Ask "Crone OTD": (Crone Judith Pauly: "Older Than Dirt")

Dear Crone Judith:

I sometimes wonder about women and anger. Despite the ecircle training most WW women have gone through, there seems to be a prevailing reluctance among most of the women I know to openly acknowledge feelings of anger, much less use a clear and safe way to express the anger. Inevitably, the anger comes out side-ways as silence, sarcasm, rage or in some other "nasty" and unclean way. To continue click on http://www.womenincircle.org/heartbeat/20071002.html

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack - Part II  Peggy McIntosh

"I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group"

Continued from the September, 2007 Heartbeat

If these things are true, this is not such a free country; one's life is not what one makes it; many doors open for certain people through no virtues of their own. In unpacking this invisible knapsack of white privilege, I have listed conditions of daily experience that I once took for granted. Nor did I think of any of these perquisites as bad for the holder.
To continue click on http://www.womenincircle.org/heartbeat/20071004.html

A Litter of Kittens by Alyce Barry

When a cat has a litter of kittens, sometimes the biggest kitten isn’t the first to be born.

There was so much I wanted in my life, and I wanted it so urgently, that I put myself on a kind of fast track. In November of that year, I went to Memphis, Tennessee to attend a second workshop — this time as a full participant. Three months later I went to a women’s retreat called the Woman Within Initiation and, . . . To continue click on http://www.womenincircle.org/heartbeat/20071001.html

Fun Self-Appreciation Exercise to Boost Spirit by Gail Sussman Miller

I stumbled on an interesting concept or practice and a surprisingly motivating exercise quite by accident.  I want to share it with you so you can either play with it . . . or not!

Back in February, I had an epiphany while listening to my favorite Barry White song, "You're My First, My Last, My Everything." (Yeah, I really do love Barry White!).  I'd always sung this song about my husband (we just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday).
To continue click on http://www.womenincircle.org/heartbeat/20071005.html

Alcohol Use or Abuse by Diane Geiser

For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a savory complement to a good meal or a pleasant way to relax. A glass of wine with dinner or a cold beer at a baseball game can add zest to a special occasion. For most of the 44% of American adults who drink occasionally, moderate alcohol use won’t cause any problems.

For a significant minority of drinkers, however, alcohol is not a take-it or leave-it proposition. To continue click on http://www.womenincircle.org/heartbeat/20071003.html

Find Your E-Circle

If you’re looking for an Empowerment-Circle in the Chicago or Wisconsin areas, contact Emily Halliday, E-Circle Coordinator for Women in Circle, at 773-764-2980 (home) or 847-899-0315 (cell) or ecircle@womenincircle.org.

In Next Month's Issue . . . Meet Marg Renaud . . . more

Last Words: from Louise in Kenosha

Here are three very cool ideas I learned at an “Isms and Issues” (I&I) training. These are helpful tips that can certainly be used to improve relationships in our lives every day.
Both-And: Many of us live in an “either-or” world. “I am right and you are wrong!” What if there weren’t absolutes? Often there is some truth in what I say and some truth in what you say so it’s a “Both-And”. Remarkable!
Try On: Related to this “Both-And” concept is the possibility of a “Try On”. Wait, wait . . .don’t say no right away. Try it on first. If it doesn’t fit (just like that plaid jacket), let it go. But sometimes when we try on an idea and let it sit in the body for a little while, it seems to fit.
Agree to Disagree: If the “Both-And” as well as the “Try On” don’t work, maybe we’ll just have to “Agree to Disagree”. Sometimes that is all that one can do. Nobody has to win . . . or lose.

To learn about other cool ways to improve your relationships with others, attend an I&I Training. You will be invited to try on some ideas, consider a both-and or maybe just agree to disagree.