"Goddesses in Everyday Living"

Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD

First of all...my math has been WAY off!  It is happily a mere 78 days till the Spring 2012 Goddess Trip.  I can't even begin to figure out how I made such a mistake.  But am glad I did discover it!

On the day after the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 2011, eight women met at a town home in Woodbury, Minnesota to discuss Crones Don't Whine by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M. D.  In it she writes, A crone is a juicy older woman with zest, passions, and soul. If you aspire to be one, the secret is to be yourself, while your mind, heart and body still function well enough, and you appreciate being alive.

We talked about being happy growing older, being frustrated when others perceive that we are: finished, have nothing more to learn or to give; only worthy of receiving birthday cards with caricatures featuring women with deep wrinkles, sad faces, failing bodies, rocking chairs and over the counter drugs to keep ones body functioning; long past our prime in intelligence and productivity and insights.


And we talked about who we really are, what really matters to us, what gives us meaning, what we enjoy doing, how we celebrate ourselves and what more we want to do with our lives, that we are the very women Bolen describes, zestful, full of passion and soul.

Traveling Goddess Trips to the Yucatan entered the conversation at which point Connie and I enthusiastically described the Fall 2011 Goddess Trip planned and guided by Connie, Margo and Beatriz to Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico and the zesty, passionate, soul-full, energetic, intelligent, creative, enthusiastic and joyful women who savored the beauty of Casa Margarita, went snorkeling (two for the first time), experienced the Day of the Dead at Xcaret and a Temezcal, strolled the white sandy beach, practiced yoga on the beach and by the infinity pool, ate decadent local food prepared by our own chefs, slipped into siesta time and into the Caribbean for a swim -  and savored each others company!

Each woman took a color flyer of the Spring 2012 Goddess Trip and two plan to meet with Connie to further explore planning to go in March!

What seems to be so appealing to them is:  traveling with amazing women; having the details planned and finalized; the opportunity to explore the Yucatan and the opportunity to choose to stay at the Casa to savor the beautiful quiet warm serenity of the Caribbean.

It was a tremendous evening with lots of laughter and authenticity, creativity and imagination, encouragement and affirmation blended with gratitude for being with women who are walking similar paths - some retired and some still working; some married and some single; all agreeing that there is not a late bloomer among us!  The blossom that is each of us continues to open more fully every day of our grand lives.   We will gather again next month to continue our conversation and celebrate LIFE!

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