BEing OK with life.

 

This is the week of WOMEN.  Celebrate good WOMEN in your life.  Celebrate your friendships and your girls nites out.  Celebrate that you can carry babies.  Celebrate your curves.  Celebrate the way you feel when you snuggle up in bed, with a good book or the remote, in flannel jammies.  Celebrate your favorite things like Tiber River's Olive Me Moisturizer - divine.  (check out their new website, so awesome).  Kath introduced me their Olive line it and I LOVE it.  Who knows, maybe it'll shave a few years off.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having two in depth conversations with two amazing, inspiring WOMEN.  I had lunch with my friend Michelle AND I had coffee over the phone with my dad's mom.  Both of these gals are women that leave you both in awe and pondering your life.

WOMAN #1

I gather one might say that each soul is unto itself an enigma.  Michelle is a person who I have been getting to know and love more and move over the course of 8, maybe 10 years.  She continually amazes me and pushes me (in silence ) to be better.  She is as Kath might say, "Salt of the Earth."

Ironically Michelle is as low key as can be when it comes to figuring this world out.  She is relaxed and calm and has a way about her that is nurse-like.  And yet, she is always put together, she is classy and rarely would you ever think she doesn't have everything figured out, twice.

As we lunched, we talked about parenting.  We agreed that we want our children to know privilege.  ANd yet, we want to them recognize that there are many ways to be blessed and many degrees of fortune.  We talked about how we both want to provide for our children every possible opportunity but teach them to be good, humble friends.  Michelle is tough and has endured many things in her life, yet she is poised and patient.  I adore my chats with her.

WOMAN #2

Paradoxically my grandma (my whole life) also challenged me to think in ways that were out of my every day.  At 82, she is about to move into a suite.  She is jumping forward with both feet as she leaves the farm after 60 years.  I would imagine that this change would be monumental.  And yet, she is at ease and ready to go.  She calmly walked me through the farm house, room by room describing what she was packing and what she was summoning to the 'burn barrel'.  "I can't possibly leave grampa's books behind."  My grand father passed away in 1994 and still she treasures his favorite reads. 

"When people call me to ask: Are you really going to move off the farm?  I answer: Yes of course I am.  But to myself I am thinking, you already know the answer so why not let me get back to Judge Judy.  My phone is ringing with so many well wishers, I can barely get in an afternoon rest."

I surmised from our conversation that her time on the farm is over.  She has accepted that this begins a new journey for her.  And she is not only OK with it, she is looking forward to meeting new people. 

"Appreciate your todays my girl.  Nothing lasts forever."

Hmmm, that I think is perspective that can only come with life experience and age.  And as we were wrapping up our conversation, she whispered, "Slow down."  She told me that life needs not be so busy. 

"Brandi, for some life is not busy at all.  Do yoga."  and she laughed.  She signed off with love but reminded me to not judge others but appreciate our differences.  And all the while I kept thinking that there are many parallels in wisdom between these WOMEN.

That is wisdom - all in 20 minutes on the phone with a Roll up The Rim.

Comments

[ashleigh]

I live by the "Grab Life by the Pomegranate" cleanser, Green Tea toner and Save Face moisturizer! My skin has never been softer or healthier...Love Tiber River!

[Jana]

your grandma is a smart lady. I am inspired by her line about appreciating today because nothing lasts forever. It could not be more true and it sounds so easy to do yet is seems the hardest thing for everyone to do. I love it.

[Judy Hollingsworth]

I am so happy for Winnie, and obviously she has stored the memories in her heart so she is able to leave the farm with ease. She is so right about advising you to slow down. Only problem.....I started watching Judge Judy recently!

[Michelle Lalonde]

I'm thrilled you are loving the Olive Me Moisturizer, thank you so much for sharing on your blog. I use it too and people can't believe I'm going to be 40 (in 2 weeks, ouch!).