Margery's Note....
“Action is the antidote to despair.” — Joan Baez
What a great reminder!!! As I was thinking about our newsletter this week, I thought of how we need to find clarity when we feel we are surrounded by a fog of fear….
The political chaos of the last few days seems crazy and it engenders fear and uncertainty….
So what kind of action can we take?
Most of us who are not in favor of the new pollicies being implemented are taking a deep breath and trying to figure out how to keep going….
We’re pretty much stuck with what is going on in the big picture, so I’m back to managing my life as proactively as possible by taking care of myself and others…..
- I’ve been reading comments in the news about people being complacent with the current chaos….
- I don’t think we activists are flatlining! I think we are looking for meaningful ways to address societal ills by doing what we can as individuals….
- That can take many forms….
- Any way we choose to help others, express our humanity and keep our values intack works for me!
- People from all over the country are donating funds and support to the LA Fires efforts to rebuild and keep going….
- Entertainers are still doing events to raise money for the devastation of hurricane Helene in North Carolina….
- Our dearest Toni Portmann broke her hip a couple of weeks ago, had surgery and is now healing, so I’ve found ways to help her. Which helps me feel needed along with proactive!!!
- I also followed my own advice and signed up for watercolor class at the Richardson Senior Center, and I start next Tuesday!!! So excited!!!
- I’ve gotten back into my more regular exercise pattern, somehow the extreme cold during January threw me off, but I’m back on it now….
- I have 2 novels going, and am committed to continue reading more….
- The older I get, the more comfortable I am setting clear boundaries, living up to the standards I believe are in line with my values, and being as kind as I can be about being honest….
- One of my favorite things to say is that being honest is the greatest love and respect you can give anyone. It says you believe they are strong and capable and able to handle the truth.
All of the above are ways I’m sharing my efforts to be a functioning and contributing member of my community.
Does this spark any ideas for you???
Member Notes
We had so much fun at our last Track Meeting!!!
When we started our January Growth & Transitions meeting we all agreed to talk about something fun rather than get caught up in doom and gloom….
Maddy Kulkarni (not pictured because she took the photos) mentioned her mom had recently had a Tarot card reading. I said, we could do that because I have the cards and book to explain them. We decided to do “Past, Present and Future” spreads.
Andrea started, and immediately we realized how accurate her draws were, and so connected to her.
Glenna chose hers next, and it was amazing how pertinent they were to what was on her mind!!!
Rachael and Maddy were next (no pics, sorry!) and their readings were equally insightful and helpful.
So! We discovered something great about ourselves, and decided whenever we want, we will draw cards again!
We ended the evening each pulling a Rune from my little bag of them, and reading what the symbol meant.
You just never know what could happen at a Track Meeting! Come join us!
GGN Member Joan Affenit shares her story & Art Show!
Hello fellow Great Girls!
As I gaze into the future from the last days of 2024, it is with a mixture of wariness about the world at large and country at large, yet a heart full of gratitude for so much to be grateful for.
I turned 70 years old in January, and just hearing myself say those words is incredibly bizarre to me. I don’t feel remotely anywhere near 70 inside, and it seems the last 20 to 30 years somehow few by in perhaps a 10 year period.
Looking back on my life, I started working for my brother-in-law in his flower shop when I was 12 years old, and have worked in one way or other since then. Even during the 12 years in which I left the workforce to support the needs of my children, I dove headlong into non-salaried endeavors, joining, volunteering for and creating and running organizations supporting gifted and twice exceptional (“2e”) children.
During the 12 years of “not working,” I tried (and sadly failed) to open a school for 2e children in Illinois, created and ran a local support group for parents of 2e children and an on-line listserv, published articles in publications focusing on gifted and 2e issues, volunteered wherever possible in my children’s school and ultimately pulled my autistic son out of public school, homeschooling him and volunteering as a teacher for a local gifted homeschoolers group for two years.
When my husband was laid off during the great recession and had trouble finding new employment, we agreed I had to go back in the workforce and find a school for my son. I’ve been back in the workforce full time ever since, 15 years.
So now here I am, looking at 70. For the first time both my husband and I are seriously looking at retirement.
What will it look like? Will we have enough finances to maintain our lifestyle (not that it is that extravagant)? How long will we be able to maintain our health? How long will each of us live? Questions that have always been there suddenly have become front and center. Suddenly we are scrambling to find a good financial advisor to be sure we are balancing maximizing financial growth with protecting our nest egg.
For decades we focused on our children and getting them both over finish line to independence. This is the first time since we started our family that we are focusing on ourselves. While there are still obstacles they both have to overcome, and of course we are helping them both get past their obstacles, there is now room for just us. We bought a house that is specifically designed to meet the needs of myself and my husband. I found a new car that I have wanted for over decade, just my size, an EV, with all the bells and whistles and my first new car in 16 years.
I am getting over the feeling standing on the edge of a cliff getting ready to jump off, and becoming excited instead about what comes next.
I am embracing phase 2 of my life, diving deep into involvement with area art guilds and the DFW art world generally.
Please join me this month at the Millhouse Artfest in the McKinney Cotton Mill on 22-23 February, where I will be displaying a wide selection of my paintings.
Please follow me on Instagram @Affenitcollections to keep up with my projects and events as I gradually build up to being a full-time artist!
This QR Code will take you to my website, Instagram and email!
Life Act #2, here I come!
GGN Member Amy Halman shares her next event!
In today’s overstimulated, disconnected, and demanding world, reconnecting with your body is key to revitalizing and optimizing your well-being. Join Brittani Nearing, founder of Heart Light Wellness Studio, and me, Amy Halman, an award-winning skin therapist and founder of EcoBlend Therapies, for an energizing afternoon of intuitive holistic wellness. This workshop is designed to bring awareness to the elements of your mind, body, and spirit that are ready to be honored and nurtured.
I will discuss the connection between skin, body, and nervous system health and guide you through Intuitive Flower Essence Readings to illuminate areas of your internal world that are ready for support. Brittani will then lead an accessible Kundalini yoga practice, channeled intuitive guidance, and a relaxing sound bath to balance and soothe your internal ecosystem, move your energy, and empower your best self.
This unique holistic wellness offering will leave you feeling refreshed and reconnected to your greater sense of well-being!
We will provide everything you need to relax and enjoy the event. Feel free to bring a journal if you wish, and please wear comfortable clothes.
Thank you,
Amy
Sunday, February 16, 2-4 PM CT (doors open at 1:30)
EcoBlend Therapies, 10830 North Central Expy Ste 480, Dallas, 75231
Get all the details and REGISTER HERE!
GGN Member Jane Baldwin shares another workshop
ANCIENT BREATHWORK WITH SOMATIC SENSING
Join Master Breathwork guide Jane Baldwin for a transformative experience that combines breathwork and somatic awareness. The practice begins with slow, intentional movements to awaken your senses and amplify your awareness. From this grounded place, Jane will guide you through a powerful breathwork practice designed to connect you to your body’s natural energy flow, unlocking a deeper sense of relaxation and embodied presence. This practice isn’t just about breathing—it’s about discovering what it feels like to be in your body, grounded and centered, no matter what life brings your way.
In this workshop, you will:
Build the Mind-Body Connection: Explore the breath as a bridge between the mind and body that helps you align, connect, and create balance.
Practice Embodiment: Experience the world directly through your senses rather than thinking about it conceptually. Learn practical tools for embodiment and how to be fully present and aware within your body.
Develop Sensory Awareness: Improve your sensory perception through focused awareness. Explore techniques for cultivating awareness and building trust from within.
Gain insight into the breathwork experience: Explore breathwork as a powerful tool for personal growth and expanding your awareness.
Practical Application of Sensory Awareness and Breathwork: Understand how to integrate insights from breathwork into your everyday experience.
By the end you will have a deeper understanding of somatic sensing and how to access this deeper state of awareness to enhance your relationships, decision-making, problem-solving, and well-being. Join us whether you are new to breathwork and sensory awareness or have been practicing for many years. This transformative workshop will awaken your sensory experience and renew and recharge your vitality in a safe, supported environment.
Saturday, February 15th
1:00 – 3:00 PM
$60
4131 Lomo Alto in Dallas
Register: [email protected]
Thank you to Toni Portmann for sharing these inspiring messages….
Track Meetings
We still ask for $5 to cover costs. And yes, you can register at the last minute…. but it would be GREAT if you let us know a couple of days before so we can plan our refreshments!!!
Our Track meetings are designed to give us a sacred space to have meaningful, purposeful conversations without fear of being judged or competed with. Only Members can attend. They are amazing experiences, unlike any ‘networking meeting’ you have ever attended!
GGN members MUST REGISTER to attend these meetings, so just follow the links below! And if you want to learn about us, go ahead and join GGN~~if you decide it isn’t for you, we will refund your membership fee!
Currently we meet the 2nd Monday morning and 3rd Wednesday evening of each month (see below).
Each one is an event or happening in itself. Some members come frequently, some come only once in a while. Whenever you attend one, you will find out things you didn’t know, connect with women who will challenge and inspire you, and you will leave with some new perspectives.
Monday Morning Magic Track
- February 10, 2025
- 10 am to 12 noon
- What fun things will we think of to do at this one???
Click here to join us for Monday Morning Magic!
Growth & Transitions
- Wednesday, February 19, 2025
- 7 to 9 pm
- Maybe you have a new idea to share???
Become a Member!
Great Girls Network is our way of being the opposite of the Good Ol’ Boys Network (which is still very much alive and well!). Even if you don’t participate in Track meetings, your membership gives you a way to support our existence and be a part of a growing group of women who really appreciate each other. And the Trii-Annual Gatherings are unlike any other “networking” event! We know women don’t network like men. We want to build relationships, we want deeper, more meaningful connections. That is exactly what GGN provides.
Our membership fee of $50 per year gives you access to our Track Meetings and also contributions to our Newsletter. The fee helps sustain our website, but it also ensures that when you participate in a Track meeting, you will honor the sacredness of the conversations because you are a member.
We created a digital card that helps people understand what they can get from joining GGN so click here to see the card.
Your membership helps give us that foundation, the strength to grow and have an impact on the lives of so many more women.
