Category: Uncategorized

May 30, 2019

Karen Simpson – The Girlfriend Takeaway

Who wakes up at the age of 50 and decides to start climbing mountains? Karen Simpson, that’s who, and she’s here to advise that we all do the same. Maybe not literal mountains – although she’d like to see the number of female climbers go up from 10% – but step-by-step movement toward the summit of our greatest fears.

Karen admits to have been out of shape before strapping on her first backpack, which threw her headlong into some serious lifestyle changes. Now, she’s not only climbed mountains, but she’s jumped off of them, biked long distances, slid around in the mud (yes, mud) and mastered running.

The latter of these, running, was never her forte – in fact, she admittedly had a “hate on” for the sport – but she did it to train for the climbs. This has culminated into a series of completed marathons and this week’s takeaway:

“You learn things about yourself that aren’t positive when you take on fears and things that you don’t like to do. On the other side of that, when you pull it off – heck, even if you don’t pull it off, but you try – is a big arm in the air. ‘Yay! Wow! I did it! I didn’t think I could, but I did!’ It really makes you feel badass.”

So true! Anytime I kick fear to the curb, I do a badass Rocky Balboa dance complete with theme song (oh, you think I’m kidding).

As for only 10% of climbers being female, I asked if we’re just less adventurous. Her observations suggest otherwise:

“From the minute we’re born, we’re expected to be perfect, and we’re protected like a little gift package. That kind of carries through our lives a lot of times. So, unless we have a family that encourages us to roughhouse and take on different risks, it’s all about us and our self-motivation to throw ourselves out there. Then we might discover at 50 that, hey, I loved all of those mud obstacle races!”

We can all find our own version of mud obstacle races, and so we should. Little gift packages can keep their bows intact and still be badasses. It doesn’t mean we’re any less special for taking risks. It actually means we’re even more so. This is about personal growth and pummeling regret, not protecting someone’s preconceived notions of who we are.

Regardless of your approach to fear, you can’t help but be inspired by this unstoppable woman. I, for one, got on the treadmill this week, and I even broke into a run! Who knows what’s in store next.

Check out Karen’s inspiring interview on iHeart Radio, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or by clicking here.

Learn More:
LinkedIn
Karen’s Blog
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook

May 26, 2019
As Good As Rest

I crave for one thing more than most
That leaves me in a quandary,
Apart from doing nothing with
The groceries, chores, or laundry

It’s change I love in all its forms
Some minor, few would care,
But mostly on a grander scale
By choice or on a dare

A blissful state of joy it brings
When moving someplace new,
Where cityscapes and brand new drapes
Can frame a changing view

Or traveling far so I can see
The world in all its splendor,
Meet strangers who are not like me
And taste all things worth savored

And challenging long held beliefs
At education’s hand,
Expanding possibilities
For loving fellow man

I simply cannot get enough,
It pains me sitting still,
I always must defy routine
And try new things at will

Although I live outside the box
I’ve still but to inquire,
If change is as good as a rest
Why am I so damned tired?

~ Leana Delle
Sunday, May 26, 2019
2019 Sunday Poetry Challenge – Number twenty of fifty-two

May 23, 2019
Melanie Teed-Murch – The Girlfriend Takeaway

Melanie Teed-Murch exudes passion. She’s passionate about family, work, and life in general, and you can’t help but get swept up in her enthusiasm.

During her interview, we focused on her leadership role as President and CEO of Toys”R”Us Canada, and on her path to success. But you don’t have to be a leader to glean a wealth of inspiration from what she had to share. Of course, success is something we all gauge on a personal level, but being happy in your work, regardless of what that work is, certainly classifies.

My favorite take-away from Melanie?

“If you don’t love what you do when you get up in the morning, you’re doing the wrong thing, because life is just too short.”

Not that I didn’t realize this before, but we can always use a reminder. And remember, sometimes it’s trial and error to discover just what that thing is. Always be patient and never be afraid to explore. And most importantly . . .

“Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle.”

Wow, do I love that! That should be on a T-shirt (or a Teed-shirt, as the case may be). 🙂

And thank God she didn’t let anyone dull hers. She’s a literal shining example of what a life well-lived looks like.

Girlfriends, let’s all mirror this woman’s glow, and display those inner diamonds!

You can hear Melanie’s inspiring interview on Heart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Castbox, or by clicking here.

Learn More:
LinkedIn
Toys”R”Us Canada
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

May 19, 2019
A Promise

A promise made; a promise kept
A rarity we find,
More often there’s a soft tear wept
A broken heart or mind

Intent may live; intent may be
But that does not fulfill,
The smoldering want or scorching need
That scars a person’s will

To whom we make, to whom we break
Our promises you ask,
To young, to old; ourselves, our souls
Such disappointments cast

Does guilt reside, does guilt remain
Within us when we fail,
To keep our word, to hone our pride
To do all that’s entailed

Or have we changed, have we become
Complacent for guilt’s sake,
To shoulders drooped and eyes downcast
The drowning in our wake

For most I’d guess, we’d want to see
A strong example set,
A follow-through, a moral code
A value system met

But maybe there is just one place
Important whence we start,
Ignore the whispers in our minds
And promise from the heart

~ Leana Delle
Sunday, May 19, 2019
2019 Sunday Poetry Challenge – Number nineteen of fifty-two

May 17, 2019
Dr. Betty Edwards – The Girlfriend Takeaway

Dr. Betty Edwards is the NY Times best-selling author of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (DRSB). Now in its fourth edition, it has sold over 3 million copies worldwide since its release in 1979 and been translated into multiple languages.

Impressive? You bet, and even more so when you consider how it has revolutionized art instruction and given hope to generations of want-to-be creatives.

When asked if she anticipated DRSB’s success, Betty stated, “No, absolutely not. In fact, in writing the book, I would say to myself, ‘No one’s ever going to read what I’m writing. Why am I doing this?'”

See? We all have self-doubt. Thanks, in large part, to the incessant yammering of our left-brain hemispheres. But this is something that DRSB can help put to rest.

“It actually teaches you how to shut that up. And it’s such a relief, you know, to be free of language and all of its complaints for a short time. It’s a lovely state.”

I bought my first copy of Betty’s book in the mid 80s and can speak to its deliverable of a peaceful, in-the-zone experience. She, however, describes it best:

“What you have to do is to present your brain with a job that the left-brain, the verbal brain, will say, ‘I don’t do that stuff, and if you’re going to be doing that stuff, I’m out of it.’”

And once we’ve mastered shutting that out, we also become better problem solvers. Logic can be flawed by not perceiving the whole picture, according to Betty, and our focus has shifted dangerously too far to that logical left side.

Betty presents numerous arguments for exercising the right sides of our brains, far beyond just a yearning to be creative. It is, as she emphasizes, half of our brains that are basically being ignored. Just imagine what we could accomplish with a healthy balance between both.

And here’s an argument for you to try drawing on the right sides of your brains, girlfriends:

“Women are good at this stuff.”

Yes, dear Betty, they most certainly are.

Check out her amazing interview on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, or by clicking here.

Learn more:
Website

Follow Betty:
Betty’s blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

May 12, 2019
Mother’s Day

And here we are at Mother’s Day
No flowers have I sent,
Commercials for the perfect gift
Again have come and went

All the precious pictures
I see from friends I know,
Of how they’re spoiled and spoiling,
Such love that they bestow

For me and many others
This is a day to mourn,
The strongest bond we’ve witnessed
Since the gift of being born

But mourning I will limit
And choose to do instead,
Concentrate, be grateful
For all you did and said

How blessed, how truly special
The love that we once shared,
Not always there together
But attuned to how we cared

Today will always be your day
Despite the fact you’re gone,
But now it’s for remembrance
And the heart to carry on

~ Leana Delle
Sunday, May 12, 2019
2019 Sunday Poetry Challenge – Number eighteen of fifty-two

May 9, 2019
Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick – The Girlfriend Takeaway

Grasp this for an awesome takeaway:

“Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should do it.”

Validation from Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick, this week’s guest on my podcast, Girlfriend, We Need To Talk, and she didn’t stop there. She further stated that if we’re good at something, we often feel like we should do more of it, when, in actual fact, it isn’t aligned with who we truly are. What is? That thing that naturally energizes us, and I’ll bet you have a pretty good idea of what that is.

Makes perfect sense to me. I’ve often struggled with this, being a creative, and Alethea’s work with diversity, inclusion, gender and race equity, really shone the light on why. There are so many factors involved in the societal shaping of who we are, and she’s got a solid handle on them all.

I learned a lot through interviewing Alethea, and you’ll learn a lot by listening in. You can access her episode on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcast, or by clicking here.

Learn more about Alethea:
Website
Alethea and Myers-Briggs
Alethea and Self-Coaching

Follow Alethea:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram

May 5, 2019
Dear Friend

I saw you in a dream last night
Laughing, full of life,
You’d come, you said, to join me
On a trip requiring flight

Your hair’d grown back to shoulder length
All golden like the sun,
Your eyes still danced with mischief
Hell bent on seeking fun

I felt surprised to see you
Forgetting you had died,
And wondered where you’d gotten to
For all the time gone by

But never was there anger,
That isn’t how I felt,
‘Twas love, familiar calmness,
And a sense that all was well

Though fleeting was your presence
What happiness evoked,
So thrilled that you had come at last,
So grateful we had spoke

My God, dear friend, sometimes it feels
A lifetime since you left,
At others, only minutes
Since I heard the news and wept

I smiled when I awoke this morn
I smile even still,
While praying you’ll return again,
I’ll sleep in wait until

~ Leana Delle
Sunday, May 5, 2019
2019 Sunday Poetry Challenge – Number seventeen of fifty-two
Photo credit: Anthony Tran

May 2, 2019
Leah Frazier – The Girlfriend Takeaway

There are SO many nuggets from my interview with Leah Frazier. That would be the Emmy and ADDY award-winning stylist, fashion journalist, professional model, best-selling author, TEDx speaker, influencer and publicist Leah Frazier. How can I not brag on this girl!

My biggest takeaway from our discussion?

“I don’t know what’s going to be handed to me next, but when it comes, I want to be ready as much as possible.”

I personally don’t think I’m alone in this, but I tend to function defensively versus offensively when it comes to life’s surprises. Meaning, I react when situations and opportunities arise, but I rarely make a conscious effort to stay in preparation. It’s a mindset, according to Leah, and it applies to everything from an openness to radical change to being vigilant about finances.

She also believes in manifestation, not unlike a number of my other guests. Hmm. Might I be seeing a trend?

“Anybody could design their life the way that they want it to be.”

I know many people who do not, and will not, allow themselves to believe this, but I’m with Leah. No, that doesn’t mean that you imagine something and it comes knocking at your door. What it does mean is a great deal of time and a ton of hard work, something Ms. Frazier is no stranger to. Staying focused and taking steps everyday toward your goal is the key to inspiring magic.

To be honest, I could just post a full transcript of this entire interview for my biggest takeaway. About every few minutes, I found myself swept up in another AHA! moment, and she even inspired me to change my mind on something. Curious about what? Listen to this interview, and I bet you’ll say AHA! a few times, yourself. Maybe even out loud.

Honestly, if you’re an entrepreneur, or have dreams of becoming one, you won’t want to miss this episode. Leah is just the kind of role model we all need to be following.

You can hear Leah and I discuss authenticity, giving back, and being open to possibility on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or by clicking here.

Follow Leah:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook

Learn more about Leah:
Emmy Award-Winning Stylist
Emmy Award-Winning Commercial
President of Think Three Media
Editor in Chief of Inspire N Style Magazine
Bestselling Author of The Success Factor
TEDx Speaker
2018 Dallas Startup Evangelist of the Year
Style Hub Newsletter
Recognized as one of Dallas’ Most Successful Women of 2015
Best Journalist of 2017 Nominee by Cosign Magazine
2017 Fashion Group International of Dallas Rising Star Winner in Fashion Blogging
2018 African-American Literary Award Winner
Awarded 2018 Stylist of the Year by Cosign Magazine

April 28, 2019
The Search For Self

I see it very clearly
From ‘cross this crowded room,
Discomfort in the skin you own
Expression full of gloom

Your eyes trace every surface
Of humans in your view,
You’re mesmerized, confused almost
At what they all can do

How easily their voices lilt
Though varied in their kind,
No one intimidated,
No one appearing shy

Most women need no effort
To glide throughout this space,
While every step you try to take
Feels awkward, lacking pace

You turn now and you see me
A meeting of our eyes,
You wince despite compassion
I’ve seen through your disguise

I know you, perfect stranger
Don’t assume me foe,
For years I wore your armor
And prayed it wouldn’t show

I understand your battle
Your dream to find within,
The gift that ceases judgment,
The prize acceptance brings

And though if I were able
I’d share what all I’ve found,
I cannot dim my light to loose
The chains that have you bound

‘Tis you, dear heart, who has to choose
To raise a valiant sword,
To slice through self-perceptions
To play a different chord

And when the chains start shifting
Yes, when you’ve broken free,
Then hoist a mighty lantern
And shine for all to see

~ Leana Delle
Sunday, April 28, 2019
2019 Sunday Poetry Challenge – Number sixteen of fifty-two
Photo: Ancestor Annie McGuire

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