For those of you who are new to The Spark!, today is both an update and to shine the light on a Woman on Fire who is blazing brightly.
*This week’s Pinspiration*
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I am in Huntsville, Alabama this weekend to attend a celebration of life service for my brother Steve and his wife Gaby. Married for 32 years, they died only weeks apart – on September 11 and November 9.
The compliment most often said about my brother during his life and after was “Steve would give you the shirt off of his back.” And, indeed, he would. In fact, more than a decade ago he gave Gaby one of his kidneys and prolonged her life and their life together.
While extremely difficult to have two people in our family die so close together, when I reach into my heart of hearts I am grateful they are together again – free from their illnesses and pain.
In this deeply sad time for all of us and especially for Steve and Gaby’s daughters who are in their 20s, it’s also been a precious time of coming together in a new configuration of family. In the face of losing our first sibling, new family bonds have been formed and strengthened.
It’s been my saving grace to live in our Women on Fire community at this tender time in my life, and I am so grateful to you for your oceans of support.
Thank you.
Last week I had the comforting pleasure of being with Women on Fire members in New York City and Columbus.
In New York, I was utterly dazzled by the performance of one of our long-time members. Sarah Elizabeth Greer wrote and starred in her own hilarious show – Bio-Hazard: A Relative Comedy.
I joined Women on Fire Holly Getty, Janina Sebesky and Janette Barber to laugh the night away. It was an honor and profound joy to see Sarah achieve her dream and! And to meet her mother Connie Greer and Sue Donor.
Sarah’s determination to transform her pain into radiant joy is extraordinary.
You’ll be seeing and hearing much more from Sarah when she shares her story of adoption in our upcoming book – Women on Fire: 21 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!), Vol. 2.
You’ll also recognize Sarah in our new book trailer. Guaranteed, in her few seconds in the video, she’ll put a smile on your face and maybe even make you laugh out loud!
And, in Columbus last week, Women on Fire members gathered at my favorite restaurant LaChatelaine (you know I love anything Paris-inspired!). We caught up with each other and discussed ideas for honoring our beloved Jane Juergens.
Through generosity that is so typical of Women on Fire, we will create a scholarship for a deserving woman (or several) to help her make it through the transition from one career or job to the one she truly wants (just as Jane successfully transitioned from a corporate job to her own company with the support of her Women on Fire sisters).
There will be a nomination and application process to select the recipients.
If you’d like to be part of a small committee to meet (can be virtual) to craft the details for the scholarship, please email me.
In next week’s SPARK!, we’ll feature tips and strategies to get a good night’s sleep (although after Thursday’s turkey fest, falling asleep may not be an issue at all!).
My wonderful, brilliant friend Belleruth Naparstek (she who launched the entire industry of guided imagery recordings) is offering us her special report on how to achieve restful sleep and get more zzzzzz’s in your life. Each day more information is coming to light about how very essential sleep is to our physical and emotional well being. Belleruth’s report couldn’t come at a better time.
So stay awake to get that! And I’ll see you then.
After Steve and Gaby’s service, I’ll be back home on Martha’s Vineyard to have Thanksgiving with my husband Rob and close friends. I am oh-so-ever grateful for all I have in this world – which includes wonderful you.
Have a beautiful, abundant Thanksgiving.
