Spirited Woman Blogger Team

Tell Us Your Stories - Finding True Love

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is writte by Andrea Lewis, an aspiring author writing her memoir. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

I was swept off my feet by this tall, dark and handsome guy I was acquainted with since childhood. Life happened and we had lost touch for many years until we reconnected on the infamous Facebook.

I was divorced for five years, lonely and had just emerged from a depression. He resuscitated new life into me and I felt he was my soul mate. I was in love with him and for two and half years of my life he tempted me with empty promises and false hope.

Although I had been attending therapy since I was twenty years old, the relationship regurgitated the past. From my childhood trauma of sexual and physical abuse I endured at the hands of my half-brother. While exhuming my brother’s suicide and revisiting unresolved issues from my divorce.

I rode a roller-coaster from being passive to becoming aggressive. I was unable to demount the ride of my life as it spiralled downward and never upward. All the while I suffered from feelings of low self-esteem, shame, guilt, fear and depression. I was not travelling anywhere except the self-destructive path I paved along my journey. Because I continued to repeat the cycle with broken relationships, partying, drinking excessively and binge eating, all in the name of escaping what was staring at me in the mirror.

Tell Us Your Stories - The Pay-Off of Passion and Persistence

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by Karin Abarbanel, small business owner, author, speaker, and expert on start-up strategies. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

Writing and editing my book, Birthing the Elephant: The woman’s go-for-it! guide to overcoming the big challenges of launching a business, was a labor of  love. It took a year to finish.

In the book, were wonderful interviews from successful entrepreneurs, including Bobbi Brown, the cosmetic mogul and Liz Lange, the maternity wear pioneer -- all of whom shared their advice generously. I felt passionate about getting it out into the world and making the book a success.

One of the keys to a great book launch is strong back-cover quotes from well-known experts and achievers. We had Bobbi Brown and Liz Lange inside the book, but when it came to finding a high-profile endorser for the book cover, we hit a major roadblock.

We tried the co-founder of eBay, but she was about to resign to launch a political career. We tried the  co-founder of Zipcar, but she had left the company. Finally, our publisher suggested Jessica McClintock, the popular clothing designer. I did some research on-line. She was a self-made entrepreneur with a thriving design empire -- and she’d had her ups and downs along the way. She was perfect!

Unbelievable as it may seem - I found her phone number. I called it. Voice mail, of course. I left my name and a message about my book. No response. I waited a few days and left a second message on voice mail. Nothing. The publisher was getting anxious. I thought of trying someone else, but something made me persist.

On Thanksgiving Eve, I don’t know why, but I got a strong feeling that I should call again. I picked up the phone and dialed Jessica’s number. Bingo! She was working alone in her office. I told her that my book was written to help aspiring entrepreneurs design their own destiny and pursue their dreams. She listened politely, then said that she didn’t usually endorse things, but if I sent her some information, she would take a look.

Tell Us Your Stories - How Sweet Curtis Changed My Life - Forever

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by professional clown, photographer, writer and channeller Star Blossom Goddess. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

I was 52, working as a teacher assistant, unhappy and recently separated from a long marriage. I all but gave up on life so, one day going to work I shouted, “spirit either show me or take me.” I had no idea, what impact those words would have but they certainly were heard.

Within three weeks, I had plans to go to Sedona, AZ to participate in a workshop. While there, I met a shaman named Curtis who was my soul mate. Curtis knew I was in need of a healing and after a three hour session, I felt amazingly rejuvenated.

A few days later, I went home still feeling like a big change was underway. After speaking with Curtis in Sedona we decided he would come to visit New York so he could help me and others. When I spoke of his gifts, everyone booked immediately whereby I had to make an extra point to put time aside for us.

Every time I spoke to him on the phone, I felt connected to a magical loving energy that made me feel special. As his day for coming drew nearer, I had an excitement that of a woman planning for a date with her childhood sweetheart. On the day he was to come, I erased the countdown I wrote on the blackboard at school and proceeded to get ready for the airport. Earlier that day, I saw the vision of a car turning over while working but had no idea what it meant.

At the airport, I waited and waited but there was no Curtis. When I called his home someone answered and I could hear a lot of commotion going on. He took the receiver away and shouted, “Should I tell her?” I thought he would come back and say he missed the plane instead he gave me the news that his car turned over and he died. I was in shock. I just sat there frozen in tears at the airport. I knew I couldn't get behind a wheel or I would be with him so someone eventually picked me up.

Tell Us Your Stories - How I Overcame the Chapters Of My Life

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by author/photographer Carolyn CJ Jones. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

My story begins in Pennsylvania where I was born and lived at various places in that state and Iowa, until the age of 4th grade, when we moved to Columbus, Ohio. It was there that I grew up and lived until my graduation from high school and my attendance at Kent State University.

My childhood was miserable and I frequently wished I could die. I reached adulthood a broken person, filled with shame and feelings of worthlessness, with a very low self-image and esteem. (Years later, in my mid-50’s, I discovered I was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder from my childhood experiences, and I received treatment.)

After graduating from Kent State University in 1974, I moved to Colorado where I lived for the next 25 years, practicing nursing and photography, my passion. There I discovered alcohol and drugs and found the welcomed relief from the emotional pain I experienced. I proceeded to spend the next 27 years numbed out.

In my mid-20’s I hooked up with my future husband and we became drinking and drugging buddies. We proceeded to continue throughout a 20 year marriage. But I was not happy and knew deep down this relationship was not one which I wanted, did not fulfill me. I could not define what it was I wanted, however, nor what I was lacking.

In 1996, my husband and I moved to the Sam Francisco Bay Area to live aboard a sailboat and to cruise one day. Before that occurred, I fell in love with another man at the docks and left the marriage to make myself available to that man. This was in June of 2000. In November, I discovered in a most humiliating manner that he had no romantic feelings for me. I was devastated and spent the next three months drinking and crying, unable to feed myself, and barely able to function.

Tell Us Your Stories - I Vowed To Keep My Daughter Safe

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by artist/jewelry designer Carolyn Osborne. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically written for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

My name is Carolyn Osborne and I think my story is a story of perseverance on many levels. I was married, for not even a year, to a very horrible man ( a monster actually). However, produced from that union, was an amazing baby girl. I vowed to keep my daughter safe from him. That process was financially devastating and depleted any savings I had for attorney fees. I was forced to borrow money from my mother (thank goodness for her), but I kept my promise to my little girl. She never saw him again. She is now a beautiful 21-year-old woman who I am proud to say I raised myself.

Through this experience I became a different person. I became strong. I am still not where I want or need to be financially but at least I have peace and pride. My whole life I wanted to be an artist, nothing else. And although I had to take the wandering path of life’s trials and tribulations, I am now an artist for a living! During this time my brother was my rock. He became ill with cancer and passed in 2008. He was the only father figure that my daughter had. Thankfully, he was able to see me become a working artist in his lifetime.

His passing has been another challenge in my life. In his honor and being true to my artistic talents I created Sacred Embers. I love all the art I create, but Sacred Embers is from my heart with my brother’s spirit infused.

The timing of Sacred Embers seemed to have a divine intervention as well - my brother passed at the time my daughter would be going away for college. Almost like having two losses at once. Sacred Embers has brought to me, incredible people and experiences. Sometimes I feel that my brother has had a hand in all of this. Making sure that I would not be too lonely with my daughter so far away, keeping me busy.

I feel I have become a woman who knows her direction, knows that I can do anything necessary in life and of all the treasures in this world I brought forth this daughter who will give back to this world. I believe that every instance in my life has made me who I am today. Every moment of life shapes and molds you. You have the power to make every happening a powerful and positive force in your life.

- Carolyn Osborne www.creativeforcesbycarolyn.com, www.sacredembers.blogspot.com
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Carolyn is a natural born artist, creating in many different mediums and a proud single mom. She lives in Fircrest, WA where she creates cremation jewelry, custom gift baskets, one-of-a-kind jewelry, charcoals, watercolors, and gifts.

Why does Carolyn feel she is a Spirited Woman? Because I have taken the challenges that life has given me and ultimately created greatness out of them. I know to follow my gut and when I “know” something I realize that is the path that I should be taking with confidence!

Tell Us Your Stories - Taking A Risk

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by writer/traveler Catherine Yesayan. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically written for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

What more could I have asked for? It feels like a dream. At first I hesitated about spending the money in this down economy, to join a group of writers and stay one week in Rome at a writing retreat. But then I thought, "When else am I going to have the chance to be with a group of writers in Rome again?"

My answer, “What the heck! I am going to hit my heart to the seas.” That’s how we say "to take a risk" in Farsi. Never for the life of me did I think I’d become a writer, let alone writing in the English language, all while having a writing retreat with a group of American writers in Rome – Chutzpah!

As Nancy Mills (the founder of Spirited Woman) put it and I totally agree with her, “When you put your mind into something or open your inner or outer voice, the Universe helps you to accomplish your wish.” This proved to be true when I looked into buying airplane tickets and used the miles that I had accumulated through my bank account on American Airlines to travel. It came as a big surprise when checking the AA’s Advantage website, I realized that if I traveled on certain dates, I could fly for free, just by using my miles. Whoa! The available dates were such that I needed to stay two more weeks by myself after everybody was gone. This time, I didn’t hesitate; I booked the flight and I just paid a minimal amount, about $50 for taxes.

However, I then became worried about what I was going to do alone in Rome for two weeks. But again the Universe was in tune with me. Through a friend I found a place to stay in the middle of Rome, close to The Vatican for only 35 Euros a night. In addition, a friend who lives in France was able to arrange to come and stay with me for four days. The rest of my days were spent walking and walking, from piazza to piazza, and writing my reflections and purely cherishing la dolce vita in La Bella Roma.

- Catherine Yesayan
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Catherine is busy writing her life reflections from her younger days, growing up in Tehran/Iran then being transplanted to Glendale,CA because of the Islamic Revolution, and continuing battling life's challenges as a new immigrant, a mom, a wife, a daughter and a community activist.

Why does Catherine feel she is a Spirited Woman? Because I feel that there is a higher spirit and that we all are connected with each other through that power which is unknown to us. I have all too often experienced a connection to that Universal energy.

Tell Us Your Stories - I Broke The Rules and I'm Still Standing to Talk About It!

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. This blog post is by healer Tamara Gabriel, she has over 28,000 fans on Facebook. To submit an original story (about 500 words) specifically written for Spirited Woman, send submission via e-mail to Nancy Mills.

My name is Tamara Gabriel, and I am the creator of Healing Hugs. I want to make this the Universal symbol of grief. When you see the sign it promotes empathy and compassion and signifies the wearer is having a hard time, and a healing hug is all that is needed.

I came up with the idea after I lost my daughter in a car accident in July 1997. I was driving the car, and laughing with my daughter one second and the next thing I knew I hydroplaned into another car. She was in a coma for a week until she died. I had previously left her father and was disowned by my parents. Having my dad as an Eastern Orthodox priest was heartbreaking, and I spiraled into drinking and became sober eight months after she died, and trying to  survive every major life crisis at the same time - death, divorce, health and no job. 

I pushed myself between, therapy, AA meetings, and my own spiritual program reading many books to keep my sanity. I did service work with women in jail, started my career as a massage therapist. I think I became fearless in many ways since the worst had already happened to me I knew I could do anything. My son was 11 at the time, and he was one of my biggest teachers on how to take care of myself. He was in and out of trouble, lived with his dad for eight years, and between his own anger, addiction and mental health issues, I had to rely on setting healthy boundaries and not allow him to abuse me. I had to treat myself with the same respect that I wanted from anyone else. I used many affirmations as well as practiced unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness.

Those were the healing elements in my progress. People called me strong, and I thought I was just being rebellious, since I’ve heard “the best revenge is the revenge of a good life." That and I thought I would piss everyone off and stay alive so they would have to deal with me!

Tell Us Your Stories - She Stuck With It

Tell Us Your Stories is a new weekly blog feature, written by the women in the Spirited Woman community. Author Diana Rubino launches this new section.

I am living proof that everything has its time and place, and cannot be rushed. I'm the author of 12 historical and paranormal romance novels, and it took 18 years to get my first book published. My 'debut' novel was actually the tenth one I wrote, Destiny Lies Waiting, and after eight years of research, writing and re-writing, I submitted to every major publisher, as well as many smaller ones. My first agent retired, and my second agent gave up on me. My work didn't seem to fit any of the 'molds' cut out by the major romance publishers.  

But I never gave up. Something kept me going, and made me sit down to write. It was the belief that deep down, I knew somewhere in this world was a publisher willing to take a chance on me, who appreciated my brand of humor, my unique voice. Now I realize that my first nine novels provided invaluable experience. Each was an improvement on the one before, but I needed to do more living, maturing, and much more writing before I'd be worthy of publication.

As I matured, the writing matured with me. The late actress Vivian Vance said "there's nothing like a lot of experience when the big break comes." It's so true.

So, to anyone striving to run a business or reach any goal, don't ever give up on your dream. Just having a dream makes you very special. If you get impatient because it's taking so long, ask yourself this: Why does 16-year-old Scotch take 16 years? Some things are worth waiting for.

-Diana Rubino, www.dianarubino.com
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Diana is the author of 17 historical and paranormal novels, owns an engineering business with her husband, and lives in New England, where she bicycles, golfs, and hikes the many beautiful trails.

Why does Diana feel she is a Spirited Woman? "Because I believe in myself. I know what I'm capable of achieving, and also know my limitations. I set definite goals and work towards them - most are realistic, and some are unrealistic. If I reach the unrealistic ones, I know that some luck is involved, but I don't believe anyone can achieve much without having goals. I'm open to all possibilities."