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Okay, news alert! (The TV kind…)

Posted on by sue boardman

Dear heart…

If you live in the US, you’ve probably heard at least a bit of the current flap about reporters from specific TV networks being banned from the White House.

And, you’ve probably guessed that I am unamused. Even if I hadn’t done interviewing, writing, reporting, and audio broadcasting along my winding road, I’d be horrified. Then there’s the preaching thing…

I’ve lived the challenge of telling truth – as best I understand it – in a way that listeners can actually hear. (Otherwise, what’s the good???)

That is not, however, what banning those reporters was intended to accomplish. Instead, the sole purpose was to stoke the President’s irrational ego.

Blessedly, my TV remote will still give me access to the folks doing real news. And, yes, in my world that means MS NOW. When I tuned in today, while waiting for some paint to dry, one of the reporters was interviewing Salman Rushdie.

The 79 year old Indian-born British and American novelist had a mouthful of wisdom to share about censorship and truth. My favorite bit was just this:

If you have the story to tell, then tell the damn story today!

I totally agree! (And you’re probably not surprised!)

It isn’t easy, especially if you were raised, as I was, to be politely seen and not heard. To make everyone around you comfortable.

Sadly, that doesn’t solve all the challenges we face. And one of those challenges, much in my heart these days, is speaking up for our Littles. For the world they’ll inherit. For their rights to speak up.

And – not surprisingly – some of that energy is coming forward in my book-in-progress. Blessedly, I had a very good teacher. Yep! Walter Brueggemann, who’s actually got a line or two in the book! And, whenever I need a reminder, I just look at Shoshana, who joined us as we began. She reminds me that I am here and I am ready. And she’s delighted to help remind a new generation, as well!

ps… Shoshana has a new name. (It was formerly Lily Rose.) And, in a way I’ll admit to loving, Shoshana is the Hebrew name closely related to my name which does, indeed, mean lily and rose. I’m pretty sure she’s glad to have her story told, in this day and time, just like Saman Rushdie!

pps… there will be Medicine Basket cards for tweens & teens to go with the book!!!

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When we have to say “no” to say “YES!”

Posted on by sue boardman

I’m guessing you hear me! If nothing else, this moment in time is a huge reminder that none of us can do it all! (Especially not the ones who are convinced that they can!)

At least in my world, that means making choices, and there are lots of ways to do that. We can choose out of fear. We can choose out of guilt. We can choose out of wanting to fit in. Or, we can choose from a place of intention. Of what we’re trying to accomplish with our lives.

My primary example of that, just now, is the book I’m sneaking up on finishing. It takes time. It takes money. It takes energy. It takes concentration. It takes faith and hope. It takes rest. Most of all, it takes saying no to things that don’t help!

I’ll bet you have examples of things that don’t help, screaming for attention in your head, too.

Here’s an obvious one, at least for those of us in the U.S. The election! As much as I’d like to, I can’t buy places in the House or Senate for as many folks as I’d like. Nor, in Georgia. And, since that kind of buying is pretty much what we’re fighting against, feeling guilty or inadequate about my limits doesn’t help. So… I’m giving to groups that are matching gifts. You know… we’ll quadruple your donation! And I only give to the ones I already trust. Generally, the ones close to home, though there are a few exceptions for me. (You, obviously, do you!) It’s just that I’m not wasting time feeling guilty, anymore. Or eeny-meeny-ing this one or that one.

And, in a very real way, I’m supporting candidates that also believe in what I’m trying to accomplish with my book. Creating a world where our Littles can practice claiming Fierce Compassion. And, Choice!

Fortunately, the whole telling the stories bit comes naturally to me!

Glinda is, of course, all in. A cherished reminder that I DO have the magic… and so do you! And, she’s claimed a bit of real estate where she can be a constant reminder in the space where so much of the magic happens. The studio! There’s lots of stuff shifting in there just now, but Glinda has become both hope and peace in the midst of the chaos. I’m grateful!!!

And, I have more editing to do!

Let me know what kind of space and energy you’re claiming…. it is, indeed, going to take a whole lot of us. And, yes, this magic works wherever you live and whatever you’re creating!

ps… in the practice what I preach department, I made a decision today! Some really cool (recorded) natural world things I’m studying and loving are going to have to wait until the book manuscript is done! How ’bout you???

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I am still still learning!

Posted on by sue boardman

And grateful to author Anne Lamott, who taught me to claim this notion with pride, even when times are rough and quitting seems tempting.

I’m guessing you may have noticed that there’s a whole lot going on these days that feels like that. I know I’m noticing… body, mind, and spirit! And, I know a good place to find help!

In her fabulous Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott reads from the gospel of Toni Morrison:

“The function of freedom is to free someone else, and if you are no longer wracked or in bondage to a person or a way of life, tell your story. Risk freeing someone else. Not everyone will be glad that you did. Members of your family and other critics may wish you had kept your secrets. Oh, well, what are you going to do? Get it all down…”

This is my “fractured fairy tale” made new:

Once upon a time, kind of a medium number of years ago, I found myself “wracked and in bondage” not to a person so much—though that had to be dealt with—but to beliefs I had and stories about how life was supposed to be and how powerless I was to change that.

Then, one day, I found myself four months pregnant and filing for divorce. The details really don’t matter anymore. Go ahead and fill the story in with whatever makes sense to you. I simply could not put a child in the place where I was.

There was no fairy godmother in sight!

Slowly, I found my way to freedom, ironically led by that little child. I learned along the way that the stories we tell, the realities we create with our very words, make all the difference. I learned that our stories can be edited! Re-formed into tales of freedom rather than bondage.

To risk freeing someone else is to tell those new stories. With clients only daring to hope that change might actually be possible for them. With folks praying that the 7:00 news isn’t the only story there is.  And with grandchildren who have the amazing chance to learn better, stronger stories the first time through!

To fashion new stories – stories that are empowering and more true – is to free ourselves over and over again and to risk freeing someone else.

Often Kleenex is involved!

Let’s start right where we are… As ever, you do you!

Body… More fruits and veg. Organic. Non-GMO. Fresh. In my case, no green peas allowed! Brussel sprouts and okra for lunch!

Mind… WRITING! Lots and lots of it. And editing. And paying close attention to the chill bumps that mean I’m getting really close!

Spirit… Giving thanks for all those things I just listed. Celebrating the glimpses of saintly women – many of them family – kindly appearing in my heart and my book. And a huge ah-hah from the painting at the top which has decided to share some more hope!

ps… Yes. You may have heard this story before – from Annie or from me. It’s one of those I depend on, even in the midst of the crazy.

pps… if you’d like to be part of the cosmic team, Gloria, our official cat-angel who’s named in honor of Gloria Steinem, and I would be way past grateful for prayers and positive intentions! This is, in fact, the phase that feels dismayingly like walking naked on the road of mattering!

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The way we’ve always done it…

Posted on by sue boardman

If you’re anything like me, you probably grew up with a pretty good dose of just that philosophy. You know… the way we’ve always done it must be the right way because that’s what our elders taught us and they couldn’t have been wrong! Besides, we’re still here!

And it starts long before we have the neurological development to think abstractly, which makes it even more powerful.

Tempting as it is, though, it’s not enough. And, when we’re living that battle, it’s exhausting. Or, as one of my collection of wise teachers suggested yesterday, we wind up feeling like our buckets are too full… like our nervous systems are under siege.

I can relate! And, I went way out on a limb and decided to experiment with a different strategy!!!

As I’m writing this, it’s late afternoon. I’ve written other things, today. I’ve made an illustration – this one in charcoal pencil – for my upcoming tweens and teens book.

I’ve made some progress on the Feng Shui list, including arranging the shelf next to my magic chair so I can reach things more comfortably.

I spent some time in an online meditation experience with my Compassion annointing oil and another wise friend.

And, I spent some time communing with the painting, above, who has just told me her actual name… Our Lady of Fiercely Compassionate Abundance!

Now, here’s the surprising part…

I made a promise. Fifteen minutes of MS NOW with my first cuppa this morning. Then, off! You see, of all the things on my overflowing list for this day, that’s the one I most needed to set aside. I’m guessing you might be able to relate.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I looped the Legendary Husband in on the plan and he graciously agreed to let me know if there was anything actually earth shattering going on. Not the incoherent hissy fit kind of stuff… which I truly didn’t need. And you know what… it helped! In fact, it’s helping still!!! I’ll probably check in about 9pm tonight, just to see what the headlines are. Otherwise, my list. Including things intentionally chosen to help my nervous system feel safer!

In fact, I got a great new idea in that meeting with my wise friend. He asked if I’d tried having a conversation with my body about comfort and safety and such. It was a great question and it reminded me of one of my favorite Medicine Basket treasures!

Two handed journaling. Inquiry with my dominant hand. Breathing. Perhaps even sipping a bit more cacao while listening for a reply. Then, writing what appears with my non-dominant hand. It really is a perspective shift!

After I put another coat of paint on Gloria, the cat! Here’s where we are at the moment…

ps… love for you to leave me a comment, below, and let me know how it goes in your world. Or email me: suesvoice@gmail.com

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Limbs of the family tree…

Posted on by sue boardman

Both my mom’s family, and my dad’s, had people in the way-back days who were named variations on Mattie. I can’t find the details of who and where, just now.

Here’s what I do remember… Mattie-ing on somebody meant something pretty close to herding them. You know – expecting, directing – those kinds of things. And, yes… I’ve been watching the news! (Though not nearly as much as usual!)

Now, I’m no fan of expecting and directing. I’m much more comfortable with intentional questions and suggestions. With noticing and wondering.

At this moment, though, I seem to be the one who needs a bit of Mattie-ing. Self Mattie-ing, to be exact! You see, it’s pretty tempting to just quit trying to make things better. Fires. Floods. Earthquakes. Plane crashes. Murder. Racism. Poverty. Megalomania. You hear me. And I’m hugely aware that I can’t fix it all. In fact, some of it’s way too big for me to fix alone.

What I can do is make what I can reach just a bit better.

That’s where the creativity and Feng Shui come in! (Really!)

The cat-in-progress you just met is a wise voice in my tweens & teens book-in-progress, and she’s coming to life! Layer by layer. (I never tried to paint a cat before!) Her name is Gloria and she informed me, emphatically, that we – you and I – are part of the message Gloria Steinem left for us to carry.

Then, there’s the place where the Legendary Husband and I abide. It hasn’t so much kept up with our changing needs and, for a while, I think we might have been busy pretending we didn’t notice. I’m choosing to notice, again, and it’s getting better, already. Intentionally better!

We’re working hard to make this brick ranch, built in 1962, be safe and comfortable and supportive, here and now. It’s a challenge… though I am starting to feel a smidge more hopeful! (Though the new fridge still needs some help!)

Somewhere, deep in my consciousness, I can almost hear Mattie brusquely suggesting that we stay on the road.

I’m in!

ps… I just rearranged the book shelf next to the magic chair and put some wisdom cards in easy reach. Some from friends. Some of my own! And you can get your very own deck of mine! Just click here for all the info. I’d be delighted and honored to mail you a batch. They really were created to help all of us make what we can reach just a bit better. (Or, maybe… lots better!) It’s that whole perspective and strategies thing!!!

pps… internal book release goal: November 1, 2026!!!

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Wow! It’s been a week…

Posted on by sue boardman

A week of mixed emotions, to be exact. Thinking of loved ones who walked on in this season. Celebrating new beginnings for our no-longer Littles. Lots and lots of painting and writing. (And a wrist that’s getting pretty good at guilt-tripping me about that!)

Then, there was the refrigerator.

It had been growling at us in the middle of the night. Loudly! Not every night, but enough for both of us to be short on sleep and concerned about things spoiling. We debated between repair call and shopping. As it really was getting old – and a family member has had a recent similar adventure that went on waaaayyyy… too long, we ordered a new one. Let’s just say the delivery part of this adventure has not been fun. And it’s not officially complete yet.

Fortunately, the Feng Shui Fairies have been in a helpful mood! Think of it like intentional home design! And, yes, lots of things are different, already!

The big one is this… We took a bunch of stuff we already had, some new things I’ve learned, and some teamwork, and shifted things around in our room. And I’m actually sleeping better!!!

I think the biggest thing is setting intentions – like painting – and then including them in our space.

It feels expressive of what we’re trying to do in our world. Well, it does to me. The Legendary Husband says he gets it, too!

In the midst of all the chaos in the world, being conscious of intentions feels comforting and safe to me. In this moment, I’ll take it!

For now, though a hot date for dinner and a Red Madonna call.

Love to hear what’s on your intention list or your heart… just tug on the red thread!

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In-ten-tion!!!

Posted on by sue boardman

You know how, when you’re in the midst of something that you’re trying to accomplish, it often feels crazier than before you started???

I can almost feel you nodding your head! Let’s just say that if I were the tattoo type, I’d go get one proclaiming progress is messy! As it is, I think I’ve found the intention for the first layer of my about to be begun painting! Come to think of it, there may be several reasons for that!

The up-side is that the Legendary Husband and I made some actual progress today! This big piece of furniture over there. About 24 feet of bookshelf space re-claimed!!! (This is a huge thing around here.) A whole house Feng Shui chart/map! (It’s been simmering for quite a while. Apparently now is the time. Maybe the recent Lunar events are nudging me!

Here’s the thing, though… my right wrist and shoulder are not – shall we say – feeling quite as enthusiastic as the rest of me, and that gives me an idea for this moment.

Whether you’ve ever tried dominant/non-dominant hand journaling before, or it’s a totally new idea, let’s give it a go!

Actual paper and writing wand. A cuppa wouldn’t hurt.

An inquiry… perhaps about any intention you’re pondering, written with your usual writing hand. In my case, that’s my right hand, writing: What’s the next right step in making the home we have work more comfortably for us.

You do you!

Then, the response… with your other (non-dominant) hand. It could come instantly. It could take 3 days! (Or, whatever…) Something will appear in response. Add it to your paper when it does.

I’d love to hear what you notice!!! (You can leave a comment below… or email me. suesvoice@gmail.com

In a world where Cherry Blossom trees are giving their lives for ego and money, anything that includes intelligent intention could actually help make this world a bit better!

And HOPE can’t hurt!

ps… I chose that photo, above, because it, too, is the outcome of allowing newness! What finds you???