back to the current month's Gathering

 

THE GATHERING
A Celebration of Tao and Defiant Women Everywhere

September 2007

 

Dear Tao and defiant women,

I want to tell you a story of two airplane landings - both of which occurred on Sunday, September 2nd of this year.  Yesterday to me, as I am writing this on Labor Day afternoon. 

The first flight was flying into White Plains, NY from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - a very smooth and uneventful ride until, a half and hour before the scheduled landing, the pilot's voice boomed through on the audio system.  He advised the passengers that the flight crew discovered the brake system to be "compromised" and, because of this, the plane would be diverted to JFK Airport.  There the runway was far longer than in White Plains and would give the plane more room to come to a halt should the brakes not work properly.  There would be emergency vehicles and fire trucks waiting upon the arrival, but that was only precautionary.

It was, indeed, a bit of jarring news, but no one panicked, and all sat waiting calmly to experience this possibly exciting touch-down on the runway. 

Within a short time the plane approached JFK; everyone was told to buckle up, make sure their trays were stored away and their seats in the locked and upright position.  And then came the landing.  Touch-down was smoother than many, and the plane, rather than skidding to a grinding halt as might have been expected, came to a slow and calm stop in what felt like the length of a bathtub rather than a long runway.

The airline company had another plane waiting to immediately take the passengers back to White Plains and all was just fine.

Now for the second flight:  all was the same as the story I have just told you - Ft. Lauderdale to White Planes, with compromised landing gear forcing a diversion to JFK.  The difference here was in the actual landing.  This one was declared a "crash landing" with "emergency vehicles and fire engines all over the place".  It was a "harrowing experience" and very likely could have "ended in the demise of all aboard."  

Everyone was safe, however and transferred to another plane waiting to take them back to White Plains.

If most of the events of these two flights seem similar - well, they are.  

This was, in actuality, the same flight - Jet Blue flight 684 from Ft. Lauderdale to White Plains on Sunday, September 2, 2007.

The difference in the actual landing lies in the retelling of the experience.

The first landing comes from my perspective as the passenger in row 10 seat B.  And, judging from the calmness of those around me, this is the perspective that most shared.  It was, ultimately, a non-event.

The second landing comes from the fertile imagination of the passenger seated behind me in row 11 seat B as she related the experience to someone on the other end of her cell phone conversation after we landed.

This lady chose to turn the story into one of possible catastrophe and will very likely continue to exaggerate the details for years to come.  I don't know why.  Perhaps she needs the excitement in her life.  However, I suspect that I'm having a calmer and much more relaxing Labor Day weekend than she is.

How we view events in our lives has so much to do with our attitudes about those events.  We can make life smooth or bumpy, as relaxing or difficult as we wish.  It is up to us.

Me?  I'd rather remember the smooth landing.  How about you?

 

This month’s Gathering will also feature:

Spread the word – please remember to forward this issue of THE GATHERING to your friends!

WISDOM OF THE MONTH

Attitude is everything.

Pick a good one.

  

[back to contents]

MEET THE "DREAM TEAM"

 

I am fortunate to be a part of a group of women who call ourselves The Dream Team.  The name comes from the fact that we have all had our dreams and are working hard to make them come true.  And, each in our own way, helps and encourages others to follow their dreams.

We have come together and created our own pod casts - the first of which is entitled: Follow Your Passion.

 

Please listen to this informative 10 minute broadcast at: http://www.audioacrobat.com:80/play/W0LTNrBQ

 

The Dream Team members are:

Prill Boyle, author of Defying Gravity - a woman who understands and shares with others the possibilities of embracing new careers at any age.  A more complete biography of Prill can be found in the Let's Link section of this newsletter.

Barbara Scala, co-author of Sanity Savers and founder of Bloom After Divorce.  You will see a more complete biography of Barb in the Let's Link section of this newsletter.

Dale Allen, who created and performs - world wide - her one woman show, In Our Right Minds - a thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining piece which  guides women to their strength as leaders, and restores in men and women, the validity of right-brain, “feminine” strengths.

Joan Fisler, a certified divorce financial analyst who shares her extensive knowledge with women from all walks of life whether divorced or not. 

And me.

[back to contents]

SEPTEMBER TRAVELS

 

Nowhere!

Well, that's not exactly true as I shall be visiting my friend, Sophie, on Cape Cod mid-month,

then Joe and I will be hiking through Bryce, Zion and Escalante National Parks

However, keep checking the Travels Around the Country page of this website for current updates.

[back to contents]

LET'S LINK

If you know of, or have a website that you think Tao and defiant women 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!

 

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 Kentucky woman named Wini Yunker who had waited 39 years to join the Peace Corps. Inspired by this woman's persistence and courage, Prill decided to write a book about late bloomers. Her book recounts the stories of 12 "ordinary" women who've done extraordinary things later in life. It is a delightful and inspiring book to read and all the more so as Prill connects these first-person accounts together with her own story. Prill is also very active on the speaking and workshop circuit. 

CHECK OUT PRILL’S NEW BLOG!!!!!!!!!!

Visit Prill at: http://defyinggravitynow.blogspot.com  

 

Barbara Scala… Founder of Bloom After Divorce, Barbara is also editor and creator of Bloom Online Magazine for "Women Who Want to Grow" at http://www.bloomonline.com and writes her ongoing column Divorce Ain’t So Bad After All.

Trained as a mediator and collaborative divorce attorney, Barbara draws from her legal background in her life coaching practice to understand your divorced situation and to add insight into creating a life beyond divorce. She also uses her experience as a realtor to help with issues of relocation, downsizing, investing or moving on to a home to call your own. Barbara’s personable style, energy, holistic approach and ability to empathize are what make her a dynamic coach.

Visit Barbara at: http://www.bloomafterdivorce.com and make sure to read Bloom Online Magazine http://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

 

Connecticut Muse… This seasonally published newsletter is the brain child of Patricia D’Ascoli, columnist, essayist and author of Home Is Where the Humor Is. The Connecticut Muse is a celebration of contemporary Connecticut authors featured in a quarterly newsletter.  Each issue focuses on a different literary genre and includes book reviews, author interviews, a listing of upcoming author appearances and information on new releases. You Taogirls who do not reside in Connecticut will also enjoy reading the Muse to discover what new books are out there for us all to enjoy.

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  

 

Alignment With Life… Andrea D. Klein, the guiding light behind this California based coaching service, is a professional life coach who is continuously moving onward and upward by saying “yes” to life and by having fun with the evolving process. “Since I am in the 2nd half of life,” says Andrea, “I have a yearning desire to help women embrace the 2nd half of life by exploring new possibilities and passions.”

If you’re ready to: embrace the 2nd half of life; explore the opportunity of truly having fun; tap into your creative juices; move into possibilities, potential and passions then you will want to “meet” Andrea via her website. And you don’t have to live in California – she’ll work with you via phone and/or email.

Visit Andrea and Alignment With Life at:  http://www.alignmentwithlife.com/contact.htm

[back to contents]

A FEW FINAL WORDS

Now as the summer is coming to an end and I have to put away my white shoes, I am reflecting back upon a terrific few months. I sincerely hope that yours was also good summer with time for both work and play, picnics, bar-b-ques and time for friends.

The only question is; How did it go by so fast??

Enjoy these last few weeks.  I know I shall.

CJ

[back to contents]

To view past issues of The Gathering click on the issue you would like to see:

june06   july06  august06  september06  october06  november06  december06  
january07   february07   march07  april07   may07  june07  
july07   august07  september07  october07   november07   december07 
january08    february08   march08   april08   may08