Patricia Sands

Author

Social issues

Get the message?

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Have you seen this? I received this message from a friend yesterday. canstockphoto10214310Please pass it on!

“After viewing, please forward it to all your loved ones.

They all need to see this because they are either drivers or innocent passengers.

Volkswagen made an eye-opening ad...

A Hong Kong movie theatre asks its patrons to leave their cell phones ON when they enter the movie theatre.

Using that, Volkswagen made an eye- opening ad…

More than 1.5 million views in 3 days!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/JHixeIr_6BM?rel=0&autoplay=1&iv_load_policy=3

Thank you, Maya Angelou

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Her voice is stilled but her words will live forever. Here are a few of my favourites.

Rest in peace, Dr. Angelou, and thank you.

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Needless to say, there are countless pages of praise shared about this remarkable woman, after her passing yesterday. I particularly liked what TIME had to say:

“When Maya Angelou was 16 she became not only the first black streetcar conductor in San Francisco but the first woman conductor. By the time she was 40 she had also been, in no particular order, a cook, a waitress, a madam, a prostitute, a dancer, an actress, a playwright, an editor at an English-language newspaper in Egypt, and a Calypso singer (her one album is entitled “Miss Calypso.”) It wasn’t until 1970, when she was 41, that she became an author: her first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, told the story of her life up to the age of 17. That remarkable life story ended today at the age of 86.”

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THE ARTICLE.

If you were asked to choose one single quote of hers, which would it be?

Are you a Suddenly Single Woman?

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Helen Wilkie is the vibrant and energizing founder of the new communityHelen red glasses Suddenly Single Woman.  

After 41 years as part of a happily married couple, she is learning to live as a happily single woman after being widowed a few years ago. Helen is quick to express, in her delightful Scottish accent:  “It hasn’t been easy. In fact sometimes it was so hard I just wanted to stay home and see nobody ever again.”

Well, she didn’t just stay home and she is encouraging other women who are suddenly on their own to follow her lead.

After a long and successful career as a writer, speaker and communication specialist, Helen gradually worked through the unexpected change in her life.  Finding her own footing, she was motivated to help other women find their way out of the dark place of a divorce aftermath or the death of a husband, or even the breakup of a long term relationship.

If you are asking yourself, “What happened to my life?” or “What am I going to do now?”,  you will find plenty of articles and information to help you move forward on the SSW website.

My readers know that embracing change during life’s later years is a theme I like to include in my novels. After being widowed myself many years ago at the age of 43, I’ve experienced the journey. Grief is not linear nor is there a specific timeframe. Everyone is affected differently and yet there are certain aspects shared by all going through the process.

The most important lesson I learned is that it’s never too late to begin something new. As the years roll by , I realize more clearly that getting older offers us more opportunities to do follow dreams. Helen is a woman who has embraced the change in her life and started on an entirely new path.

SSW_Logo2_225I’m excited to be one of the contributing writers for Suddenly Single Woman and have an article on their website today giving a shout out for the great friendships so many women share.

Even if you aren’t single, this website offers all sorts of great information and ideas, pop on over and explore it for yourself. See you there!

Suddenly Single Woman also has a  Facebook page where Helen is looking forward to welcoming you and anyone you can think of who might be looking for this kind of support and incentive to move forward with their life.

Have you found yourself suddenly in a situation that requires a change in the dynamics of your life? Share your story with us!