Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Possibilities

Welcome to Day 16 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

POSSIBILITIES 

What a boring world this would be without possibilities. Perhaps our first introduction to endless possibilities comes from the picture book, Oh, the Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss. It opens this way:

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away.

 

How much more successful could we be if we saw each day as starting off or continuing upon a great adventure?

Maybe we could be more like The Little Engine That Could. We take our next project and go at it one step at a time, focusing on our goal and believing we will achieve it, until we do. 

How about being more like Anne of Green Gables? Anne Shirley had every reason to be upset about life. Living in orphanages, abused by foster parents, and when the first truly wonderful thing happens to her--she arrives at Green Gables--Miss Cuthbert tells her they can't keep her because she isn't a boy. But Anne goes on do amazing things--attending college, teaching at a private school, writing a book--all because she had a huge imagination and knew what she wanted. 

Well, that is all fiction, right? Let's talk about Edwin C. Barnes, a man with no money and little education, who went on to become Thomas Edison's partner. You can read about Barnes in Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, but here is a glimpse from the movie.   

 

When we shared the letter C, we talked about women who faced challenges and brought about change. They, too, saw the possibilities of what could be, instead of what was. In conclusion, I will share a quote from Michelle Obama about decision making and possibilities.

 

Don't ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn't.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Opportunity

Welcome to Day 15 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

OPPORTUNITY 

In the years since I've become an adult, the opportunities for women have increased. Though I still make less than my husband, who has a four year degree, the pay gap has tightened. His Corporate America job also offers the benefits, since insurance is more affordable that way. Seeing the current focus on celebrating and empowering girls and young women, means a brighter future for our daughters. There is, however, still work to be done.  

In December 2017, the International Labour Organization published one of their InfoStories on "The gender gap in employment: What's holding women back?"  They updated this report in February 2022. They stated that in the United States, the labor force difference between male and female is 11.2% (male 66.4% versus female 55.2%). 

Helping out in their households is one reason women have a harder time finding work than men. Women spend three times more hours on unpaid housework than men do. Another reason is stated as maternity coverage. The report says that although most countries provide some maternity protection for employed women, almost 66% are not entitled to paid maternity leave. Lack of affordable childcare in developed countries impacts the probability of women entering the labor force. Both men and women agree that the largest barrier for women in paid work is the struggle to balance it with family responsibilities. Something we talked about with the letter B on April 2. 

Stepping back a bit in time, the April 2020 survey from Pew Research Center shows that while 54% believe men have more opportunities to get high-paying jobs, 94% think it is important for women in their country to have the same rights as men do. 

What is important to note as we think about opportunities for female entrepreneurs and business women is that a fair amount of discussion over the last few years has been how women-owned businesses are key to economic growth. In a March 2022 article, CNBC contributor Hannah Miao cited a Citigroup report that states, "achieving gender parity in business growth could boost global gross domestic product by as much as $2 trillion, or 2% to 3% of global GDP." The same report stated gender equality could generate between 288 million and 433 million jobs.

Here is a list of the Top 15 Most Famous Female Entrepreneurs published two weeks ago. Click here.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Mom

Welcome to Day 13 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

MOM

I've held the title of mom for almost 35 years now. Hard to believe, since I feel no different from when I was in my 20s or 30s. There are a variety of terms to describe moms. Here are a few I've held:

• Teenage mom
• Unwed mom
• Single mom
• Stay-at-home mom
• Working mom

I was two months shy of my 19th birthday when my son was born. His father and I never married, and we split up when our son was 18 months old. My husband and I met in high school, but we didn't date until about three years after we graduated. I spent 11 years as a single mom and worked three jobs for five years just to make ends meet. My husband and I married in 2000, and I spent 18 out of the first 40 months we were married pregnant. Though I returned to work after the Lil' Diva was born, after the birth of the Lil' Princess, I stayed at home with the girls for 11 years. In 2014, I returned to the workforce.

Though I mentioned working mom as one of my titles, I've always felt that term isn't appropriately used. Stay-at-home moms and those moms who pursue a career are both working moms. They just work in different ways. Believe me, one can be just as exhausting as the other. At this point in my life, I've pursued a career, but I contributed to my household in other ways when I stayed home. Every mom deserves recognition for her efforts, whether they take place in the playroom or the boardroom. 

Little side note on the girls' nicknames. I explained earlier in the week how Lil' Diva came to be. See J if you missed it. The reason we call our youngest the Lil' Princess also has a story behind it. Driving in the car one day, she was being naughty. So, I told her to stop it or she would have a time out. She responded, "You can't punish me. I'm a princess." So, in the blogging world she became known as the Lil' Princess. 

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Joy

Welcome to Day 10 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

JOY

When my girls were little, I did my best to keep them in the same routine for bedtime: supper, playtime, snack, reading time, then lights out. I think we all appreciated a schedule of knowing what would happen next. 

One day, snow had been falling for a good part of the afternoon, and my husband arrived home from work later than usual. Supper was late, which threw off the rest of the schedule. As the girls undressed for bed, it was easy to see they weren't ready. On the spur of the moment--which is not a me thing--I suggested we get our winter stuff on and go outside to play. 

The four of us had so much fun running around and tossing snow at each other. The girls decided they wanted to swing, so Paul and I brought them into the backyard, lifted them into their swings, and pushed them. After a few pushes, an enormous smile spread across the Lil' Diva's face and she exclaimed, "This is the happiest day of my life!" 

Recalling this memory, even after all this time, has a profound impact on me. The Lil' Diva at that stage was tough to impress and tough to make happy... hence the nickname. That this spur-of-the-moment decision allowed her to experience such joy touched my heart. It is one of the fondest memories I have of the girls' childhood. 

We can manufacture happiness, and it is often short-lived. But joy is different. We cultivate it. Joy brings about long-lasting feelings of peace and contentment. 

When I learned to loosen up on how rigid I was with our schedule and work in some spontaneous activities with our children, this helped the Lil' Diva to be more content. She didn't know when these spontaneous events would occur, but she could look forward to them. Bringing her joy brought me joy, and it made those tougher moments easier to handle. 

What is something that brings you joy? How do you cultivate joy on a regular basis?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Inspire

Welcome to Day 9 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

INSPIRE

As a leader in my association, I feel part of my role is inspiring others to achieve their goals. At the end of my installation to President of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley in January, I spoke about the association's 2021 accomplishments and shared my goals for 2022. Below is the conclusion of that speech:

What I hope and pray for every member of this Association is that you put together something that’s good this year. You dream big. You push yourself farther outside of your comfort zone than you ever imagined. That you’re just as unafraid of failure as you are of success. And as you journey along your path, remember that the RAPV is part of your team, providing you with the tools and resources you need to take your business to the next level.

I had changed my speech at the last minute, because we were supposed to have our first in-person installation since the pandemic started, but omicron had other ideas. So, I opened this message speaking about how we had learned to pivot and adjust over the last two years. Then I shared a quote from attorney, author, and health care activist Elizabeth Edwards.

Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.

 A lifelong pessimist, I've done my best to embrace positivity and optimism. I share inspirational quotes on my Instagram stories and Facebook page. Here are some for us to consider today.

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Help

Welcome to Day 8 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.  

HELP

Why is it so hard for women to ask for help? In her 2011 article on the topic, Katherine Stone, creator of Postpartum Progress, discusses "5 Reasons Why Asking for Help Sucks." I can relate to four of the five. 

Rejection

When I ask for help and don't get, not only is it disappointing, it's hurtful. It's not like I ask for help every day, so when I do, I really need it. I have to admit, my temper flares, too. 

Fear of seeming weak or incapable

This one tends to apply in a career setting--at least for me. When I started in real estate, I had come from several roles where I managed personnel or ran an office. Real estate was all new to me and, despite 40 hours of classes, I felt like I knew nothing. Regularly, new issues or questions arose that I didn't know how to handle. I felt like I should know the answers and shouldn't need to ask for help. These days, I don't mind as much.

Belief that we shouldn't need to ask for help

I briefly mentioned that above, but let's bring this back to a family setting. Imagine coming home after a long day at work. You rush in, put down your laptop bag, barely make it to the kitchen table before being surrounded by hungry animals, and then people are asking when supper will be ready. Oh, and the laundry basket is full, it's trash day, and you have about three more hours of work to complete before bedtime. 

There have been many days when I look like the woman above. Instead of asking for help, I grumble inside my head, "Can't they see I need help?" Then I huff and puff around the house getting all frustrated. I should probably be angry with the stubborn mule who won't ask for help when she needs it.

Fear of losing control

This is definitely a workplace issue for me. I'm considered the disciplinarian in my house, so I don't worry about losing control here. As a leader, I can find it hard to allow people to help. What will they think of me? Will I be viewed as ineffective? Will I lose respect? 

So, how do we change our views on asking for help? I certainly don't have the answers. I'm still growing and changing in this aspect, too. I did, however, find these articles helpful:

https://www.amanet.org/articles/the-lost-art-of-asking-for-help

https://oilwomanmagazine.com/article/how-to-ask-for-help-and-actually-get-it

https://ewfinternational.com/how-successful-women-leaders-ask-for-help

Do you struggle with asking for help when you need it? Can you think of a time you asked for help and it worked out great?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Growth

Welcome to Day 7 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

GROWTH

I attended a professional conference last year. Over lunch with a few colleagues, we spoke about how challenging it can be to change the culture of an organization due to the resistance of those who wish to keep everything running the same way. I'm not sure exactly what I said, but it was something like, "If we refuse to change, we stop growing." That's when one of the women around the table asked me if I was a life coach. I guess it sounded more profound than I realized. 

Growing is a part of living. The longer I spend on this planet, I realize that personal growth, while rarely easy, is crucial to making us happier and more successful (however you choose to define success). 

Today, I'll share favorite quotes about growth.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” 

― Mark Twain 

 “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.”

― Stephen Richards

 “When a woman rises up in glory, her energy is magnetic and her sense of possibility contagious.”

 ― Marianne Williamson

 “She remembered who she was and the game changed.”

 ― Lalah Delia 

 “Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands.”

― Roy T. Bennett

 “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”

― Lewis Carroll

 “The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”

― Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

― Rumi

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”

— Carol Burnett

“Stop being who you were and become who you are.”

— Paulo Coelho

 “If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.”

— Gail Sheehy

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Fearless

Welcome to Day 6 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

FEARLESS

One word that has been used to describe women is "fearless." That doesn't mean that these women are unafraid or that they can't be empathetic, compassionate, and loving. Instead, it speaks to characteristics that many of us admire:

1. They speak up for themselves and for others. Often, these women will be speaking on behalf of social justice issues. One woman who comes to mind in this regard is actress Emma Watson. 
2. They have strong values and morals. They know who they are and what they believe in, and they don't apologize for it.
3. They don't usually follow the rules. Rule followers such as me can't easily relate. I don't even go out the in door at the grocery store.
4. They believe in themselves. Having confidence and self-esteem is something I truly admire in people.
5. Though they aren't unafraid, they are willing to face their fears. 
6. They believe in self-respect. Some call this loving yourself. I feel you have to know what you can and can't tolerate. 
7. They encourage other women. This is the most important characteristic of fearless women to me other than having integrity. Women need to support each other. They need to encourage each other. They need to inspire each other. 
8. They go beyond their comfort zone. This goes along with facing their fears. Fearless women learn to be comfortable with discomfort. They take risks and use failure as a teacher. 

Interested in discovering some famous historical women? Here are links to a few articles:

https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2016/08/25/10-historys-most-fearless-women

https://mymodernmet.com/famous-women-from-history/

https://yourstory.com/2018/02/10-extraordinary-and-fearless-women-who-rewrote-history/amp

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Energy

Welcome to Day 5 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

ENERGY

There are two types of energy--positive energy and negative energy. One is productive and beneficial. The other is self-limiting and creates stress. Now, we all know stress can create nasty problems we don't want: headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep problems to name a few. 

This recent article from Verywell Mind talks about ways to create positive energy in your life. Coupled with that, you need to eliminate negative thoughts and habits. So much easier said than done, but an important piece of the puzzle. 

One negative habit I'm working on is letting go of the past. I have the memory of an elephant. I recall so many past offenses and mistakes. Remembering them, however, serves no purpose. Allowing myself to experience the freedom of forgiving others and myself will help me learn and grow as a person. 

There are other ways to bring positive energy into your life. MindValley talks about them here. One of the most inspiring places for me is the ocean, which I find hilarious since I'm afraid of water and drowning. There is something so refreshing and peaceful about walking with your feet in the soft sand or listening to the waves crash into the shore. I can't seem to find that peace anywhere else. 

What are some ways you bring positive energy into your life? Where is your favorite place for inspiration and peace? 

Blogging A to Z 2022 - Dating

Welcome to Day 4 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

DATING

There are so many days I am glad my dating days are behind me. But, you say, what if you are widowed? If I happen to outlive my husband, I don't plan to date or marry again. I've been in a few relationships, had three children with two different men, and am just as happy spending time alone as I am spending time with my husband. I pray I don't have to live without him, but if it happens, I'll figure out life on my own. 

Here are my top three reasons for not wanting to date again:

1. The Pew Research Center studied public attitudes about our modern dating landscape in August of 2020. Nearly half Americans felt dating had gotten harder in the last 10 years, especially women. I agree. I met my son's father because I lived next door to his older brother. I went to high school with my husband and we worked together, even thought we didn't date until three years after we graduated. It doesn't seem to be as easy to meet people these days and technology seems to have made the whole process of meeting someone impersonal. 
2. I am super concerned about my safety. Between being a petite person and working in an industry where you could meet strangers on a regular basis, my safety is my primary concern. I've learned to be more aware of my surroundings and take precautions to protect myself, but I don't know that I want to travel down the figure out if the guy I am interested in is a nice person or a sex offender road.
3. To date could mean showing my body off to someone new, and I am just not going there. I've had three children, and pregnancy was not kind to my body. Neither was breastfeeding, for that matter. The thought of gaining enough confidence to be comfortable with a new person gives me a headache.

Here is a bonus reason why I don't plan to date again: I don't want to spend the time getting to know a new person and worrying if he will accept me as I am, try to change me, or just decide I'm not the one for him. Who needs that stress in their life?

What are your family friendly thoughts on dating? Do you think dating is harder than it used to be? What is the top family friendly reason you would or would not date again?

Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Balance

Welcome to Day 2 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

BALANCE

A long time ago, someone somewhere must have told women they needed to create balance in their lives. If you Google "balance in your life," that returns 7,810,000,000 results. There are tips to find balance, suggestions on the best way to find balance, definitions of what having a balanced life means, suggestions on how to maintain balance, etc. 

Some writers question if work-life balance exists. Others claim it is entirely overrated. This writer shares what women who successfully balance leadership, family, and well-being have in common. 

For me, balance has never existed and is unlikely to ever exist. Why? Here are a few reasons:

1. I'm married to the firstborn male of a Greek family. My mother-in-law, God bless her, waited on that boy from the day he was born until the day he moved into the house we now live in. That worked for their family, and I really didn't even mind being the domestic goddess around here when I was home with the girls, but now that I have a demanding full-time career it is a struggle. No one person can cook, clean, do laundry, grocery shop, work one full-time career and dabble in another. God simply doesn't make enough hours in the day, and even if he did, I would be too tired to stay awake any longer.
2. I failed in chore chart class. I hated chores growing up. I wanted my kids to enjoy life more, because there would be plenty of working later on. So, I now pay the price for not assigning them chores and getting them in the habit of helping out.
3. My energy levels aren't what they used to be. I know if I got back to exercising more regularly--I mean, at all--my energy levels would improve. I just can't seem to fit it in. My sleeping habits have never been great, so that doesn't help either.

What I will say is despite all this, I love my life. I'm grateful I was able to stay home for 11 years with the girls. I'm grateful I have served my family well for so many years. Even though I maintain a hectic schedule, I still make time to volunteer and write (mostly edit, but write when I can). 

For me, satisfaction is way more important than balance. I'm getting better about time blocking (still hate it). I'm sticking to my daily Bible reading this year. I might even read a book or two that will help encourage habits to create a better work-life balance. But, if I'm happy, that's all that matters. 

Do you struggle with work-life balance? What have you tried to improve that balance? Do you think that women struggle with work-life balance more than men? Do you feel women try too hard to find balance? 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

 

It's that time of year again! The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge returns for 2022. You can learn more here.

The theme of the A to Z Challenge main blog this year is:

ACCOMPLISHING YOUR DREAMS, AND THE DUALITY OF 22

I have participated in this challenge more than once, but it has been years since I committed to it. I'm not sure how it will go, but I'll give it a shot. They have a great team coordinating the challenge and more than 70 bloggers already signed up to participate. They also have an extensive list of categories if you are looking to focus your posts.

For 2022, I have decided to participate in the category of women's interest. I could stick with something writing related, but I miss my mommy blog and hope you will indulge me during the month of April as I attempt to create 26 posts geared toward women. 

Will you join the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge in 2022? If so, what do you think you'll blog about?