Wednesday's Woman: Katrell Christie, The Learning Tea

Sometimes helping others starts with something as simple as putting a jar on the counter at the neighborhood coffee shop.  How easy is that?  And yet, how many times have we had the opportunity to help, just a little, but felt it would be too difficult or require too much sacrifice?

I am always inspired by those who, despite their fears (imagined or real), are capable of defying the odds in a quest to make a difference in the lives of others.  I have read that something as simple as sharing a smile can have a significant impact on someone’s day.  And yet, how many times have I passed an opportunity to do so because I was too wrapped up in my own misery (imagined or real)?

As you read today’s Wednesday’s Woman, submitted by Anna Mahler (The Mommy Padawan), think about the little things you can do to help someone in need, the little things you can do to propel yourself out of your own muck.  In the case of today’s story, the simple act of placing a collection jar on the counter in her place of business, a tea shop, evolved into saving a few young women in India from living as victims of human trafficking.

Yes, sharing a smile is marathons away from helping women who are potential victims of human trafficking.  We have to start somewhere.

Thank you, Anna, for your continued support of and willingness to write for Wednesday’s Woman.  I’m smiling at you.  I hope you feel it.

Wednesday's Woman: Katrell Christie, The Learning Tea

Screencapture from The Learning Tea

I have been personally touched by some many of the amazing women I have found to write about for Wednesday's Woman as well as the ones I've read about from others but I have to admit, there is a special place in my heart for women helping women. Because of this, as soon as I read about Katrell Christie, I knew I wanted to share her story.

Katrell is the owner of a coffee and tea shop in Atlanta, Georgia called Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party.  In 2009, two years after opening her shop, while visiting Darjeeling, India to look at tea plantations, Katrell met three girls from a local orphanage.

She learned the girls would be forced to leave the orphanage within a year (when they turned 16) and without parents or other family to help, living on the streets or becoming victim to sex trafficking were real, possible futures for them.

“I made a bunch of promises,” Christie says. She told them she’d come back in six months and help. Then she had to figure out a way to make it happen. “I didn’t know what to do.”
-Source: The Christian Science Monitor 

She simply started with a jar on her counter, asking for donations as well as re-directing funds from her used book sales to help the young women she had met. Six months later, Katrell had enough money to return to India, secure an apartment for the girls, enroll them in college prep high school and supply school uniforms.

After returning home from her trip, Katrell started selling packets of tea from Darjeeling at her store with 100% of the proceeds going to support the girls as well as other female orphans in the same situation. She named her project, The Learning Tea  

During trips back to India every six months, Katrell continued to offer shelter and the opportunity to attend school to more young women who would soon be leaving the orphanage as well. Her work and reach has continued to grow and she now provides a free-standing building with dormitory-style bedrooms and a house mother for the girls full time.

She believes vocational training helps only one generation, she says. A college education allows a woman to pursue a career and, in turn, provide higher education her own children.

“It is the only way I see that you can stop the vicious cycle of intensive poverty in India,” Christie says.
-Source:  Christian Science Monitor 

For a young women, with no close family, to know someone cares about them is a gift in itself but to then provide a safe home and education is beautiful and generous as well.  And it started with a jar on her counter.

You can learn more about the amazing work Christie is doing at The Learning Tea as well as her tea store, Dr Bombay's.

Twitter - 

Facebook -

Blog - 

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: Professor Bop via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman Returns

I turned on comment moderation.  If this is inconvenient for you, I do apologize.  While I was on hiatus from blogging the spam took over my comment section.  Moderation will help me to regain control and give me time to clean it up.  Thanks for your patience.

My hope is that the clean-up becomes maintenance and the work in progress never ends. There’s beauty in the process, isn't there?

Speaking of process, I visited my old blogger friend The Mommy Padawan just a minute ago at her space on the Web.  I was grateful to see her and read her words.  She’s still here!  And she’s embraced her work in progress. She is embracing change and it is working out well for her.  She continues to be an inspiration to me.

Read about her journey here: Changes

Speaking of Mommy Padawan (Anna Mahler), she was significant in helping to keep my series Wednesday’s Woman going.  In fact, I felt as if it was more our series than solely mine.  As I resuscitate Sperk* I am also reviving Wednesday’s Woman.  Today.

What is Wednesday’s Woman?  Here’s a screen shot of how it currently stands:

It will stay the same.  I still want guest posts.  Your contributions, perspectives, and interpretations of what makes a Wednesday’s Woman have been invaluable.  The women that stand out to you, have impacted you…their stories can only come from you.  I need YOU!

The only change I am making is instead of it being weekly, it will now be bimonthly (occurring twice a month).  I think the first and third Wednesdays of each month will work well, don’t you? 

So, who wants to be my guest for next week?  Don’t be surprised if you get a solicitation for a guest post soon.  Or, you could make it easy and be the first to raise your hand.  Email me or leave a comment if you want to be featured here next week, or the next next week, or the week after that.  If you have contributed in the past, you again can contribute.   

To get the ball re-rolling, below is a re-post honoring Anna for all her contributions to Wednesday’s Woman.  Enjoy.

The Mommy Padawan screenshot 

Last week I mentioned that Wednesday’s Woman keeps me going.  This is true.  I am grateful for all of the bloggers who willingly take time out of their schedules to share with us stories of the women who inspire them. 

There is one woman, a regular contributor to Wednesday’s Woman, who is instrumental in the endurance of this series.  She is flexible and forgiving of my lack of scheduling skills.  She is always willing to read my rambling emails and regularly responds with compassion and empathy.  Her name is Anna Mahler.    

Anna's first submission was last March honoring Lisa Shannon.  For her intro I wrote: 

This week’s Wednesday's Woman was written and submitted by Anna Mahler, of The Mommy Padawan.  I am certain you get the “Mommy” part.  But are you familiar with the term “Padawan”?

A "padawan" is a term for “student” taken from the film Star Wars.  I think the title of Anna’s blog is fitting.  She is a careful observer of life and looks to her experiences for opportunities to grow as a woman, wife, and mother.  She sees her three year old son as her greatest teacher.    

Students learn most through their experiences teaching others.  Anna is no exception.  She shares the wisdom she has gained as a wife and mother in her ebook You are Loved - Caring for Our Children, Families, and Ourselves with Loving Kindness.  

Her philosophy of self-care allows her to create a harmonious home.  Self-care also allows her to recognize the importance of sharing her uplifting attitudes with the readers of her blog.  I encourage you to spend time at The Mommy Padawan where you will find a voice of authenticity, grace, warmth and courage. 

I’d like to honor Anna today by revisiting all of her contributions to Wednesday's Woman.  They are linked below.  Be sure to thank her.  And be sure to let her know she is quite deserving of being honored as this week’s Wednesday’s Woman.

Wednesday's Woman: 
Works of Mommy Padawan

Wednesday's Woman:  A Call to Action

Honoring Lisa Shannon, author and founder of Run for Congo Women, which is a volunteer effort to raise funds and awareness for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  She also spent months in eastern Congo exploring the link between mining and the world's worst sexual violence.


Wednesday's Woman: Impacting Families
Honoring Dr. Jane Aronson, founder of Worldwide Orphans Foundation.


Wednesday's Woman: A New Generation of Widows
Honoring Taryn Davis, founder of American Widow Project.


Wednesday's Woman: This is a Safe Place
Honoring Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off the Block

Wednesday's Woman: Zainab Salbi
Honoring Zainab Salbi, an Iraqi American writer, activist and social entrepreneur who is co-founder and president of Washington-based Women for Women International.


Wednesday's Woman: Christy Turlington Burns
Honoring Christy Turlington Burns, American model and founder of Every Mother Counts, a campaign to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world.


Wednesday's Woman: Being of Service
Honoring Seane Corn, founder of Off the Mat and Into The World


Wednesday's Woman: Mildred Loving
Honoring Mildred Loving, civil rights activist. She and her husband successfully defeated Virginia's ban on interracial marriage.

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc

Save It for Later: Mother's Day

In Save It for Later you’re getting a brief run-down of each week's stand-outs from things I've bookmarked to "read later" either from Diigo "Read Later" list, Pulse News, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.  


Read Reel Girl

Reel Girl Screen Capture

I took my 12-year-old daughter out to get her nails done on Wednesday for our monthly “date night.”  It was a pleasant experience, she’s a fun kid and I love her so, so much.  However, the salon had their giant flat-screen tuned to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer who was going on and on about the women in Cleveland who were found and brought to safety after a decade of being held captive, raped and tortured.  The coverage was annoying, to say the least, and failed to articulate the real problems we have with violence against women in the US.

In lieu of CNN, please check out these two articles from Reel Girl who does a great job articulating the complexities of violence against women in this country:

Ex-wife of Ariel Castro charged him with domestic violence, case dropped
Rep. Jackie Speier takes the lead to stop sexual assault in the USA

Stories about Moms

On a lighter note, I have been curating “Stories about Moms” for a little over a year on Pinterest.  It’s a group board, so if you’re on it, start adding and a BIG "thank you" to those who have.  If you would like to add some stories let me know.  If you are looking for a lot of wonderful stories about moms, you now know where to go!

Stories about Moms

Kid President

Lastly, I was reading some blogs in an attempt to catch up (I still haven't, but will, eventually, by the end of the year) and came across a lovely Mother's Day post from one of my favorite bloggers, Kimberly Rues of Rubber Chicken Madness.  In it was this video message from Kid President, of course.  Check it out!

Wednesday's Woman And finally (which always follows "lastly" ...in case you didn't know) don't forget to check out the inspiring Mother's Day Edition of Wednesday's Woman. Happy Mother's Day!

Wednesday's Woman: Mother's Day Edition

Welcome to the Mother’s Day edition of Wednesday’s Woman!

When I began the Wednesday’s Woman series I thought many I asked to guest post would write about their mothers or women who were like mothers to them.  That has not always been the case.  The scope of women highlighted here has been greater than I anticipated and for that, I am grateful.  Still, every once in a while, I’ll receive a guest post from a writer who wishes to honor her mother and I’m always deeply moved.  The mother-child relationship is complex and is not necessarily bound by biology.  Adrienne Rich wrote in Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution:

“Probably there is nothing in human nature more resonant with charges than the flow of energy between two biologically alike bodies, one of which has lain in amniotic bliss inside the other, one of which has labored to give birth to the other. The materials are here for the deepest mutuality and the most painful estrangement.”

And Oprah has been quoted as saying:

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."

Below are links to past Wednesday’s Woman posts by writers honoring their moms or those who mothered them.  I encourage you to read them all.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Wednesday's Woman: Mother's Day Edition

Mothers and Daughters -by Missy Bedell of Literal Mom

Sometimes the time for a story comes and you're afraid to write it. I agreed to write for Sperk* for Wednesday's Woman a long time ago.  And when she reminded me that it was today, I had a bit of a panic attack. I can write about moments.  I can give you kid vignettes.  I can hide behind humor and tongue in cheek posts, like I did last week. What I normally don't give you is information about my past. (read more)

The Door Is Always Open -by M

Susan is the mother of three extraordinary people and although I am not her son, I like to count myself as her fourth. She is married to an awesome man and father Rolf, is active member at her church and holds a master’s degree in counseling.  Susan has devoted her life to helping others. She is the founder and director of Brandon’s House Counseling Center in New Albany, Indiana. While working (read more)

How I Met My Mother -by Kerstin Auer

When thinking about women I connected with or who made an impact in my life my mother is certainly the last person I want to think about. Throughout most of my childhood and into my adulthood I considered my mother the enemy. When she got engaged to my father she was the age my daughter is now – 15 years old. She married my father when she was 17 and two years later I was born. (read more)

Fostered By Example -by Tamar at Ladies Holiday

My Aunt Linda, wasn't really my aunt at all. She was my mother's best friend since the age of 7, and as many best-friends-of-moms, she received the honorary title of Aunt as a way of recognizing that close connection not only to my mother but to my mother's children as well. When I was about 5-yrs-old, Aunt Linda had her first daughter (adding to her small family of two nearly grown sons), Jenny, became instantly my "cousin" or almost like my own little sister. (read more)

Three Generations -by Anna Mahler

Each week, I look forward to reading all the awesome Wednesday's Woman posts here at Sperk*. I've learned about well known women doing great things and causing needed change, everyday heroes and even women who are no longer with us but through their own courage and drive, was changing lives and the world we live in before I was even born.

But some of my favorites have been the personal friends and family some have written about and I have to admit, I often feel twinges of jealousy while reading.  I wish I had a great female role model, someone personal involved in my life today. (read more)

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin
cc photo credit: Indy Charlie via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman: Giving Children Hope

Happy May!

Wednesday's Woman is back with an inspiring story by regular contributor, Anna Mahler, who writes at The Mommy Padawan.  What I like most about the woman Anna has chosen to honor is that she has made it easy for us to be of service to children in need.  We do not need to leave the comfort of our homes to make a difference in the lives of children who have been the victims of abuse and neglect.  So, no excuses!

Wednesday's Woman: Giving Children Hope

by Anna Mahler

Screenshot from One Simple Wish

Opening your home and heart to foster a child can be such a kind and beautiful act. Foster parents who provide safe, loving and stable environments have real impact and can change a child’s life for the better. Often, these children are or have been lacking many of the bare necessities we sometimes take for granted so when other needs arise, like needing a nice outfit or being able to go on a special outing, it can feel hopeless and not even worth asking for.

After recognizing these needs and wanting to do something about them, today children in the foster care system have a new way to ask for things they need and all of us, even those who are not foster parents, have a way to help.

Danielle Gletow and her husband Joe have been foster parents since 2006. After hearing friends and family express that they would like to help children separated from their families as well, Danielle wanted to find a way for people to connect with the needs of these children.

"(They) would say, 'I really wish there was something I could do, but I don't want to be a foster parent,' " Gletow said. "I just felt like, this is my opportunity to create something that makes it possible for all of these children who need something to get connected to all of these wonderful people that are out there, that want to help them."

This was the inspiration for, One Simple Wish. Wishes are submitted and approved for kids by social service agencies and caseworkers all over the country. Some of the wishes I read range from a child aging out of the system in need of bedding for his college dorm room, a new bike for a 4 year old girl who loves to play outside, a photography class for a budding artist, a gift card for clothing for a 12 y/o in the care of her grandma and another was simply asking for new shoes for school.

So many of the wishes are basic things I would not even think twice about providing for my own child but for children who may not have an adult in their life they can even go to and ask, it's the little things that mean so much. For many, they have felt let down so many times, they don't feel their voices will be heard so it's not even worth wishing or asking anymore.

"Anybody -- anywhere, anytime -- can go on our website,and they can look at hundreds of wishes that are posted on behalf of children in foster care and children in vulnerable family environments," Gletow said. "These small things make an enormous difference in the life of a child who has spent their entire life wondering if anybody cares about them."

Along with One Simple Wish, Danielle Gletow's nonprofit office is home to two other projects that also benefit foster youths and families in New Jersey.

The Ohana Project helps foster kids, foster-care workers and families by providing 24/7 access to items that can ease a child's transition into a new placement or home like new baby supplies, bed linens, blankets, pajamas and other items.

The Wish to Work program assists older children get the skills needed in professional careers.  They  provide job-training seminars, networking events, résumé feedback and other assistance.

It can take so little to make a difference in a child's life, to give them hope, let them know they are being heard and that someone cares about them. With One Simple Wish, Danielle does all this and more along with allowing all of us the opportunity to make a positive impact as well.

Danielle Gletow is nominated as a 2013 CNN Hero. You can learn more about her and wonderful ways to help a child at OneSimpleWish.org.

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: ecstaticist via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman: Girls Can Do Math

Today’s guest blogger has a passion for running and is a refreshing voice for gender equality.  Beth at run +travel writes:

We're all runners (boys and girls alike). We speak a common language. We share inside jokes. We have the same urge to run. I look forward to sharing the road (and trails) with you.

Join Beth on her journey at run + travel, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Thank you, Beth!

Girls Can Do Math

by Beth

Let's rewind about 20 years. I'm sitting in a high school algebra classroom, and a teacher is walking up and down the rows of desks, handing back midterm exams. I am anxious. I know I didn't do well. Still, the big red 2 and 7 on the top of my paper is a rude awakening. Nearly three quarters of my answers are WRONG. (Random guessing would have been more efficient and more successful.)

A knot forms in the pit of my stomach, and I wonder whether or not it matters that I don't understand algebra. Maybe I'll become a famous painter, and algebra won't make a lick of difference in my life. Still, artistic career plan or not, this failure feels abysmal.

At this point, many (most) teachers would throw in the towel, write me off as a loss, and drop me down to a lower track math class the following year. (Some would not wait the year. I’d be demoted mid-stream.) After all, 27% is a completely, incomprehensibly low grade that implied I was not doing the homework, didn't it?

My math teacher, however, did not write me off as a loss.

In fact, Mrs. V., as she was known to her students, became my exceptionally talented and dedicated mentor. After the train wreck of a midterm exam, Mrs. V pulled me aside to let me know that one bad midterm would not ruin my math career (famous foreshadowing words), and that, with hard work and concentration, I would have opportunities to improve my grade.

Mrs. V. understood that students have different learning styles, so she taught every lesson three ways: the theoretical approach, the visual one (bringing charts, graphs, and what we now know of as "visualization tools," into her 1990s classroom), and what we jokingly referred to as the "brute force" approach. (Read: If you can't solve the equation using theory or a graph, plug in numbers until you find a solution that fits!)

Mrs. V. also understood that many heads are often better than one. She encouraged students to work in teams and help one another understand the concepts. She was wise enough to explain concepts clearly, but humble enough to know that sometimes a second or third teacher – even if it was another student – might illuminate subjects in a way that one alone could not.

With her ceaseless efforts, algebra (finally) started to make sense. Once the visual cues clicked for me, the theoretical underpinnings of the math problems fell into place. I passed algebra and progressed to Algebra II, and then on to advanced Calculus.

At a time when the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus was at the top of bestseller lists, suggesting with "science" (*cough*) that women were "good" communicators, and men were "good" in the sciences, Mrs. V. saw promise in her students - boys and girls alike. At a time when Mattel pandered to every horrible gender stereotype by releasing a talking Barbie doll who said "Math is tough!" my teacher proved that girls could do calculus, do it well, and make it look easy.

I am now a demographer and statistician, thanks in no small part to the effort of a woman who didn't believe "math is tough," and who wouldn't let her students accept that defeatism either.

This is not Mrs V., however Beth supplied this photo of Mary Blade to accompany her story.  It is fitting and very timely for Women's History Month.  

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: Aaron Escobar via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman: Finding Ordinary Courage

It's funny how if I am aware, the right things enter my life at just the right time.  

That's what happened to me when I discovered this week's Wednesday's Woman, just a few weeks ago.  Imagine my surprise when this week's guest blogger, Kimberly Rues, sent her submission for Wednesday's Woman and IT WAS THAT SAME PERSON.

Who is it?

Well you'll have to read on to find out.  And it's definitely worth your time.

I'd like to give tons of gratitude to Kimberly, this week's guest blogger for submitting this post.  Please, please, please check out her blog Rubber Chicken Madness.  She's an inspiring single mom who can write.  Meaning it's interesting, compelling, good stuff.

Follow Rubber Chicken Madness on Facebook

Wednesday's Woman: 

Finding Ordinary Courage

by Kimberly at Rubber Chicken Madness

I don’t recall the date or time when I first stumbled upon Brené Brown’s work. But I do remember that immediately following my viewing of one of her Ted talks, the substance of my new view of reality was so weighted with wisdom that I recall feeling grounded and rooted and like I could reach for the sky all at the same time.

Take twenty minutes to sit back and let her touch your life.

I had a notebook nearby and furiously scribbled down nuggets of brilliance that seemed to come one after the other as she spoke. Time and again I have re-read those notes. I have re-watched the Ted Talk. I have read her book - The Gifts of Imperfection and am currently listening to the audio version of Daring Greatly as I toodle about town running my errands. And I follow her blog – Ordinary Courage.

Her words and her ideas have a way of wiggling into the cracks and staying there ready to whisper wisdom to you when you begin to lose your way.

I blog all the time about how I don’t expect perfection from my kids – and I don’t. But when I heard Brené’s call to action to courageously accept myself as I am – imperfect -- in order to live a wholehearted life, it was a serious wake up call for me.

I look around at our world, both in my suburban microcosm and in the broader society, and see so much stress, sadness and even depression that stems from deep seeded perfectionism.

Take this statement for example and fill in your own blank:

I am not ________________ enough.

My blank could be filled with: slim, wealthy, patient, organized, thoughtful, blah blah blah….

None of us is perfect, yet many of us strive for it anyway. And in the face of inevitable failure because perfection is elusive, we see ourselves as lacking. Over and over again.

And when I think about Brené as my Wednesday’s Woman, I reflect mostly on this nugget of wisdom from her Ted Talk:

And we perfect, most dangerously, our children. Let me tell you what we think about children. They’re hardwired for struggle when they get here. And when you hold those perfect little babies in your hand, our job is not to say, “Look at her, she’s perfect. My job is just to keep her perfect – make sure she makes the tennis team by fifth grade and Yale by seventh grade.” That’s not our job. Our job is to look and say, “You know what? You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle but you are worthy of love and belonging.” That’s our job. Show me a generation of kids raised like that, and we’ll end the problems. 

Brené Brown’s work leads us to love with our whole hearts, to practice gratitude even when life feels out of control, and to believe that we are enough. And isn’t that what we want for our children? And for ourselves?

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

Wednesday's Woman: Three Generations

 "Family is complicated, relationships are not easy."

Today’s guest blogger, Anna Mahler, is a regular contributor to Wednesday’s Woman.  You can find her at The Mommy Padawan sharing her observations and life lessons as a wife and mother.  Today, just a few days after her birthday, she explores the complexity of the family relationships that shape our lives from one birthday to the next, as daughters and granddaughters.

Happy Belated Birthday, Anna.

Wednesday's Woman: Three Generations

by Anna Mahler

Each week, I look forward to reading all the awesome Wednesday's Woman posts here at Sperk*. I've learned about well known women doing great things and causing needed change, everyday heroes and even women who are no longer with us but through their own courage and drive, was changing lives and the world we live in before I was even born.

But some of my favorites have been the personal friends and family some have written about and I have to admit, I often feel twinges of jealousy while reading.  I wish I had a great female role model, someone personal involved in my life today.

These were some of my feelings as I sat, thinking about who to spotlight for my own Wednesday's Woman this month.

As my thoughts drifted to the women I have known, the women in my family, I started to see that maybe there is more positive there, more influence and insight than I am sometimes ready to see.

There was Marion.

I remember being very little and thinking my mother was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  Long, dark hair, pale skin against red lipstick, a tall and slender body always impeccably and stylishly dressed. She was everything I felt I was not with my brown skin, frizzy hair and short legs.

She was always busy, super focused on the business she and my father owned and ran. It seemed like there was nothing she couldn't do, nothing she hadn't experienced or didn't know how to handle until lung disease raged a battle none of us were ready for. One that even her super powers were unable to defeat.

From her, I learned about strength, drive, and independence. I know the work ethic I was constantly praised for back in my corporate america days came from her, something that kept me afloat over many, difficult years.

There was Elizabeth.

My grandmother lived next door and was my babysitter and after school care for many years growing up. I loved spending time at her house and still have wonderful memories of it today.  She smelled like a light perfume and fresh talcum powder and always wore lipstick as well. No matter the day or time, PBS was on the t.v., the house was warm and smelled like good food cooking and she herself was full of softness, patience and care. She taught me how to tie my shoes and tell time on her clock on the mantel. She'd let me light her incense cone in the little Buddha holder and ring the tiny bells she kept on the shelf next to it.  We watched people dance around bubbles on Laurence Welk and Bob Ross paint happy little trees.

From her, I learned warmth and softness and love.

Both of these women are no longer a part of this physical world but parts of them both are forever with me, mingled in my blood, deep in the soul, invisible tattoos burning deep within.

So often I only think of what I wish had happened, things I would have changed or the bad and difficult times.

Women are magical and complex creatures.  Family is complicated, relationships are not easy. Why would it be different for the three generations of women that we were?

But when I see the the lessons both offered and the way their lives have molded mine at times; independence, strength and drive - softness, love and warmth, what an amazing combination, these gifts they left behind.

Because they have inspired, empowered me and deeply affected who I am today, I'm honoring my mother and grandmother for today's Wednesday's Woman.

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.

photo credit: colorblindPICASO via photopin cc

Wednesday's Woman: Be Brilliant

Screenshot Finding Felicity

Today’s guest blogger is Marcia from Finding Felicity who first contributed to Wednesday’s Woman with a motivating story in January: You Can Be Transformed.  I can’t believe it’s already March!  Here again is Marcia creating awareness of yet another woman who helps in inspiring others to be their best and live a full, accomplished life.

I am grateful Marcia took the time to share the following story.  I am learning to not wait until she next contributes to Wednesday’s Woman to be inspired.  She is a constant, supportive source found at Finding Felicity.

Thank you Marcia! 

Wednesday's Woman: Be Brilliant

by Marcia

Screenshot Tara Sophia Mohr, Wise Living

Fancying myself as an aspiring brilliant woman it seemed worthwhile to read a piece called "10 Rules for Brilliant Women".  I read the rules and was hooked.  A couple of my favorites were: Don’t wait for your Oscar, where the writer asks that you not sit silent and wait for people to invite you to use your voice and Filter advice, where the author guides you to test and evaluate feedback based on the fact that you won’t be everyone's cup of tea, some people will be threatened, and some may not fully understand your mission.  

Our Wednesday's Woman, and the author of "10 Rules for Brilliant Women", is Tara Mohr.  Tara empowers women.  She helps women figure out what their true calling is.  She then encourages them to not question their perceived limitations and abilities in regards to their calling.  

She knows that by freeing women from their mental shackles she is directly increasing the goodness in the world.  That is her calling and she is fulfilling it with a palpable passion. 

There isn't a post I have read that didn't leave me feeling encouraged, confident, and powerful.  One of Tara's recent writings was on experts and how that title can do more harm than good.  Me, a high school graduate, reading a post by Tara, an undergraduate at Yale and an MBA degree holder from Stanford Business School stating "trust that it is enough – not because it enables you to know everything, but because it enables you to make the contribution you are uniquely qualified to make." gave me permission to take myself seriously.  

One thing that sets Tara aside from other leading women is that she has the ability to empower women strictly by talking about women.  While some feminists attempt to build women up by tearing men down, Tara has a way of getting the point across without even mentioning men.  That speaks so much to her character as a kind and gentle person with a strong and powerful message.

Tara Mohr shows us firsthand that when women can pinpoint their life's path, or given talent, and learn to give it unabashedly to others, it makes the world a better place.

If what you have read inspires you and you want more information, you can register to receive Tara's workbook with the Ten Rules for Brilliant Women at the link above.  You can also view information on Tara's Playing Big global program that begins in April.  Please view the link to see many testimonials of women's lives who Tara has directly improved with this program. 

WEDNESDAY'S WOMAN IS A WEEKLY FEATURE DEDICATED TO SPOTLIGHTING WOMEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. . . AND THE WORLD.