes I stood up and proceeded to leave, but not without saying,
” Thank you for the delicious lunch”.  With that one of them turned to me with his finger over his lips as if to say, faux pas..then out of the corner of my eye, I observed a little old monk quietly giggling at the end of the table. Sue I said…Sweet Victory!!!!!!!!

Hopefully, as he lay on his straw mattress that night, he had wonderful dreams.  Sue you Devil.

I have many such stories to give forth to those who would find them enjoyable as well as funny. At the time they happened in my life, they did not really have that much significance. In my looking back now, they were really funny and I will from time to time give forth some of these wonderful times of my life.  However, as I proceeded to say to my friend Gaye,  ” I cannot imagine anyone finding my stories and the Paths my life has taken as interesting.  The Glory of having Intelligent/Passionate about life friends, is how they are able to observe qualities you never saw in yourself, and they, if they are true friends, are quick to remind you, ” your talents MUST be shared by the many, in hopes they too can rise above it all.

Sue O’

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Creative Expression

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The Slippery Slope

August 22, 2010

She Is Reborn!

SHE IS BACK! Inspiration to bring back WildlyFreeWoman has actually come from a most creatively inspired woman by the name of Marilyn Patterson. Marilyn lives in South Africa and was someone that found her way to WFW, and me, when it was a full blown support and promotional site for women 50 and beyond.  If you click on the link above you will find a website that is “under construction” – but keep this one on file for you will be astounded by Marilyn’s artwork, poetry, and stories when she brings it up online.   Her new book, Wrapped In Sunrise, will be promoted here on this site.  So….here is publicly expressed gratitude to Marilyn for her courageousness in persevering so that we can receive her full on heart and soul centered creative expression, and for reminding me that I do indeed continue to have a passion for women collaborating and connecting with other women so that all may thrive.   Now we have a forum to do it!

I am on the precipice of awareness.  Have you ever been there?  It is a place of deeply knowing how your patterns have sabotaged your full expression up to this point in time, and having an idea of just how ingrained they are.  This is counterbalanced with the new awareness of what will nourish, nurture and give God speed to your creative fulness in whatever endeavor you are presently involved in…or about to be involved in.

Up to this point in time I have had a pattern called “Other”.  This is one which a lot of women (and some men too) take on their entire lives, and because of this pattern never quite being accountable to share with the world the richness and fullness of what is inside.  “Other” has us taking care of, promoting, doing the work for, supporting, helping others at the expense of ourselves.  It has us putting the attention on everyone and everything else except us and what our secret dreams and creative visions are.  It has us always busy “on someone else’s behalf”.

Now, I am not saying that giving or putting the attention on others is a bad thing unto itself, but here is the slippery slope part.  I have discovered that it has taken the attention off of me for a good reason. There were fears of being “too big” out in the world that were just too terrifying to engage.  The “what if’s” sabotaged me every single time and the energy that co-opted my creative soul came in first place every time.  Don’t get me wrong, no victim here!  It was just what I did until just recently.   As I have been working on “wealth enhancement” I have realized that I have been “running on empty” for years.  Julia Cameron speaks to this in her book, Walking in the World.  In giving to oursleves first – which can come in many forms such as setting boundaries, creating solitude time, feeding our bodies nourishing food, getting out in nature, exercising, getting a massage, setting aside creative time, etc. – we are full (my wealth) and certain that our expression out into the world is able to bring more life for others – giving us all more life!

Now when I promote people I do it out of love, when I write it is for God/Creative Spirit and me, and when I am inspired – and become more aware – I take it in deeply and then give back in a way that inspires and motivates others.

So, for this my first post rebirthing WildlyFreeWoman, I invite each of you to be part of this community and share with us as you travel the path of the slippery slope.  It is good to be back!

Women Who Thrive, Change the World!

Gaye Abbott
A WildlyFreeWoman

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