Margery's Note
As we move into the holiday season….
It is so important to find our flow….
Following our own indwelling pattern….
Listening, really listening to our inner voice….
“I am floating down the river of my life.
Usually, it’s peaceful and relaxing; sometimes, it’s turbulent and rocky.
I don’t need a rulebook telling me what to do; I need only relax into the flow and make tiny adjustments as necessary to keep off the rocks and out of the whirlpools.
I don’t have to know where I’m going, and it’s really none of my business.
The river knows the way, I’m just along for the ride.
We can fight the river, resist and distrust it, work against it, or we can surrender to the will of the river, become co-navigators with the river.
What is the river but my own indwelling pattern?
Wu wei is the effortless doing of one who is in harmony with the river.
This harmonious state is a dynamic and living thing here in the dreamstate; something you discover anew in every moment—not a doing but an allowing.“
That is a quote from one of my favorite writers, Jed McKenna….
Taking care of yourself is a primary responsibility….
Give yourself the attention your deserve.
“The idea is that flowing water never goes stale, so just keep on flowing.” –Bruce Lee
Member Notes
GGN Member Ann Ranson shares another thoughtful article:
Feeling out of Balance? Try Getting Centered Instead.
In a recent class I taught, someone brought up balance—again.
It always comes up, especially among women trying to juggle it all.
I smiled and said, “I don’t really believe in balance.”
Think about walking: we’re on one leg, then the other—out of balance most of the time. It’s only the forward motion that keeps us upright.
During my morning practice, a deeper truth landed: our real goal isn’t to live in balance—it’s to live centered.
Balance suggests doing equal parts of A and B—work and home, self and others—as if life were a spreadsheet. But life doesn’t work that way. We lean too far one way, then the other, and call it balance.
Centered, though, is different.
Centered means grounded in your authentic self, steady no matter what’s swirling around you. It’s where your thoughts, feelings, and actions align. You respond rather than react. You move from truth, not tension.
And at its heart, being centered is spiritual. It’s a connection to something greater—a quiet awareness of the Divine pulse within you. When you’re centered, you live from that place of presence and peace.
So instead of judging yourself for being “out of balance,” try coming back to center.
It only takes a simple inner shift—a pause, a breath, a moment of reconnection.
Three ways to get centered:
1. Reconnect with your values. Reflect on what truly matters. Journal, pray, or simply ask, “What feels aligned right now?” [Download my What Matters Most Workbook]
2. Ground in nature. Step outside. Let the breeze or squirrels at play remind you of simplicity and flow.
3. Practice gratitude. Notice what’s good—right here, right now. Gratitude anchors you in the present moment.
When I think about balance, I feel pressure—like there’s a right way to hold it all.
But when I think about being centered, my shoulders drop. My breath deepens.
So let’s take a breath and remember together:
Peace comes from within, not from getting it all just right.
With gratitude, Ann
Ann Ranson
Heart-Centered Strategies for Spiritual Alignment
www.AnnRanson.com
ann@annranson.com
Thank you to Toni Portmann for sharing these inspiring messages….
Track Meetings — only one this month!
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.
Growth & Transitions
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- 7 to 9 pm
- Share how you are letting your life flow…. or if you have issues to talk about!
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.
