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End of the month
greetings from
www.MothersWhoDream.com
and author, Sheri McGregor
Late April, 2002 issue
Mothers Who Dream
Welcome to another issue of Mothers Who Dream!
Congratulations on pursuing your dreams!
*******
"The world is what we think it is.
If we can change our thoughts,
we can change the world."
H.M. Tomlinson
The power of our thoughts is awesome. Why limit them? As promised in
last month's newsletter, below are examples in which some of the women
profiled here
turned negative thoughts around. Each one demonstrates that a step
in the right direction, despite fear, leads to positive outcome.
Champion for women, Pat Smith, feels women are much more likely than men
to doubt themselves and concentrate on their failures instead of their
successes. She also believes women are smart enough to know that
negative thoughts are destructive. Pat says, "I find that working toward
my goal, even if I think the goal is unattainable or that I am unworthy,
helps me to feel good enough to think the thoughts I know I need."
Mystery author, Martha Lawrence, admits to some limiting thoughts in her
past. "For years I worked as a book editor," she says. "Although in my
heart of hearts I wanted to be a writer, I was intimidated by the
hundreds of manuscripts that crossed my desk and ended up in the
rejection pile. I limited myself with questions like, 'Who do I think I
am, that I could write something good enough to stand out from all the
rest?'" It took a brush with death to change Lawrence's thinking. "A
former boyfriend was stalking me," she says. "One day he nearly choked
me to death." This brush with mortality gave Lawrence a moment of
clarity. "If I was ever going to write that book, I'd better get to it
because I wasn't going to live forever. That was in 1994. That year I
wrote my first novel, and have published five novels since then."
Writer Mona Vanek's limiting thoughts involved self-doubt. Before she
could boast any publication credits, she offered her services as a
volunteer writer for the U.S. Forest Service. Once home, loaded down
with stacks of information, her mind rattled off fears. "I can't do
this," she told herself. "I don't know any of the technical and
specialized terms." Mona was afraid to ask for help, thinking, "I'll
look like a fool." Then, realizing that backing out would make her truly
foolish, she told herself that asking for help is a sign of strength.
Questions are the key to knowledge, and when Vanek made that first
humbling phone call for advice and information, she received support.
Writer Julia Rosien has always found joy in helping people. When a
women's prison opened in her hometown several years ago, she knew she
wanted to get involved. But what could she do? "I'd followed all the
rules," she says. "I went to University, got married, had kids, and
bought a house. I'd never once strayed from the prescribed path. How
could I relate to a woman who'd never even been near that path?" Rosien
faced more than her own doubts. Her mother and her husband counseled her
against any involvement. What business did the mother of four young
children have in a women's prison? Rosien knew they wanted to protect
her, but she felt compelled. When she phoned, prison officials asked her
if she knew how to garden. Rosien jumped at the opportunity to work with
the women.
"My first year was hard, very hard," she says. "But I persevered because
I believed I could make a difference." Despite limiting beliefs she
could have allowed to imprison her, Rosien faced down her fears to
pursue a goal that was important to her. And she has reaped rewards. The
experience of working with women so far removed, yet much the same in
many ways, has caused Rosien to grow. "Just like physically stretching
your muscles hurts," she says, "this hurt too. But it's made me look at
life much differently. It's made me much more thankful of things I've
been given."
Like these women, acknowledging our limiting thoughts yet taking steps
despite them can bring positive growth and success into our lives. Read
theirs and others' complete profiles by clicking
here.
Next issue: A mother who faced unique challenges to pursue a promise.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
New to the site? Be sure to read the other MWD "feel good" articles.
After all, who couldn't use a little sunshine? Go
here.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What subscribers are saying about Mothers Who Dream:
A gentleman who has raised his children on his own wrote to say, "I love
your web site. . . . I wish more young women looked to the vast numbers
of women such as yourself as a role model."
A reader from Sacramento, California writers:
"THANK YOU!!! For the making me take a minute this morning to think
about the day ahead of me,,,,, it will be as bad or good as I make
it.... I choose good!!"
Have something to tell Sheri? She thoroughly enjoys reading your
letters. Reach her at:
Sheri@motherswhodream.com
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Subscribe:
If you were lucky enough to have a friend pass along this email, then
you won't want to miss the next issue when inspiring changes are made to
the MWD website.
Get your name on the list (don't worry, I will NEVER share my mailing
list) by sending an email to:
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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
BUG CATCHER: If you find a bug on the site (broken links, etc), please
report it to:
BugCatcher@motherswhodream.com
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Share the wealth:
Feel free to share this newsletter, but please, forward it in its
entirety. Everything in the Mothers Who Dream Newsletter and website is
copyrighted by founder/author Sheri McGregor.
Request for Dreamers:
If you're a mother who has pursued her dream, maybe a little publicity
is in order. Share your story by emailing Sheri at:
Profiles@motherswhodream.com
Maybe you'll be the next inspiring story!
All material on the www.motherswhodream.com
website is copyrighted
by Sheri McGregor and may not be reproduced without express permission.
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