Management guru, Tom Peters (www.TomPeters.com) happens to be my sister’s current virtual mentor. Below is a paragraph that became her mantra:

“I’m older than most of you, and I sometimes worry about what my tombstone will read. But I recently figured it out. I do not want it to go like this: “Thomas Peters, He Would Have Done Great Things, But His Boss Wouldn’t Let Him.”

I've been thinking a lot about women and the way in which we take (or don’t take) initiative. How do we choose to spend our time and energy? Return to school? Change careers? Travel? End a marriage? Find someone else to love? Teach a child to read? Kayak on the Hudson? Go to a gym?

Too often too many of us automatically (like a knee-jerk reaction) let loose with our “buts” without thinking — not our butts, nor our buns, but rather this kind of but:
“I’d like to my invite some friends for dinner, but…”
“I’d like to paint my apartment, but ….”
“I’d like to go to that book signing….”

You get the idea.

With our “buts”, we squash our own original and adventurous spirit. Why? Don’t ask. Who cares? Let’s just consider reducing our buts and think about opening ourselves to being more of ourselves.  read more »

I’ve worked with many women, (and men), at various stages of their lives. The women had two things in common: Being a woman, of course, and having an ability to create connection.

Research by insightful writer and linguist (no, not what you’re thinking) Deborah Tannen, professor at Georgetown University, (http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/tannend/) found that women talk with one another to create rapport, (sounds like “The Colbert Report”).

Even though women quickly identify differences by age and race, they connect by identifying common ground, or by finding similarities. (Think of Ellen as she hosted the Academy Awards, searching for common ground with Gwynneth Paltrow:
“You have a daughter named Apple, I eat apples.”)

Recently I participated in a women’s workshop through WomenVision, https://www.womanvis.com, where I knew one of the women only slightly. I had no rational clue to help me find a way to build bridges with the 30- something women-strangers. During the workshop, one activity was to write quietly about “passion”. Slowly, I realized, without proof or examples, that in my childhood home, passion signified danger or lack of safety.  read more »

Everyone wants a little dish…. (no, not the kind from your bridal registry….) I mean behind the scenes, as in “back story.”

You’ve got to know – and I’m here to tell you-- the FWW team is a WOW group of peeps. Each one has vision, energy, enthusiasm, concern, caring and excitement. They’ve prepared and launched this site intended to reach women with various needs related to divorce.

For technogeeks or stat-peeps, in the four weeks since launching, readers are studding the US map, (no, not that kind….) and have already expanded internationally.

The best part? Whatever they do, whatever actions they take, plans they initiate, research they request, they have YOU in mind. In other words, they care are about YOU! Who?
Readers who’ve found FWW.
Readers yet to find FWW.
Women with divorce in mind, memory, imagination, and fact.
Men similarly interested.

The FWW team has limitless positive energy for meeting the needs of women who’ve been touched, flattened, or propelled by divorce. Readers will benefit from your experience, insight, specific suggestions, and success. Already, you’re not alone. I’m learning as well. For example, when I first considered writing a blog about divorce, I fell back on stereotypes--- loss, anger, and helplessness.  read more »

Women — Are you thinking about divorce, currently divorced, eager to be divorced no longer, and/or ready for another relationship? Are you with or without children? Are you someone who wants to learn by “talking” more about divorce? Are you worrying that your friends are sick of listening to you? Thirty-five and over? Thirty-five and younger? Do you have TIVO, tattoos, PTAs? Memories of Woodstock? Do you love singing with Billie, Aretha, Beyonce? Are you ready to move to your next (dance) step? Are you eager to see how other divorced women manage, survive, and thrive?

Men — do you want to learn more about how divorce affects women? And perhaps even you?

This blog’s for you.

A blog’s strength is creating interactive community and virtual friendships as we drink our real coffee, our real feet up, our real feelings present, blogging away about ideas, perspectives, resources, aha!s, and what we still need/want to learn.

The richness pops when, after reading, you keyboard your ideas, stories, concerns, thoughts, suggestions, and then hit “send.” FWW’s the link to your new community. Together, we’ll applaud your courage to make good decisions for you and your families, feel more joy, and connect with others who are eager to connect with you.  read more »