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Women's Well: Let's Discuss All Topics, Hosted by Oiseau

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Women's Well: Let's Discuss All Topics, Hosted by Oiseau

Welcome to Women's Well where we can discuss the many issues that affect women in today's society. As host, I will try to raise issues that effect our daily lives. Please feel free to start a discussion on a topic that interests you and we'll try to hash it out together.

The more input and participation we have the greater the service we share with one another.

I look forward to "meeting" you.

--Oiseau {means little bird in French}

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Do enjoy luv - and be careful xoxo

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Good morning from OM

Network Of Support
Delegating

In modern society, self-reliance is highly prized. Throughout our lives we are taught that if we want something done right, we must see to it ourselves. Interdependence is often seen as demeaning. As a result, we are hesitant to ask for help or delegate responsibility regardless of how many duties we face or how overwhelmed we become. We fear that our need for assistance is indicative of inner weakness. Yet, in truth, knowing when to recruit help and effectively leveraging the resources around you is a sign of inner strength. Building a network of support, personally and professionally, can help you avoid shouldering a burden of obligations so large it prevents you from successfully addressing any of them. Your willingness to rely on others will free you to focus the whole of your attention on those responsibilities that truly require your personal attention or expertise.

Each member of the team you create-whether they are family and friends, hired professionals, assistants, a group of collaborators, or some mix thereof-can be a valuable ally in your quest to accomplish your goals while caring for yourself and your loved ones and living a fulfilling life. Housekeepers, gardeners, handymen, baby-sitters, and delivery services can help you stay on top of never-ending domestic duties and allow you to spend more quality time with your loved ones. Trading or bartering can be great ways of getting what you need. In your workplace, an assistant can take on maintenance tasks, leaving you more time to concentrate on duties specific to your position. You may have more resources at your disposal than you realized. Members of your family can contribute to the running of the household. Consider forming a community-wide cooperative in which members participate in a shared schedule of cooking, driving, repair, and other duties.

When you seek out and accept help, you give yourself the dual gifts of time and energy. Finding the courage to admit that you need assistance and to ask for it, however, can be difficult. Before you can comfortably do so, you may have to recognize that no one is capable of doing everything themselves and that delegation does not mean giving up control. As you create a support network, you'll discover that each task you delegate to another reduces the pressure you're under and frees you to devote more of your attention to that which is truly important to you.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

I don't know if any of this is true

I rec'd it e-mail.

GOOD THINGS TO KNOW

1. Budweiser! beer conditions the hair
2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes
4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair
5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads if any
6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea
7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water
8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste
9. Burn your tongue? Putsugar on it!
10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too
11. Bee stings - meat tenderizer
12. Chigger bite - Preparation H
13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H
14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals)
15. St inky feet - Jello!
16. Athletes feet - cornstarch
17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
18. Kool aid to clean dis! hwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)
19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it ! won't hurt them if they eat it!
20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper
21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray
22. Pam will also remove paint and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby
23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls
24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on
25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar!

26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Cris! co in the microwave, pour into an empty film container and mix with th e food color of your choice!
27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak
28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years!
29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!
30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste
31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it absorb into the salt.
32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.
33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!
34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets, soak overnight!
35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!
36. Dirty grout - Listerine
37. Stains on clothes - Colgate38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup
39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola, it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!
40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe th! is will work if you get them back again.
41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox, or 2 Bayer aspirin, or just use 7-up instead of water.
42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday=

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

Very interesting!

But I don't think I'd chance putting Elmers glue on my face LOL

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

neither would I DG ha hahaha

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

I'm actually having a hard time to

type with these happy tears. Gosh, how wonderful to have this accolade. You are all so generous with your time and talent and this lady is very grateful. xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

I wish...no, it's not my style of painting.

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

Your Special Day

By Cellomar
Cellomar's picture

Val, that is so pretty. Is

Val, that is so pretty. Is it one of your paintings?

By Cellomar
Cellomar's picture

Happy birthday, Irene!

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

Dearest Oiseau...HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!

By sha3
sha3's picture

Happy Birthday to someone special....

May you have a day as wonderful as you are, Irene.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

All you needed to know but were

afraid to ask ha ha ha ha ha

Italy vs. France

In the world's biggest soccer (a.k.a. football) match
Italy and France will do battle in Berlin on Sunday. Thankfully, they'll be fighting with a black and white ball rather than bullets and bombs. It's the final game of this year's World Cup--arguably the world's biggest sporting event.

The 64 games of the World Cup attract more TV viewers than the Olympics. More than a billion people--roughly one in every six humans--watched the World Cup final in 2002. Not long after that match, teams representing 198 nations--six more than the UN includes--started vying to qualify for this year's World Cup, held for the past month in Germany.

Italy and France made it through a field of 32 qualifiers to face off in the final (the U.S. team qualified, but was eliminated after the first round of play). Both finalists are perennial powerhouses. In fact, they're two of only seven nations to have won a World Cup. Italy has won three times, and France once, since the quadrennial competition began in 1930. (Brazil has won five times, more than anyone else.)

So, who packs the most power: Italy or France? We'll leave it to sportswriters and football fanatics worldwide to analyze the two teams' statistics. But we will put the nations themselves head to head, and see how their stats stack up.

Italy by the Numbers

116,306 - Italy's total area, in square miles (301,230 sq km). That's a little bigger than Arizona, and around 20 percent larger than the UK. But it's still only half the size of Ukraine (the nation Italy beat in the quarterfinals).

58,133,509 - Italy's total population. About the same as the populations of California and Texas combined. That's a few fewer people than live in the UK, and around 30 percent less than live in Germany (which Italy beat in the semifinals).

2,553,873 - Number of people who live in Rome, Italy's capital and largest city. A few more people live in Chicago. A few less people live in Paris, France's capital, though Paris is much larger if you include its metropolitan area.

90 - Percentage of Italians who are Roman Catholic. Around a third of those regularly attend services.

20 - Percentage of Italians who are 65 or older. Less than 15 percent are under 15, and Italian economists fret about the implications of an aging population.

France by the Numbers

211,209 - France's total area, in square miles (547,030 sq km). That's bigger than every U.S. state except Alaska and Texas, and roughly twice the size of Colorado. It's also twice the size of the UK, but less than one-fifteenth the size of Brazil (the nation France beat in the quarterfinals). France is Europe's third largest nation, after Russia and Ukraine.

60,876,136 - France's total population. That's just a few more people than live in either the UK or Italy, but it's nearly six times as many people as live in Portugal (the nation France beat in the semifinals).

11,000,000 - Number of people who live in the Paris metropolitan area. Only 2,144,700 people live in Paris proper, but it's hard to ignore the suburbs after last year's riots.

85 – Percentage of the population that's Roman Catholic. Somewhere between 5 and 10 percent of people are Muslim.

861,000,000 – Gallons of wine consumed in France last year (32.6 million hectoliters). France consumes more wine than any other nation, though the Italians edge out the French when it comes to vino production.

303 – Length, in miles, of the border France and Italy share (488 km). No border war is expected, regardless of which side prevails in Sunday's battle.

Steve Sampson
July 7, 2006

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Back In Play

Reconnecting With Friends

Every person that passes through our lives makes a contribution to our life stories. There are those who play large roles and make deep impressions, but sometimes a brief special appearance before life takes them in another direction creates a meaningful connection. It is a rare gift when they suddenly reappear in our lives after a long absence.

Though the world may seem full of more people than we could ever know, we are often drawn to people with similar energy, which brings us together time and time again. On first meeting, the characters in our life stories may seem familiar. We may know each other from past lives or perhaps we merely recognize the energy of a kindred spirit. But when fate brings old friends back into our lives, there is always a reason. They may act as messengers, reminding us of a part of ourselves we have forgotten to nurture. They might appear to give us a chance to react in a new way to an old situation. They may even bring up unresolved issues so that we may complete them, giving us the chance to move forward on our life path. Whether old friends, previous romances, or once and future partners, their reappearance is more than mere chance. They may never know what they bring into our lives, but the renewed contact is a gift.

If this hasn't happened to you, maybe you are meant to initiate contact by seeking out old friends. If old friends come to mind or into your dreams, use their appearance as an excuse to get in touch. If an old song or movie reminds you of them, reach out to share the gift of renewed contact. Wherever you fall in the circle of connection and reconnection, be sure to look beyond the surprise of the moment to enjoy the deeper gift that this revelation brings.

TOO MUCH TV - HUSBAND!

Someone - Help! Some of you women may have this same problem. I hope so - so you can possibly help me get some insight. My BIGGEST frustration is my HUSBAND and his WATCHING TV!! ALL THE TIME!!! I honestly think he is addicted to it. It's on from the time he comes downstairs in the morning, until he closes his eyes to go to bed!! He drives me CRAZY with it, and I now HATE TV!!! He has NO INTEREST in ANYTHING!! NOTHING!!!! Unless it's to go to A MOVIE at the theatre!! What am I supposed to do with him? He's officially retired (64 yrs old). I STILL WORK FULL TIME (59). ARE THERE OTHER WIVES OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM?? WHAT DO YOU DO?? He doesn't clean, cook, use the dusting cloth, wash dishes by hand, or clean toilets. He does go to the grocery store for me/us, runs errands for me when I ask, does his own laundry, uses the sweeper when I 'ask' him to, cuts the grass, takes out the trash - ALL of it, lets the dog in and out, loads and unloads the dishwasher. Am I asking too much from him or being unfair or too picky?? I don't want to be unfair, but I don't like coming in second, as he has it on all the time. It's like he's married to his TV. We hardly ever just sit and talk. He has no friends that he goes out with or communicates with. I wouldn't care if he golfed five days a week! I enjoy some time to myself, in the quiet, without the TV going and without seeing the back of his little bald head sitting in his chair - 18/7!! We've been married for 40 years!!

Thanks for you reply.

Linda

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Hello Linda - well my dear lady

I'm sure that you wish us to commisserate with you but my original reaction was to laugh.

What a lovely way you have of writing.

You are among a very high percentage of women who share the same plight and that is NOT funny.

OK, what to do about it! hhhhhmmmmm if we could find the answer to that one we'd be billionaires :-)

May I ask why he doesn't do any of the things that you mention?

Have you AND his Mother spoiled him into thinking that household chores are the sole domain of the female gender?

TALK to him.........unplug the TV and make him listen.

Keep us posted. oiseau

Husbands too much TV??!!

I know it could be ALOT worse. He could be out drinking (which he doesn't), spending alot of money on smoking, looking at other women, hanging out with the boys ALL the time, which I would not like after a time. So, maybe I don't have it so bad.

I just hear about other husbands that have hobbies, do wood working, work in the yard, piddle in the garage, or the basement. He does NONE of these things. He's just NOT interested in doing any of that. Not just now, but for always.

I keep my appearance up, and he does compliment me. Maybe it's just me in MY unrealistic world. Should I lighten up and go with the flow?

He was born in 1942, and you know how women stayed home and did housework, and the men went to work and brought home the paycheck. Their chores didn't overlap like they do today. (oh, - maybe some families did - but they were not the majority).

Even in my own family with Mom & Dad. My Mom did all the housework, my Dad worked 7 days a week to support us.

We weren't rich, but had lots of love and what we needed! That lifestyle never hurt me, my sister or my brother.

My husband on the other hand, was an only child. Need I say more? But in my MIL's defense (God rest her sole) - she did have her son do chores to help her around the house.

We both went from living with our parents, to being married, and having our own house together. Neither of us ever having lived out on our own before marriage. Back in those days you didn't do that.

He is very protective of me, and looks out for my best interest. Even if he did do some of the 'other' cleaning -it wouldn't be the way I would do it, and I would want to do it over. ;-(

Thanks for any of your input. If you have husbands like mine, I would love to hear how you deal with it.

Thanks. I think I'm going to like this Third Age.

L

keeping thebalance.....

Oh, how that applies to me at the moment, oiseau !

Wll slow down and allow some relective time into my life..........perhaps then I will get he hang of the new keyboard on this nw computer...amongst other more iportant things !!

See just what I mean ? :)

Joking apart,Ihave been amazed at how 'busy,busy' seems to shut down some of the more refresing parts of life.

I have been retired so long now that I got used to a slower pace, and time to 'stand and stare'...and at the moment I am missing it.
T.ruly we do not value some things..until we misplace them.

jenny

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

I understand about the luxury of

not being busy, then when that space is imposed upon, we balk. Quite normal I'd say/ :-)

Tell us about your new toy {pc or Mac?}

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Complementary Energies

Balancing Self With Family Life

Many of us have a hard time balancing taking care of ourselves with taking care of our family responsibilities. For people with young children, this can be especially challenging, but even people without children have obligations to care for extended family, partners, pets, and the home in which they live. It's easy to lose track of our own needs as we give ourselves to the people, pets, and places we love. However, it is essential to their well-being that we take care of ourselves, filling our own wells with water so that we have something to offer when we return home each day.

It is easy to get caught up in the demands of home life because they never stop. There is always one more thing you can do, another dish in the sink, a counter that needs wiping, or a person who needs a ride somewhere. If you don't set some boundaries, you will find yourself on an endless journey of housework and doing for others. Eventually, you will probably feel drained and out of touch with your inner life force. Instead of waiting for this to happen, integrate self-care into your daily schedule. Even Buddha insisted that he have one hour completely to himself every day. There are times when even that will not be possible-for example, with a new baby or a sick relative. At times like this, retreating inward energetically can be a lifesaver. You can always find five minutes to close your eyes and breathe consciously. You may even be able to meditate.

Most of the time, though, it is possible to set aside a full hour for yourself each day. In addition, scheduling a longer interval of time, perhaps on a weekly basis, can really help to restore your energy. Get a massage or go to a movie or out with a friend. Taking time to experience the world outside of your home makes returning home all the more wonderful. In the same way, taking care of yourself is a natural complement to taking care of your home and family.

By GinnyAnn
GinnyAnn's picture

(No subject)

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Another goodie :-) xoxoxox

Gifts We Give ourselves;
Friends

Good friends enrich our lives in so many ways. Through a magical combination of similarities and differences, friends offer us the opportunity to know ourselves as we are and help us grow into who we want to be. Our similarities attract us to each other, comforting us with familiarity when we see ourselves in them. When we are drawn to those we admire, the same recognition is at work, unconsciously acknowledging that these people possess qualities that we ourselves possess. By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting our selves back to us.

Friends also help us know ourselves through our differences. Differences allow us to see other options and make choices about who we want to be. Sometimes we are drawn to those who appear to be our opposites, and we learn to accept the parts of them we love and the parts of them that don't resonate with us, thus allowing us a valuable learning experience. By expanding our understanding to include others' experiences, friends help us accept others. By understanding when someone's life differs from our own, we can learn about ourselves in contrast. There are times when we see in friends what we don't like about ourselves. That mirror reflection may be hard to take, but a good friend helps us find ways we can change and supports us in that choice.

Part of the joy of friendship is the feeling that we are accepted just the way we are, with no need to change. It is a gift they give us, and one we can give back every day. Ultimately, we choose friends because they make us feel good about ourselves and life. Through tears and difficulties, friends help us find the laughter. When we find those special people who offer us that perfect combination of comfort and stimulus to grow, we are very fortunate. Friends, those wonderful companions that walk with us through life, help us define and refine who we are and who we choose to be every day.

friends

Yes they are truly gifts we give ourselves.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

A good articel from Daily OM

Emerging Courageous
Walking Through Your Fear

The situations, activities, and individuals that frighten us remain static. Their relative intensity does not change. Fear, on the other hand, self-magnifies. It is when you are afraid and envisioning all that might go wrong that the energy underlying your fear grows. A tiny flicker of anxiety can easily develop into a terror that manifests itself physically and eventually paralyzes you into inaction. Though frequently, in walking through that fear, we discover that the strength of our fright was out of synch with reality. And we learn that doing what frightens us can lead to great blessings. Confronting your trepidation head-on will help you accept that few frightening scenarios will ever live up to the negative disasters that we sometimes play out in our minds.

Though fear is literally an evolutionary gift meant to sharpen your senses and energize you during times of great stress, it can nonetheless become a barrier that prevents you from fulfilling your potential by causing you to miss out on rewarding, life-changing experiences. During the period before you face your fear, you may have to deal with a barrage of negative thoughts and emotions. Walking through it, whether your fear is public speaking, taking part in an activity that makes you nervous, or asserting yourself when the odds are against you, may be equally as difficult. But once you have emerged unscathed on the other side, which you will, you will likely wonder why you assumed the worst in the first place. As you spend time worrying about what might happen, it's good to know that your fear probably won't happen at all. It may feel like a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders, and you will likely feel a sense of passionate pride. Walking through your fear can mean taking risks and can require both practice and patience. Since it is challenging to act when you are gripped with fear, start small.

Each step you take into fear will strengthen you and help you confront future fears with poise, courage, and confidence. You will also find that when you are willing to stare your fear in the face, the universe will always offer you some form of aid or support. When you see the heights of accomplishment and personal evolution you can attain when you walk through your fears, your faith in yourself will grow, allowing your next step to be easier.

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

Thanx for sharing , Oiseau :)

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

Here is a great informative site:

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

It would be if your grandkids called you ugly.

Believe me, I have had a bellyful of "Boy are you ugly". Think it doesn't matter? Guess again. It hurts. I wish I had had money way back when to do something. When I was in high school I was called ugly. It never stopped.

Val

I'm a couple of days late. I hope you can put away such sad memories. We your friends see how attractive you are.

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

Dear ((((((Val)))))

You are such a "beautiful" person to me!!!!

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Oh ((((((( Val ))))))) that;s horrible

YOU ARE NO WAY UGLY!

How can anyone say that? What little monsters have your children wrought?

School days are horrid and not the best place for one to grow in self esteem but if we had been nurtured well it wouldn't matter.

I was called a DP for years when kids didn't even know what it meant............THE PARENTS DID THOUGH and it must have been heard in the home for them to call me by that name. I had to ask my parents what it meant.......

For your children to allow their kids to speak to you that way I would chastize them in no uncertain terms EVEN if it meant to not see them again.

We have to take a stand somewhere! I pity these children for their not understanding what a precious soul a Grandma is!

Sorry folks but I'm in tears here thinking about Val and how hurt she is.......damn!

Hi ladies

Irene,

Yes inside beauty is the one of value.

Val and Sharon,

I don't like my neck and jowls either but would't want to undergo surgery to change them. How I look to others isn't worth it.

acceptance

should be practiced by everyone that aging is a natural process. Why fight it??

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

Why not? (this was supposed to be a reply to Rene)

If I had the money, I would get one of those neck and jowl lifts in a minute.

By sha3
sha3's picture

I would too, Val

I would just like to have my smile back again instead of the lines around my mouth.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Sorry Val - xoxoxox

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Hi Renée - I have noticed that

some age better than others. Men, as a rule seem to 'mature' like fruit where women just age. :-)

Of course we must accept where and who we are. The inside beauty is the one of consequence and that is the one to work on. Smiling a lot helps. :-)

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

From what we thought was sharing

turned out to be interdependence.

What I found out later in life was the fact that I gave to both ends of the spectrum, thank you gifts to the parents and love you gifts to the children.

They didn't come back to the middle though, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Good thing the supply is always managable however small or big, we adjust to include these thoughtful gestures toward others.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Teaching Balance

The Negative Effects Of Spoiling Children

Parents are moved by instinct to love, nurture, and provide for their offspring. Because our children are so much a part of us, we want to see them blissfully happy. Also, our own desire to be liked, materialist pressures, and a fervent wish that our children have everything we lacked as youngsters can prompt us to spoil them. However, while it might seem that buying your child expensive gifts will give them fond memories of childhood or that you can heal your emotional wounds by doting on your sons and daughters, you may be unconsciously interfering with your children's evolutional development. One of the most precious gifts you can grant your children is the true independence they gain when they learn to earn what they covet and become stewards of their own happiness. Try allowing your children to experience life to the fullest. Let them work and earn what they want. When the time comes for them to go to college and enter the workforce, you will have the confidence that you have raised a child that can both enter and contribute to society confidently.

When children are not afforded the opportunity to explore self-reliance, to understand that with possession comes price, and to fulfill their own needs, they develop a sense of entitlement that blinds them to the necessity of hard work and the needs of others. We may spoil children because giving them gifts is pleasurable. Or we may want to avoid conflict out of fear that our children won't love us. Yet children who are given acceptance, love, and affection in abundance are often kinder, more charitable, and more responsible than those whose parents accede to their every material demand. They develop a strong sense of self that stretches beyond possessions and the approval of their peers, and as adults they understand that each individual is responsible for building the life they desire. If you find yourself giving in to your child's every whim, ask yourself why. You may discover that you are trying to answer for what you feel is lacking in your own life.

Rearing your children to respect the value of money and self-sufficiency as they grow from infants to young adults is a challenging but rewarding process. It can be difficult to watch a child struggle to meet a personal goal yet wonderful to be by their side as they achieve it. Your choice not to spoil your children will bless you with more opportunities to show them understanding and compassion and to be fully present with them as they journey toward adulthood.

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

Yep, I see myself very clearly here.

Requests become demands and if those are not met, well, too bad for mother.

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

AMEN!!!!

I will be sending this article to my daughter for sure !!

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

Here we are;

Seasons of Beauty
Aging Gracefully

We tend to associate youth with beauty, but the truth is that beauty transcends every age. Just as a deciduous tree is stunning in all its stages-from its full leafy green in the summer to its naked skeleton during winter and everything in between-human beings are beautiful throughout their life spans.

The early years of our lives tend to be about learning and experiencing as much as we possibly can. We move through the world like sponges, absorbing the ideas of other people and the world. Like a tree in spring, we are waking up to the world. In this youthful phase of life, our physical strength, youth, and beauty help open doors and attract attention. Gradually, we begin to use the information we have gathered to form ideas and opinions of our own. As we cultivate our philosophy about life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are saying, doing, and creating as it is about our appearance. Like a tree in summer, we become full, expressive, beautiful, and productive.

When the time comes for us to let go of the creations of our middle lives, we are like a tree in autumn dropping leaves, as we release our past attachments and preparing for a new phase of growth. The children move on, and careers shift or end. The lines on our faces, the stretch marks, and the grey hairs are beautiful testaments to the fullness of our experience. In the winter of our lives, we become stripped down to our essence like a tree. We may become more radiant than ever at this stage, because our inner light shines brighter through our eyes as time passes. Beauty at this age comes from the very core of our being-our essence. This essence is a reminder that there is nothing to fear in growing older and that there is a kind of beauty that comes only after one has spent many years on earth.

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

What a wonderful article, Oiseau! Thanx for sharing :)

It's too bad society as a whole focuses on youth and the outer beauty. Everything we see in magazines has been airbrushed to perfection. And all too many times women think they must be perfect..like those airbrushed photos.

Men on the otherhand in our society don't have this pressure to look young at all costs...wish it were the same for us women!

By TERRACATTA
TERRACATTA's picture

DG, men are having plastic surgery in droves.

Many need to have it to look younger so that the up and comers won't take their jobs. The "look younger" syndrome is taking root everywhere. Too bad.

My sister's "friend" and his buddies all have had plastic surgery for fear they won't keep their jobs, and they are highly paid professionals.

I read articles and saw items on TV about men having to have plastic surgery to fulfill the new requirements of our cultural demands.

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

WOW...didn't know that Val!

My ex who is very wealthy has a "perfect" young plastic surgery wife....and he does nothing about his looks...many older successful men have this need to "buy" younger women...and yet have this magic mirror they look into everyday...that tells them they are perfect LOL

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

ha ha ha ha ha - bring on that mirror

mine is so very truthful. LOL

By DurangoGirl
DurangoGirl's picture

Yes, LOL Oiseau

I want to buy that mirror myself :)

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

I too have heard that Val,

sad isn't it when we have to become copies of ourselves and in the end not looking at all like our ancestors.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

My take on women............

We adjust beautifully with the changing and constantly evolving of our Universe.

When young we learn from our parents and then society takes hold and tries to mold us to the trends of the day.

As we age we discover the real us and allow that flower to blossom, for better or for worse and usually it's then that more bees come to taste the nectar!

women

and we are strong and nurturing.

By Oiseau
Oiseau's picture

When having an altercation, remember

Intelligence Speaks For Itself
The Fear Of Appearing Dumb

The universal need to be accepted by others can be a barrier that prevents us from being ourselves around them. When we fear that the people we encounter will perceive us as inept or unintelligent, we frequently try to flaunt our grasp of large words or clever witticisms or our professional expertise in an effort to convince them that we are smart and capable. The reasons for feeling this way can be many, and they can often stem from as far back as your childhood. Many women in particular have the fear that they may appear not smart. Yet overcompensating for this fear can have the opposite effect if others are driven away by what they see as an immodest attitude or sense that you are urgently trying to prove yourself. The simple desire to be judged smart by both new and old acquaintances can cause you to reject your true self and adopt an affected persona. But in trying so persistently to project an image of supreme intelligence or capability, you deny others the opportunity to become acquainted with the real and terrific individual you truly are.

The fear that others will perceive you as unintelligent can further influence your behavior, causing you to consciously avoid speaking your mind or asking questions. You may feel uncomfortable participating in activities if there is a chance that you won't excel or taking part in discussions with others who may have more knowledge than you. In essence, you become ashamed of who you are and attempt to encase your identity in a veneer that others will find pleasing and impressive. It is, however, a common fear-one experienced by almost everyone at some point in their lives. The simplest way to combat it is to make a personal commitment to being yourself in your home, your workplace, and among strangers. Ask yourself how you believe the individuals you encounter will react should you speak awkwardly, need clarification, or fail to be the best at some activity. By being yourself, you will discover that all people make mistakes and ask questions and that others will like and respect you because they recognize the goodness in your soul.

The fact that you are willing to be yourself, letting your many affirmative attributes express themselves naturally, will help you make a positive first impression on everyone you meet and earn the esteem of your family and friends. Your confidence and easygoing manner will say, - this is who I am and I am proud of the person I have become.

From Daily OM

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