Real Connection

Taken from Jamie Mendell...Intuitive eating / Life coach:  

"Well, as human beings, and especially women, deep connection to others is SO incredibly fulfilling to our souls. Connection gives our lives a feeling of meaning, purpose and deep deep joy. It “fills us up” and feeds us on profound levels. 

When we don’t have enough of this real kind of connection, we often times turn to other ways to “fill ourselves up”. We might turn to food, or the control of food, or keeping our schedules extremely busy, or overworking, or alcohol. 

But, the catch is this… real connection isn’t always easy! 

It asks us to open our hearts and be vulnerable, a word and feeling that many of us shy away from. We shy away from vulnerability to protect ourselves. To stay unexposed. Because we are afraid that if we were to REALLY show our true colors, we may not be loved. We may be too much for people. We may not receive the love back that we so desperately want. 

But, after years and years of peeling back my layers and verrrryyy slowwwllyy becoming more vulnerable, I’ve seen how profound the benefits are.

Connecting more, in a real way, is one of the main things that helped me heal my relationship with food. Not only that, but real connection makes me feel incredibly supported, unconditionally loved, and encouraged to continue to be more and more “me”. 

When we create connections based on honesty, our true selves, and vulnerability, we open ourselves up to a kind of intimacy we deeply crave, even if we don’t realize we crave it. 

We see that we CAN expose our true colors, and people will be there. 

We give people more of a chance to love and support us. 

We see that we are all connected and going through very similar things. 

Today, I want to Challenge you to get 10% more real with someone in your life. This could be your spouse, a co-worker, your child, your mother, a friend, or even with people in our Soul Sisters FB group! 

Here are a few ideas:

Go out to dinner with friends and ask them how they’re really doing, and then share how you are. 

Get to know a new side of your coworker. What makes them tick? 

Show someone your funny and quirky side!

Share something you’re worried about with your mother. Let her in a bit more. 

Tell someone you miss them or have been thinking of them. 

Admit to something you’re struggling with instead of coming off as “having it all together”.

Let your partner in on something you deeply want for yourself. 

Write a snail mail letter to a friend telling them you appreciate them. 

Share in the FB group something that this past week of Challenges brought up for you.

There is no right or wrong way to do this, just challenge yourself to share a bit more of YOU with others. Go one tiny level deeper. 

Open yourself up to the kind of connection we ALL crave. "

Wonder Woman

Before the SS retreat...old, tired, depleted... After the retreat..rejuvenated, hopeful, strong.... 

It's a Wonder how we Women do so much for everyone else..and not much for ourselves.  Well...come and get your Wonder Woman recharged at the Soul Sisters Retreat.
 Don't be the before....be the After...

I borrowed this Wonder Woman costume from my friend.  I was going to use it for Halloween, so I put it on to try it out and then I made my 15 year old take pics of me…and she rolled her eyes and about died.   She was even more embarrassed

 when I changed to a gray wig and wanted one more pic.  You would think that she would be used to her crazy mother by now.   I hope when you looked at this pic you giggled a little.

But Seriously……

It’s a Wonder that as Women we take care of so many other people and things in our world and forget about ourselves.  

We would never expect a car to run without fuel, or a toaster to work with out being plugged in, or a flash light  to work without batteries. 

Why do we expect ourselves to operate at full capacity without refueling or recharging?   

We need to stop thinking so hard, stop moving so fast, stop worrying so much.   

We need to be nourished to recharge our Wonder Woman.  The Soul Sisters Retreat will do just that.

little worries

I'm worried I don't know anybody who's coming

I'm worried about sharing a room

I'm worried I won't have anything in common with the other ladies

I'm worried about leaving my hubby

I'm worried about taking the time off of work

I'm worried I won't like the food

I'm worried I can't afford it

I'm worried I can't dance

I'm worried I'll have too much fun

I'm worried about keeping up in exercise and walks

We get all worked up about so many little things that we are stopping ourselves from doing the better BIG thing that can really improve our lives.

SO MANY LITTLE WORRIES....all these can go away by taking the plunge, making the commitment and coming to the RETREAT.

DON"T LET YOUR WORRIES STOP YOU from living a BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE!

FEAR

Top 10 Things Women Over 50 Fear Most...

1.     Not attending the SOUL SISTERS RETREAT….for fabulous women ! 

2.     Struggling Kids

3.     No retirement funds

4.     A life-changing illness

5.     Losing hair

6.     Divorce

7.     Unnatural plastic surgery

8.     The death of a loved one

9.     Dying unfulfilled

10.  Losing our sense of style

 I know how to fix atleast one of these...... sign up for the retreat at soulsisters50.com

“SHE who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Become who you were meant to be in the first place...

Funny Exercise story--not mine

Dear Diary,

For my 60th birthday this year, my daughter Rachel (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess -- blonde hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups (although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around). This is going to be a fantastic week!!

TUESDAY:

I drank a 44 oz Diet Coke, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air -- then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!!

It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was okay as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

THURSDAY:

Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed, and her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late -- it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she wasn't looking, I ran and hid in the restroom.

She sent some skinny b*tch to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

FRIDAY:

I hate that witch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader! If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.

Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps!

And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY:

Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice, wondering why I didn't show up today. Just hearing her message made me want to smash the machine with my fist. But since I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote control, I ended up catching 11 straight hours of the Weather Channel instead.

SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter Rachel (the little snot) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!

7 Reasons to come to the Retreat

1.     You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. – You want to radically change your life? Surround yourself with examples that it’s possible. You want to live a deeper, more meaningful existence? Engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations with the people talking about deeper, more meaningful things. Don’t let the limitations of what those around you can do become your reality. Seek out possibilities, surround yourself with inspiration, and what seems impossible will soon become the only thing you know.

2.     Girls just wanna have fun. – Life gives us plenty of opportunity for stress, heartache, overwhelm or depression. It’s our job to counter those things with laughter, fun, and connection. Have you ever had a terrible day and called a girlfriend and you both ended up laughing at the utter ridiculousness of it all? Suddenly what you thought was going to do you in is not so bad when our tribe helps us to play and lighten up. And fun is an important thing in life. We have enough seriousness. We need more laughter and play.

3.     You need a safe place to land. – The world can be harsh. Have one terrible day and you could end up on YouTube being bashed by millions of people. Make a mistake and you probably have learned to do the bashing yourself. But the right group of women will open up a safe and sacred space for you to bring your cracked and weeping heart. They will wrap you in compassion and stillness and allow you to breathe and vent and process without judgment. They give you the nurturing and the encouragement to heal and grow and move forward again. I can’t tell you how powerful it is to know that a circle of women, some whom you haven’t even met, are waiting with open arms, whether you’re having a horrible day or your life has just been shattered.

4.     You’re can’t jump over buildings in a single bound. – Or any of the other impossible things we try to do on our own. You’re not Superwoman. You’re not a one woman roadshow. Stop trying to be perfect and infallible and so great that you never need anything. You! Need! Support!: practical, emotional, spiritual support. Whether you’ve just became an empty nester, or you are struggling with food, or you’re trying to like your job, love a family, and stay fit, for the love of all that is good in the world, ask for support. Trade support. Pay for support. You’re worth the investment.

5.     You’re going to drive yourself crazy unless you do something for you once in awhile. – Nuff’ Said.

6.     You can’t give what you don’t allow yourself to receive. – This was my Aha moment when it came to receiving support. I can NOT give it if I don’t first have it. And it’s no one else’s job to know when I need it, or how I’d like to receive it. It’s my job to seek out the things that will meet my needs in such a way that I feel so filled up with love, energy, connection, passion, and everything else I might need that I am overflowing that back out to my family, my friends and the whole world.

7.     You deserve to receive a lot. – Women tend to have this idea that it’s great for other women to receive, “but oh no, not me.” “I couldn’t possibly take that from you.” “I can’t justify that for myself.” “I’d be selfish.” No. You won’t be selfish. You’re selfish when you continue to try to meet your needs in ways that aren’t effective. It wastes your time, energy, money, and capabilities. And you’re never helping others. But investing well in your own health, well-being, personal growth, mental clarity, stability and ability to do more in the world is anything but selfish. It’s imperative.

(Excerpts taken from the organic sister)