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beauty

Live to your true potential … #BOAW16

May 2, 2016 by Patricia Sands 25 Comments

Waterolor beautiful girl. Vector illustration of woman beauty salon
Watercolor Vector illustration of woman

August McLaughlin! Congratulations on organizing this fabulous blogfest for the fifth year! Kudos to you and everyone participating.

As I continue to age … and I’m so glad I do … I become more aware of the years ahead of me and the possibilities that exist. I also find myself seeking mentors older than I am, ahem … 70, who will provide inspiration and motivation so I never stop being a possibilitarian. Through the past 10 years, this has been my philosophy.

tumblr_mieb88S8mW1qzo9uvo1_400

Age is not a barrier to following your dreams, beginning new adventures, helping others, setting goals, making a difference with your words and actions. Push aside negative images and stereotypes. Love yourself and let others know you love them. 

The BOAW blogfest is a good opportunity for me to break away from my writing to spend some time thinking about unrelated topics. I love checking in on all the other contributors to enjoy their posts and learn from what they are sharing.

In considering women over 80 and 90 who influence the world through writing, art, photography, politics, and a multitude of other endeavours, it was encouraging to realize just how many there are. A book could be written!

Longer life expectancy is trending all over the world. Statistics show women in developed countries are likely to become octogenarians, with life expectancy reaching an all-time high of 81.8 years in 2013, up from 77.9 in 1990.

Wikipedia photo
Wikipedia photo

This year I want to honour the gracious global activist Dr. Jane Goodall, 82, a beautiful woman on the inside and out. She continues to travel the world sharing her wisdom and inspiring others of all ages.

Here is her Wikipedia description: “British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues. She has served on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding in 1996.”

I recently listened to a commencement address Dr. Goodall delivered at the University of Redlands in California. She spoke about knowing at the age of 10 that she wanted to go to Africa and study animals. She counsels to never give up on a dream, to know it may be more difficult because you are a girl/woman, to be strong in your goal and to, in her words, “live to your true potential”. Her mother was a strong influence and support in her achieving her dream. Be that.

I could write pages about this accomplished woman, but nothing would be more effective than you taking 20 minutes to listen to this moving, intelligent and inspiring video by clicking this link. I hope you find the time do to so. Her talk begins at 6:53 on the video.

If nothing else from this post, please take these words of Dr. Goodall’s with you.

“Every single one of us makes an impact on the planet every single day, and we get to choose what sort of impact that is,” she said.

“Respect”, says Goodall, “is the solution.”

“We may have different colored skin, we may be from different cultures, we may eat different things and wear different clothes, but wherever you go in the world: If you cry, your tears are the same. If you’re happy, you laugh, and the laughter around the world is the same. … Within each one of us all around the world, the human heart is structured the same.”

I’ll leave you with this heartwarming video of Dr. Goodall and a chimp they were releasing into the wild, from two years ago. It’s quite remarkable.

Follow Jane Goodall here: Facebook page and  Seriously Good For All News website.

                                  Celebrate beauty every day! 

canstockphoto22658412

Be sure to make some time to drop by other BOAW blogfest pages by clicking here for the list.

If you have participated, please leave your link in the comments below. I can’t wait to spend time reading your posts.

Were you familiar with Dr. Goodall before this?

 

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Filed Under: Blog, News, Social issues, Uncategorized Tagged With: activist, Africa, August McLaughlin, beauty, Beauty of A Woman Blogfest 2016, BOAW 2016, BOAW16, chimpanzee research, Dr. Jane Goodall, Patricia Sands, Women

BEAUTY OF A WOMAN 2014~Hear us ROAR!

February 25, 2014 by Patricia Sands 42 Comments

It’s that time of year again! The fabulous August McLaughlin, had an idea three years ago that continues to blossom … just like a woman! It’s the Beauty of a Woman BlogFest. Everyone who joins in the celebration, blogs on the same day about aspects of beauty we women share. All the links are on August’s blog so click here to get right on over and check them out. The more explicit #Girl Boner edition is featured first and the original version for posts like mine begins Feb. 27th.Closeup decorative grunge vintage woman with beautiful long hair In 2012, I mused about how it feels to be getting older and the joys of being a grandparent. Let’s face it, you have to be old to get there! Last year I shared a treasured book, She Walks In Beauty, and Lord Byron’s exquisite poem. When I considered how I would celebrate this year’s theme, a very familiar song kept playing in my mind. I had turned 30 the year this hit the charts and, as Bob Dylan sang, “the times they were a-changing”. They had been for a decade. So let me take you back to 1975. (I know, I know … a lot of you weren’t even born then!) helen-sizedThe United Nations had declared it to be InternationaL Women’s Year (IWY)  with Helen Reddy‘s song, I Am Woman, as the theme. This was an empowering time for women with Gloria Steinem, Betty Frieden and other groundbreakers leading the way. Women’s liberation was a hot topic as feminists spoke out, demonstrated and lobbied governments. In the United States, the focus was on the success of the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, state by state. It’s hard to believe that to this very day it still has not been ratified!  Visit this site for the complete history and advice as to how you can add your voice to this cause. Take a minute to watch this video clip. Let me know if you realized this was the situation. I didn’t know! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxHLnQZLq20 Unbelievable. Every year since 1975, March 8th has been recognized as International Women’s Day. Have you marked it on your calendar? I’ll wait while you do … no worries … I hope you will take a stand for the ERA on that day. Let’s continue to show what a beautiful anthem can be heard when women raise their voices as one! And now,  get your disco clothes out of that storage box, call up your BFFs, and celebrate the beauty of women everywhere! Make it loud! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUBnxqEVKlk As I researched what I wanted to share in this post, I came across this interview and helen-reddy-picture_612x817… to be honest … it caused me to wipe a few tears and then cheer. I discovered that today, at age 73, Helen Reddy continues to exemplify the beauty of a woman. Please take seven minutes and 14 seconds to watch this video. I have a feeling you will see what I mean and agree. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP-Zb5HoPjM It’s what we’re talking about. Choose to be yourself and be proud of your choice! Erm … update … I had lunch with my friend Evelyn Hannon today (she’s the fabulousJourneywoman and you should subscribe to her newsletter … okay, that’s another story )… anyway, she told me that coincidentally she had also been talking about I Am Woman and someone told her Helen was performing in Las Vegas this month! I just checked it out and sure enough … see here. I guess they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse and she decided to take a break from her quiet life, after all. Choices, people, that’s what it’s all about! Here are the lyrics, in case you get the urge to sing along! The meaning is every bit as strong today as it was 40 years ago. I Am Woman I am woman, hear me roar In numbers too big to ignore And I know too much to go back an’ pretend ’cause I’ve heard it all before And I’ve been down there on the floor No one’s ever gonna keep me down again CHORUS Oh yes I am wise But it’s wisdom born of pain Yes, I’ve paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to, I can do anything I am strong (strong) I am invincible (invincible) I am woman You can bend but never break me ’cause it only serves to make me More determined to achieve my final goal And I come back even stronger Not a novice any longer ’cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul CHORUS I am woman watch me grow See me standing toe to toe As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land But I’m still an embryo With a long long way to go Until I make my brother understand Oh yes I am wise But it’s wisdom born of pain Yes, I’ve paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to I can face anything I am strong (strong) I am invincible (invincible) I am woman Oh, I am woman I am invincible I am strong FADE I am woman I am invincible I am strong I am woman Transcribed by Robin Hood with help from Maid Marian -Artist: Helen Reddy from “Helen Reddy’s Greatest Hits”: EMI ST 11467 -peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1972 -Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton These lyrics were transcribed from the specific recording mentioned above and do not necessarily correspond with lyrics from other recordings, sheet music, songbooks or lyrics printed on album jackets. ROAR!!!! Now hop on over to August’s blog and feast on the other posts!

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Filed Under: Blog, Social issues Tagged With: Australia, beauty, Beauty of a Woman Blogfest, Helen Reddy, I Am Woman, International Women's Day, Patricia Sands, The Bridge Club, The Promise of Provence, Women

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