An Interview with Judith Pauly: World's Oldest Living Crone by Mary Walilko

If you saw the way Judith spent her birthday last year, you might not guess it was her 70th.

Today, a little more than one year later Judith is sitting in front of a swimming pool in Florida, enjoying the warmth and sunshine. Tomorrow morning she leaves for Boston to facilitate a Woman Within Training Weekend (WWTW), then she is off to Denver to do Soul Connections and then to California for another WWTW weekend. Within a few weeks she will be in South Africa for the first Women Empowering Women (WEW) Weekend presented in that country where 33 South African women are waiting for her to experience the training. Judith does not have time to be a senior citizen in any traditional sense; she is much too busy traveling around the world connecting with women who need her energy and wisdom.

What was her life like “before?” Before her WWTW in 1988 . . . before she starting staffing . . . before becoming a WW Leader?      click here to read full article

Accelerator, Brake . . . Accelerator, Brake . . .  by Alyce Barry

Have you ever heard the term "self-sabotage"?

What I understand "self-sabotage" to mean is the act of unintentionally, and unconsciously, undermining your own efforts.

Self-sabotage is one way of resisting change. If you're like me, when you realize you're resisting change, you give yourself a hard time about it. I've called myself "resistant," "foolish," even "undisciplined." And when I see myself sabotaging my own efforts, I feel even more foolish, and ashamed.

One of my favorite images for self-sabotage is a person driving down the road with one foot on the accelerator and the other foot on the brake.

Would it surprise you to learn, then, that in driving with a foot on the brake, you've actually been wise, and strong, and loving?   click here to read full article  

Bettina Madini: Earth Angel Productions by Louise Lovdahl

Artist Bettina Madini sat on her porch contemplating her recently completed acrylic painting, “Rose of My Heart”. She had worked on the painting for over two months after receiving the healing symbol from her guides. Bettina looked up to see a tiny hummingbird trying to feed on the rose. The hummingbird is known to be the symbol that reminds us to find joy in what we do and to sing it out. In a recent interview with Bettina I discovered that the symbolism of the hummingbird is a fit with Bettina’s goal of bringing joy into the world, pure joy of color, joy of life. click here for more photos and the full article

"Rose of My Heart, 2004"

Managing the Holidays by Jerry Rothman, MSW, PhD

Holidays Can Be Difficult
No matter what your religion or lack thereof, the holiday time can be most trying. The holidays stir up memories of the past, evoke powerful feelings, and force us to compare our life situation to that of the perfect family portrayed on television.

Memories of the past are tied to this time of year. Many people have traditions which are sanctioned by religion, but many also have traditions which are more secular in nature. The gift giving, the taking of vacations, the sharing of special times or activities -- may have been part of the joy that we had with a lost loved one. Getting through the first season can nightmarish and the next ones may be a bit more moderate, but still quite painful emotionally. All of these memories of good times and rituals shared together may raise bittersweet thoughts and feelings.  click here to read full article

Young is a State of Mind by Arlene Sterbis

After 45 years of caring for others, could I find the courage to transform myself into a small business owner?

I was a Registered Nurse for more than 40 years, working in a variety of positions from staff nurse in a hospital to Assistant Director of Nursing in Nursing Homes to Director of Nursing in a 40 bed residence for the developmentally disabled. I have had a wonderful, fulfilling nursing career.

Due to family obligations, I left my job and career and for the next 5 years attended to these obligations. When they were finished, I found myself tired, dispirited and unable to take care of anyone, even myself. I had gotten lost in the process.

Click here to read full article

Save the Dragon (A Fractured Fairy Tale) By John Miller "Horse Of Power"

Once upon a time there was a great Warrior, and indeed it was once upon a time. For now he was a mere shadow of his former self. His armor, once brilliant in the sunlight, was tarnished and broken. The blade on his mighty broad sword was now dull from many years of use and was no longer able to hold a sharp edge. He had lost his battle-axe long ago, and arrows for his crossbow had all been used. Not that he cared for his days of fighting, which were pretty much over. Any memories he had of those days were beginning to fade from his memory. He was weary.

The garments beneath his armor were soiled and tattered. Many years of sweat and blood darkened the once crimson color to a dull brown. At times water fell from his eyes and added a new stain to his clothing. This he did not understand for he had lived a full life. He had done what he thought he was supposed to do. Regret had not entered his thoughts, but at times in the stillness of the morning, or late at night, certain feelings began to gnaw at him - feelings he had not felt before now. He did not know what they were. He had heard of men who had much fear and grief in their hearts but he did not believe this could be him.  click here to read the whole story

In Next Month's Issue . . .

    An interview with Leslie Recht . . . Teresitta Fawcett and her Dingle Wackers . . . more

Click here for submission guidelines for submitting articles, interviews, upcoming events, poetry, short stories, and more. Submission deadline for the December heartbeat newsletter is November 20, 2006.  Submission deadline for articles for the "create" column is November 15.

Click here to sign up to receive the heartbeat newsletter by email.

Past issues of the Heartbeat newsletters are can be found by clicking here.

Last Words: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched . . . they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller