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THE
TAOGIRL GATHERING A
Celebration of Taogirls Everywhere Dear Taogirls – please check out our newly revamped website www.taogirl.com and take special notice of the new “News
and Feedback” page. http://www.taogirl.com/tao_news07.htm There you will find the latest Taogirl news and information about
interesting upcoming events, Taogirl Groups and everything and anything Taogirl! In lieu of starting a Taogirl blog, I am hoping that you will
contact me with you thoughts, information and comments so I may post them
and this page becomes truly interactive! The
Taogirl Gathering Issue
Number Ten
Welcome
, Taogirls Last
month I asked a favor of you – to please forward The Taogirl Gathering
to at least two of your friends who would, hopefully, forward it to at
least two of their friends
etc. etc. I
was pleased with the response and the addition of many new Taogirls who
wished to be a part of our ever-growing family. However,
as a woman with major determination and much chutzpah, I repeat my request
this month. And
now it goes out to our newest members, as well. Please,
dear Taogirls, as you read this newsletter, please remember those women
who you know, respect and love by letting them join us.
All it takes is placing your cursor over “forward” and the
minor movement of your finger clicking on the mouse to add their names to
our list. Then, of course, ask
them to contact me with their addresses so I may email them directly in
the future. This
is issue number 10 of The Taogirl Gathering.
And we have many hundreds of subscribers. Can we increase that
number into the thousands by the time I send out issue 12 in May? I
issue you this challenge…. Now,
start clicking away!
Thank
you, dear Taogirls, for your support and help. CJ
This
month’s Taogirl Gathering will also feature:
TAOGIRL WISDOM OF THE MONTH
"Make visible what,
without you, might perhaps never have been seen." -
-
-
Robert
Bresson, French Film Director
Sent to us by Gloria O.
Thank you, Gloria! MEET A DYNAMITE TAOGIRL! One finds new friends
in the most unexpected places. I
was fortunate enough to meet Lyn at the Connecticut Writer’s Conference
last fall. She came into my
seminar full of life, enthusiasm and talent.
It’s a pleasure to introduce my terrific new friend to you.
Meet Lyn…. CJ:
Lyn, you immediately understood who Taogirl is and what she is all
about. Would you describe
yourself as a Taogirl? Yes,
actually now, after reading your book, I would describe myself as a
Taogirl. Many experiences
throughout my life provided me with the opportunity to draw from an inner
strength. The ability to seek
opportunity in less than ideal situations has always been the road I
follow, though not always an easy one.
I feel I have been on the right journey, or path, throughout my
life although I never identified it that way until reading your insightful
book. CJ:
Has there ever been a time in your life when you had to call upon
your defiant attitude? There have been many
times I have called upon my defiant attitude, however the one that stands
out most clearly, and life-changing for me was during the worst period of
my life immediately following the death of my mother to cancer.
Devastated by her loss, I experienced two very strangely
conflicting feelings. I
literally wanted to die, as I felt I couldn’t live with the hole and
emptiness I was left with. Yet
at the same time, I wanted to experience everything in life I have always
wanted to do. I chose the
latter. I became a volunteer
firefighter, something I dreamed of since I was 5 years old and first
watched my grandfather ride away on the back of a bright red fire engine.
But women weren’t firefighters in those days.
And still in 1996, I would be in the minority as a woman
firefighter- a 36 year-old, openly-gay woman to boot.
And if these obstacles weren’t enough, I was also afraid…of
everything. Ladders, confined
spaces, heights, and did I mention my fear of fire?
Even with all these roadblocks working against me, during one of
the darkest time of my life, I was able to find the determination to
succeed. Becoming a
firefighter was one of the best experiences of my life. CJ:
I know that your passions bring out your Tao side.
Would you please elaborate? My career for over
20 years in Veterinary Medicine reveals my number one passion is working
with animals. This is a path I
dreamed of following since childhood after rescuing an abandoned, injured
cat from outside a run-down department store.
Filled with pride after nursing my new cat back to health, I
dreamed of being a veterinarian when I grew up.
However, throughout school, science and biology were not strong
subjects for me, and I focused instead on another passion, deciding to be
an artist. After graduating
from college my artist self took shape, pursuing a career, or so I
thought, as a freelance photographer.
But a career “fork in the road” was presented to me in the form
of an accident in which one of my cats was hit by a car- mine.
She loved to go riding in the car with me, and on this particular
day I didn’t notice that she had followed me to the driveway.
I rushed her to my local veterinarian.
Luckily her injuries were not life-threatening.
As luck would have it further, the veterinarian allowed me to pay
the bill by working at the hospital cleaning kennels.
The job, although not glamorous in any way especially for a recent
college graduate, paved the way for me to eventually pursue a career as a
Certified Veterinary Technician and
Officer for a National Veterinary Disaster Response Team. My passions for fun
in life are long distance bicycle touring, skiing, kayaking, and a newly
realized passion of triathlon. Never
one to be a competitive person, I continue to challenge myself and be open
to possibilities as they present themselves to me. CJ:
Is there anything you dream of doing some day in the future? I never stop
dreaming. And I never stop
trying to realize those dreams, even if I failed previously.
I look at so-called “failures” as learning experiences, the
opportunity to travel down a different path perhaps I would not otherwise
have considered, and the time to step back and prepare for the right time
to live the dream. The dream I
am currently working on is writing and publishing a memoir.
My dream before I
turn 50 is to bicycle across the CJ: Anything you’d
like to add so we Taogirls know a bit more about you? I am proud to have
built a loving relationship with my partner for the last 19 years, and
look forward to celebrating many more years together. Never settle for
anything less than what you want to do.
Try everything at least once no matter how weird or difficult it
seems. Whatever your dream
just go for it. My favorite
quote is “The greater the obstacle the more glory in overcoming it.” CJ: How
was I so fortunate that with all the seminars you could have chosen, you
walked into mine that fine day last October? That
dear Taogirl friend, Lyn, is rhetorical!
I thank you so very much for allowing me to introduce you to our
family of Taogirls.
Lyn and Shane - her 3-legged
Canadian kitty 
On the road again………
Here’s where I will be in
March:
Wednesday, March 7
Sunday, March 11
The Whole Health Expo http://www.wholehealthexpo.com
A discussion of the Tao and Defiant Attitude and book
signing
Clarion Hotel and
Wednesday, March 14
We’re celebrating Women’s History Month!
Wednesday, March 21
Borders Books
It’s a super-sized Author Roundtable
Post Road,
Saturday, March 31
A Taogirl Workshop
Keep checking the
Travels page of the website for current updates. http://www.taogirl.com/taotravels.htm
UPCOMING EVENTS THAT EVERY TAOGIRL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT! Saturday,
March 10th, Women’s
Images 2007: comes to Fairfield University Produced
by the Esteemed Woman Foundation, the conference is a one day event chock
full of inspiring workshops on topics for women of all ages and
backgrounds. Workshops
include: Re-entering the World of Work: From Mommy to Professional;
Born To Lead: Women as Consensus Builders; The
Divine Within: Spiritual Leadership in Everyday LIfe; Navigating
and Celebrating the Next Fifty Years; Take
Back Your Health; Mothers
and their 11 – 14 year old daughters; Eidetic
Imagery: A Menopausal Healing Tool; Does
Your Fitness Level Match Your Retirement Plan? And
so so so much more! There
will be a retreat center for mini-massages and Reiki work, a shopping area
with all the latest and greatest in holistic healing goods and wares,
breakfast, and lunch. Don’t miss this full day of enlightenment and
community among women. And please tell your friends! For
information and reservations: www.esteemedwoman.com Renew
& Bloom Retreat A weekend seaside retreat to
renew and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit from
all of life’s transitions… _
Gatherings & Workshops with Barbara
Scala JD, Certified Life Coach and Co-Author of Sanity
Savers: Tips for Women to Live a Balanced Life _
Author Talks with Prill Boyle
(Defying Gravity: A Celebration of Late Blooming Women) &
CJ Golden (Tao of the Defiant Woman) _
Yoga & Meditations with Joanne DeVito,
Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor _
Private Coaching Session (optional) _
Labyrinth & Beach Walks _
Massage/Reiki/Reflexology* Whatever you are
transitioning through in life, take a break and explore how to move
forward to create the life you have always envisioned. The Call
203.521.1129 to Register or Email to info@bloomonline.com Presented with: www.bloomonline.com
' Bloom Services LLC ' Private Rooms with Water Views Available Upon Request $550 per person/double
occupancy (meals, yoga, program events) $100 additional for private
room (book early for availability) *Spa Treatments Additional
Charge the Taogirl on-line Boutique is open
THE TAO OF THE DEFIANT WOMAN A Guide to Life over 40
www.taogirl.com/taobookstore.htm
THE TAOGIRL
HANDBOOK
The
Taogirl Handbook is
chock full of suggestions to aid you in the organization of your Taogirl
Group. Along
with the exercises and discussions within the pages of this three ring
binder, I’ve
also included blank pages for your own notes, as well as plenty of
“growing room.” http://www.taogirl.com/taogirlhandbook.htm THE OFFICIAL TAOGIRL T-SHIRT
www.taogirl.com/taogirltees.htm TAOGIRL GREETING
CARDS
http://www.taogirl.com/taogirlcards.htm LET’S LINK ! If you know of, or have a website that you think Taogirls
would enjoy seeing, let me know and I’ll be happy to set up a hyperlink
from this newsletter to that site. Conversely,
if you would like to do the same from your site to this newsletter, please
contact me to do so. It is in this manner that we can support each other as we all
strive to support women everywhere! Barbara Scala… Founder
of Bloom After Divorce, Barbara is also editor and creator of Bloom
OnLine Magazine for "Women Who Want to Grow" at www.bloomonline.com
and writes her ongoing column Divorce Ain’t So Bad After All. Visit
Barbara at www.bloomafterdivorce.com
and make sure to read Bloom OnLine Magazine www.bloomonline.com Esteemed Woman Foundation…This
amazing and important organization was founded in 2000 by filmmaker Suzie
Galler who began conducting research about women and
self-esteem which led to the making of the highly acclaimed documentary
film I Am Beautiful. The film then became the cornerstone of an outreach
program designed to help women explore and strengthen their self-image..
It now includes ongoing workshops, resource materials and an outreach
network that provides support nationwide. The foundation's primary focus
has been to develop comprehensive programs for women of all ages and
backgrounds. The programs teach that self-esteem is not a destination, but
a life long journey--one that requires recognition of the sources of
self-esteem, and a willingness to address those areas that impede a
positive self-image. Visit
the Suzie and the Esteemed Woman Foundation at:
http://esteemedwoman.com Visit
Patricia and The Connecticut Muse at:
http://connecticutmuse.com/aboutus.html Donna Ferber
…
is the author of the wonderfully supportive and encouraging
book, From Ex-wife to
Exceptional Life: A Woman’s Journey through Divorce.
Donna is a licensed
professional counselor and licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
She is also a psychotherapist and experienced speaker who has drawn
on her twenty years of
experience counseling women through this difficult process to create a
comprehensive guide comprised of 365 one page essays that offer
inspiration, insight and information. Visit Donna at:
http://www.donnaferber.com/index.htm Prill Boyle …
Like the women
she writes about in her book, Defying
Gravity, Prill Boyle is a late bloomer. After graduating from
college at 38, she became an English teacher. Then in January of 2000 she
read an article in The New York Times about a 65-year old Visit Prill at:
http://www.prillboyle.com/index.html Alignment With Life…Andrea D.
Klein, the
guiding light behind this | ||||
