Shared Voices Arizona

I love learning from fabulous friends/coaches! One thing I have learned is that when something is not working the way I planned, adjust! Take a look at what I have been doing, consider alternates and adjust to move on a different path.

My original thought behind this blog was to share the challenges my mother experienced living with the affects of polio and celebrate how she lived a full life. That will continue to be a part of this blog.

Shared Voices is about celebrating working through challenges to results that make one shout with joy! Thanks to one of my coaches, I realized that I cannot expect others to share and celebrate their successes when I have not shared and celebrated mine!

So, hang on cuz we’re gonna start celebrating! I’ll be sharing some of the challenges I have faced, how I worked through them and, better late than never, celebrating them!! I’ll also share present challenges so that I can celebrate and I ask you please celebrate with me!

Looking forward to doing lots of dancing!! Dance with me!

not what I do!” Not really a quote from Mom…it is a great lead in to her funny side!

Growing up, we always had both dogs and cats. Our last family dog was a Sheltie-Beagle named Gilbert. Gil, as most dogs, loved to hang around the dining room during meals in the hope someone would drop some tidbit! Mom had always been a “don’t feed the dog from the table” kind of person. This is where the “do what I say…” thing comes in!

One of Mom’s favorite breakfast choices was a toasted english muffin with peanut butter (hmm, wonder how that became one of my favorites). If no english muffins in the house, she would “settle” for toast.

Anyway, it was not unusual that, when Mom was fixing her toast, Gil would be sitting next to her, looking at her with that entreating puppy look that dogs have mastered so well! So well that he would likely “talk” Mom out of half her piece of toast! Of course, Mom wasn’t feeding the dog from the table…she had just dropped part of her toast! And if she had added her peanut butter, it was just too funny to watch him eating it! Gil loved peanut butter, too, and I am sure you know how funny it is watching a dog trying to get the peanut butter unstuck in his mouth!

Mom, remembering you and Gil enjoying your toast and peanut butter just really makes me laugh! Thank you!

‎”Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” Mahatma Gandhi

A friend of mine just posted this on facebook! I was about to publish a post I had written about Mom when I happened to check facebook and it just really hit a chord with me.

My mother did not have full physical capacity of her body…as she said, “my legs just don’t work.” Yet her will was indomitable. There was little to stop Mom once she made up her mind to do something. Talk about someone who found a way over, under, around or through a challenge!

There was no such thing as handicapped access…the American Disabilities Act was years in the future! That did not stop Mom. When she was asked to teach at our grade school, it wasn’t just a simple “yes” or “no” answer. If she said “yes,” how would she get to the classroom? There were steps from the main walkway down to each classroom wing. Hmmm…”Lyle (my dad), could you build a ramp?”

When she wanted to get into a building with steps, she often found a back entrance that either had no steps or maybe fewer.

Growing up in the Los Angeles CA area, we went to the beach a lot! And my mom loved being at the beach. Let me tell you, sand and wheelchairs don’t go well together! That didn’t stop us from going because, as a family, we got Mom to the beach! Dad picked up the back and my sister and I would each grab onto the front on either side. Between the three of us, we got Mom down to the water’s edge.

I remember going to a scuba-diving club beach party one time. Turned out the beach we were going to was down a cliff! Well, Mom was game and, between my Dad, brother-in-law and a couple other guys, she got down that steep path and had a blast! I’m sure it was a challenge to put her trust in others to get where she wanted to go. She just didn’t let it stop her!

So, no matter what the challenge, if you really want to do it, trust you will find a way! There is always a way over, under, around or through; place your trust in those around you and GO FOR IT!

Yesterday was the manifestation of a dream/vision! The first Story Hour series became a reality!

It was a wonderful gathering of women who generously shared their stories. I hope that, at one point, each will share some of their story here.

Our guest speaker was Dr. Martha Reed, PhD (www.Insights-For-Life.com). She shared some of her story and how she assists people to find balance in their lives. Martha shared information about a program she recently started called “The Dragonfly Effect.” I encourage you to visit Martha’s website and learn more about her and “The Dragonfly Effect.”

I also learned quite a bit about how I will be able to make the next Story Hour a better gathering. Thank you, Father, for opening my mind to see the possibilities! Our story hour next week will benefit from Your guidance!

I also have to thank Sharon Dougan Gonzales and Chris Knutson, www.wewfoundation.com, for their guidance and encouragement! They encouraged and guided me as I sought and found my purpose. I look forward to them sharing their stories at future Story Hours.

I am grateful for all who have encouraged and supported me on this fabulous new path and all those who join me as I travel this road! Namaste.

I was thinking about my mom the other day and how she dealt with things. She was pretty “matter of fact” in her approach to how she met all challenges, big or small.

I remember being in the grocery store when I was still pretty young and noticed another child staring at Mom. For some reason, this really upset me; I knew the other kid was staring at Mom’s wheelchair and I just didn’t like the way they were looking at her. I must have said something to Mom and her reaction was pretty down to earth. While I don’t remember her actual words, I remember that she just didn’t let it phase her. It didn’t matter what that child thought about her, Mom knew herself and her value!

Now that I’ve got a little experience on this earth, I realize how valuable that “small” lesson was! It really doesn’t matter what other people think about me (or you)! It matters that I value myself! What another person thinks about me is their thought/opinion and it doesn’t really affect me, unless I choose to let it affect me. I’m learning that other people’s opinions are their opinion and I choose to either accept it or not. I am learning to make that choice based on my value of myself.

It isn’t easy when you hear someone voice an opinion that you don’t agree with; it can be anything from hurtful to downright cruel. By stepping back and asking “do I agree with this” is the first step to choosing to accept or reject that which doesn’t work for you. “Thank you for sharing your opinion! I choose to see things differently” is a way of acknowledging their thoughts and reminding yourself of how you value yourself.

Thanks, Mom! This was an early lesson in knowing one’s own value and choosing to accept only the best.

Please join me for the next Story Hour Series beginning Saturday, April 21, 2012!

This is a series of 10 story hours with a group of 10 women. We will be meeting in Chandler, gathering from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, enjoying a wonderful garden setting while sharing stories of triumph over challenge!

I know you have a wonderful story to share of how you went over, under, around or through a challenge. Did you celebrate your success? If you did, FABulous! If you did not, now is the time to celebrate! Many women I have spoken with have shared that no one (including themselves) really celebrated their accomplishment. Well, it is time to acknowledge and celebrate your achievement! And this is the place to do it!

Each member of the Story Hour will have an opportunity to share her story…

What may seem like a little thing for you may be a huge challenge for another woman at the Story Hour. Your “how” may just be the thing she is looking for! By sharing your story, you not only celebrate yourself, you may be assisting another.

At each Story Hour, a guest speaker will also introduce us to a variety of resources available to assist us on our paths. You may find just the right products or services, presented by our guest!

As you go off to meet the rest of your day, enjoy a short period of relaxation. Or you may find yourself talked into joining new friends for lunch or …

Please contact me at cate@sharedvoicesaz.com for complete details. And be sure to share this information with your friends…they may wish to join, too!

Story Hour registration for the 10 week series is $100.00.

Looking forward to seeing you starting April 21, 2012!

to add your story!  This blog is about identifying the challenge you have faced, or are facing, acknowledging the challenge and moving forward.  When you achieve the successful outcome, celebrate it!

As women, wives, mothers, we celebrate all the accomplishments of those around us and tend to diminish our own accomplishments.  Stop it!  Instead, celebrate what you have done and own it!

Here is a place where you are encouraged to celebrate, and thus “seat,” your success.  Those reading your story are encouraged to celebrate with you by leaving a comment.  I certainly will celebrate and do a virtual happy dance for you.  I may even do a real happy dance!

I look forward to you sharing your story as I continue to share Candy’s and those of other women who have triumphed over challenges.  Let’s celebrate together, my sisters!

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Sharon Dougan Gonzales, WEW Fondation, to begin a new project.  Sharon had asked me to edit a manuscript she plans on publishing later this year.

While talking with Sharon, she asked if I had considered writing a book myself!  Now where in the world did that come from?!  Sharon commented that I had such wonderful stories about my family and, in particular, my mother.  That really got me started thinking because my mother and I had a really challenging relationship for most of our shared journey.  I was blessed that, in my maturity, I started realizing what an incredible woman she was!

I introduce you to Agnes Bertile Schneyer Harris, woman, wife, mother, teacher, incredible person!  Known as Candy to friends and family, she is the spark that lighted this fire!  Talk about someone who triumphed over challenges!  Shortly after marrying my father, John Lyle Harris, Jr, she moved across the country, from New York to LA, to begin a new life.  Within a few years, my sister, Chris, and I entered the world!  In 1949, my mom got polio.  To make this part of the story short, Mom’s legs were affected and she was not able to walk without assistance.  She chose to use a wheelchair as two knee-high children and crutches/braces just were not compatible!

For many people, this would have been a “game ending.”  Mom was not “many people!”  When asked, she often said, “There is nothing wrong with me except that my legs don’t work!”

Talk about inspiration!  After talking with Sharon more, I decided I would write about Mom, sharing memories of how she didn’t let life’s curves throw her off target.  Out of that idea came Shared Voices.

I’ll be sharing stories of Mom and other women who, when given a challenge, decided to move over, under, around or through to their goal.

I invite you to share your story or the story of women you know whose story is just waiting to be told!  I’m looking forward to this fabulous new path, challenges, triumphs and all!  Thanks for joining me!