expressing your passion

November 10, 2009 By

This weekend I received the sweetest card from Jennie B in SC, along with some super-cool mix CD’s. Oh, how I love me some Sugarland. The words in her card reminded me of something very important. I featured Jennie on my blog this summer; she said the post gave her an opportunity to “legitimately express” her “love and passion for writing.”

I stopped for a moment and reflected on how powerful that was to her. And then I realized we had something in common. The reason I relaunched my blog back in May, under the new name, “under the MAC” was to do the same thing– to publicly announce and validate my own love for writing. This blog helps keep me focused, holds me accountable, and sparks my creativity. Writing stories that entertain and inspire makes me feel alive, whole. When I open myself up to you, I feel vulnerable at times. But it’s worth it. I get an abiding sense that I’m tapping into my true purpose.

So what’s your passion? Are you legitimately expressing it?

ps- Jennie B has a new blog home now. You can find her over at The Sassy Steel Magnolia. I’ll be a guest blogger over there next month. Stay tuned!

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Filed Under: Redefining Success Tagged With: , ,

phenomenal spirit

October 8, 2009 By

This summer, I introduced you to Doretha Walker, a phenomenal woman who coined the term “sistergirlfriend” and is a sister and a girlfriend in the truest sense. Walker is also the founder of  The Walker Phenomenal Spirit award, a $1,000 grant, organized through the Center for Women.

walker2“One year, I received a very nice bonus at work and decided to use that money to establish a resource that helps women 35 years and older fulfill their dreams. It’s as simple as that,” Walker says. The deadline to apply for this year’s award is October 30.

She adds, “My award is for women who dare to chase their dreams despite the odds and what others may think.”

Walker on left, presenting award to Rock
Walker on left, presenting award to Rock

Last year’s winner was Lynda Rock, a Charleston woman living with ovarian cancer. “I really wanted to make the USA Dragon Boat Team and compete in the World Championships in Prague, but I knew I could not afford all the costs the honor would incur. Qualifying for the team included trips to Philly to do a time trial and to practice with the team. We also participated in the Montreal Dragon Boat Race as our practice race for the World Competition. A friend sent me the link to the Center for Women and the Doretha Walker Phenomenal Spirit Award.”

“The dream was all about her, not about saving the world,” Walker says.

Rock says she’s not that philosophical, even with cancer. “I find that if I have goals, then I can focus on them and not so much on the medical drama side of my life. Reality sneaks through from time to time, but I maintain my focus on my goals and taking care of my son, and I find I can get through the tough times.”

In my humble opinion, you don’t have to be philosophical to be phenomenal.

If you’re a woman 35 years or older and have a dream, click here to apply for the Walker Phenomenal Spirit award. The deadline is October 30. If you’d like to make a donation to the Walker fund, click here.

Filed Under: Guest Bloggers, Redefining Success Tagged With: ,

Chasing pavements

September 21, 2009 By

It’s been three months since the birth of baby Blake, and I’m getting more consistent with my workouts. Some days I pretend I’m Fergalicious– you know, up in the gym just working on my fitness. But the other day, my iPod shuffled to Adele’s Chasing Pavements. The gym wasn’t busy, and I sat on the leg press machine for several minutes with all my fluctuating hormones and emotions focused on these words:

Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere?

The song really resonates with me. I can recall heartbreaking pathetic visions of 20-year-old me, following around my then-boyfriend/now-husband, wondering if he would ever love me back. (Silly, silly boy. We all know he finally came to his senses.)

But on a much deeper level… a LIFE level… a spiritual level… the words hit my core. So many of us are chasing something. Love. A cure. A passion. A purpose.

Sometimes I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. Chasing pavements. And I wonder, should I press on, or should I let go? Then I remember letting go is not giving up. Letting go, to me, means letting go of the struggle. Releasing the pain, and the outcome, to a higher power.

And my answer for Adele, with her beautiful voice and lyrics that make me catch my breath: if it’s worth having, it’s worth chasing. It doesn’t matter if you catch it, it just matters that you cared enough to try.

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Filed Under: Redefining Success Tagged With: , , ,

Living on dreams and spaghettiO’s

June 9, 2009 By

Ever since I unveiled the new theme and format for my blog in early May, I have been amazed and humbled by the response. It’s like a whole new world has opened up for me; I finally have a platform to express my authentic self, and I am making meaningful connections with phenomenal individuals.

“Jennie B in SC” is no exception. I met Jennie… wait for it… on Twitter. Seriously. I was skeptical to open myself up to another form of social media, and so far, I’ve been really selective about who I follow on Twitter and who I allow to follow me. But when Jennie connected with me, I knew she was someone I wanted to get to know. She describes herself as a “mid-twenties sassy Steel Magnolia who is a Dreamer till the end.  A budding young writer who truly is living on dreams and spaghettios, and the occasional frozen pizza or two.”

guns-blazinI visited her blog and was hooked. Maybe it’s her penchant for Starbucks , Earth, Wind and Fire (Do you remember…?), or that pistol she wears around her neck to celebrate the memory of her dad.

Recently, Jennie allowed me to pick her brain:

Angie: I’m gonna get right down to the deep stuff. What are your passions?

Jennie: I have three main passions in life:  writing, dancing and life itself.  I’ve always been writing something, ever since I can remember.  Since I learn a thing or two from everyone I meet, I figured someone, somewhere, might learn a thing or two from what I write.  I’ve always felt that I have something to share and a desire to let it out.  I have aspirations of writing a book. I’ve started…it is a rough start…but it is started.  I write a lot about things that have happened to me and close friends and how this shapes life and the lessons learned.  I don’t like restricting my writing to certain topics because I love digging in and learning about something new, no matter what it is, so I generally characterize my writing as Life Writing.  I’m a thriving and developing life-ologist.  If that makes sense!

Angie: Right now, you are pursuing your passions while holding down a “day job.” If you could do anything you wanted and get paid for it, what would that be?

Jennie: My perfect career / lifestyle would be absolute freedom to go wherever, whenever and sit and write about whatever.  I know that sounds like a lofty aspiration (the phrase pipe dream is often thrown out there), BUT I know someday it will happen. How? I’ll figure that one out later. I just have a feeling it will.  :)

Angie: Writing is my passion, too, and it has taken me 34 years to really “own” that truth. I love connecting with other writers and sharing stories about the creative process. So what inspires you to write?

Jennie: It’s my passion for life and the freedom I feel when the pen touches down on paper and my thoughts spill from line to line. It’s the luxury of escaping reality to visit my dreams (job, vacation, car, life, etc.) and write them into existence.  The safety of releasing my fears, inhibitions and hesitations to a non-partial medium so that they no longer clutter my mind.  The legacy which is left behind for loved ones and the world to read for years to come.

I’m not perfect.  I’m just an ordinary girl riding the waves of life and trying to make sense of it all.  When that pen touches down…it’s no holds barred.  That excitement is something I love sharing with my readers. It’s so incredible for me, and I want them to experience it and ignite their passion for life as well.

Angie: Jennie, thank you for your time. ”See” you soon in the blogosphere, Twitterville or a neighborhood Starbucks. :)

You can support Jennie B in SC and share your insights and thoughts by visiting her blog.

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Filed Under: Guest Bloggers, Redefining Success Tagged With: ,

Refreshing Your Professional Image

April 6, 2009 By

The Women in Business Conference was a great success! Many thanks to those who attended my breakout session, Refreshing Your Professional Image.

I believe our “image” is most powerful when it radiates from the inside- out. It starts by asking ourselves: what does success look like to me? Some other tips to remember:

~Image begins with how you see yourself. To paraphrase a quote by Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, either way, you’re right.”

~Embrace your gifts, talents and passions. What you love to do and what comes naturally to you are clues that guide you on the path to your purpose.

~Create your vision. Dare to boldly see and profess your true heart’s desires.

~Ditch the fear. What do you risk if you play it safe?

~Let your experience, wisdom and intuition serve as your guide. Women, especially, are blessed with the gift of intuition.

~Sell yourself! Think about all you’ve accomplished and experienced so far in your life. Believe it, use it, own it. Work it, girl! Turn to the left… now turn to the right. I digress.

Seek balance. Strive to be authentic.

Click here to watch a six-minute video clip, highlighting some key points in my talk. My hubby and his partner, Patrick, will think the video quality is not the best, but in a YouTube world, we can now get away with it! Maybe I should have used Go To Team?

Filed Under: Redefining Success Tagged With: , , , ,
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