Patricia Sands

Author

Susan Sommers

Up close and personal … sort of …

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Join me in the garden of this beautiful home … can’t we just move here … ? Or at least have a writers’ retreat here? Or just all sit around and tell stories?

France-PSandsPhotos
France-PSandsPhotos

I know I just posted this photo a little while ago but I love this place SO much I just had to do it again. Excusez-moi.

First of all, I know it’s Saturday. Here’s my story and I apologize if you feel it is TMI. I began to think about my post last evening and ended up falling asleep at my computer … seriously … I was leaning on my elbow, perusing my French photos and suddenly – THUNK! My head hit the keyboard … I thought it was time to take a hint …

I normally have tons of energy but this month has been crazier than most with three weekend drives up to cottage country – one to speak to the wonderful women of Haliburton Highlands CFUW, one to attend the CAA CanWrite!2013 conference, and one to meet with the other tour leaders for the amazing Women’s Travel Network who have organized the ten-day tour to the south of France that I will be leading in June 2014, along with my speaking partner Susan Sommers. ( p.s. There are only 6 spots left!)

This week my DH and I drove to Stratford on Wednesday to join my brother and his wife  in seeing Blithe Spirit written by the always cleverly entertaining Noël Coward. Then on Thursday Susan and I drove to London where I was invited to speak at the first Cocktails

canstockphoto12590151
canstockphoto12590151

and Conversation event organized by Cynthia O’Neill, founder of the outstanding Power of The Purse women’s conferences.  What an enjoyable evening that was with so many interesting and involved women from the London, ON area.

I owe a great deal of thanks to a lot of people for making June so full of exciting, stimulating, occasions. In between all of that I’ve been doing the usual – writing, blogging, making deadlines. SO … all this is to say that for the rest of this holiday weekend (in Canada) I’m going to move away from my computer to play golf, tennis and bridge and hang out with my DH and some wonderful friends (at least for today and tomorrow … I might be writing again on Monday … yeah …)

Bon weekend tout le monde! Have a great weekend and take time to have fun! What plans do you have?

Be a Possibilitarian!

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The first time I recall seeing the word was on author Amber West’s fabulous blog “A Day Without Sushi” which I follow regularly. She displayed this poster and the word  possibilitarian struck a chord that has resonated with me ever since. 225391156320705857_f4fpjwu6_c

(We have never been able to figure out where this graphic originated. So if anyone knows, please tell me as it would be my great pleasure to share that information and give credit where it is due.)

I checked to make certain possibilitarian wasn’t a word Amber had made up. The clever way she has with language, I wouldn’t have put it past her.

By the way, since I’m mentioning Amber West right now I should tell you that she published her first novel, THE RUTH VALLEY MISSING, a few weeks ago and it’s a terrific read. Lots of suspense! I couldn’t put it down! Go ahead and click on that link to Amazon now. I’ll be happy to wait.

Now that I think about it, I would say that Amber is definitely a possibilitarian. Her “Go Without Movement” is a perfect example.

It’s not as if this word is new. It isn’t. In 1952, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale published The Power Of Positive Thinking wherein he issued this challenge.

Possibilitarian-Quote-268x300

I really hadn’t thought about it in terms of just one word.

Once I did, I realized I’ve been a possibilitarian most of my life … through the darkest days of loss and the endless challenges, the flotsam and jetsam, that drift in the ebb and flow of life. It’s the key to being an optimist, to learning to appreciate that every day is a gift, to seeing the potential … the possibilities … life offers each one of us and make the most of them.

I know there are times when it may be easier said than done. Stuff happens.

Those are the times when it’s even more important to focus on this word.

Possibilitarian is a powerful word that inspires, motivates, encourages, and … well, in today’s jargon …  it ROCKS. Yes it does.

Grab it. Make it yours!

If you happen to be in Toronto, near the fabulous Lolë shop in Bayview Village, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 19th, pop in and join us, Sommers & Sands, for a chat!  You’ll see the details below. We would love to see you and hear how you feel about being a possibilitarian! If  that’s not quite in your neighbourhood,  leave a comment here about your approach to the possibilities of life.
Lole_BAYVIEW_JANV

On to the next event …

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We’ve exchanged whines for wine in our home today! Woohooooo!  I’ve climbed out the trench that has been my workplace for the past few weeks as I worked on the developmental edit of my new novel, The Promise of Provence. My long-suffering husband is discovering I am capable of more than muted one-syllable responses and I might even finish the book I began reading weeks ago. At least for this evening anyway …

Tomorrow is another day. Oh, yeah! Susan Sommers and I will drive to London in the afternoon  (an easy 1-1/2 hour drive from Toronto) to prepare for our presentation at the Power Of The Purse one-day women’s conference on Thursday. We’re looking forward to having dinner with the other speakers tomorrow evening and enjoying a schmoozefest with these dynamic women. Thursday is going to be an exciting and energizing day! If you are coming to the conference be sure to find us and stop for a chat!

Never a dull moment!

 

Coming up for air …

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While I’ve been working on the revisions for my next novel, I’ve also been preparing for an exciting speaking event coming up soon. No wonder my e-mail box is overflowing and I’m waaaay behind on all the blogs I love to follow. Sorry, gang, I’ll get caught up … sometime …

The fourth annual Power Of The Purse one-day women’s conference will be held on Thursday, September 27th in London, Ontario, not far from Toronto.

This high-energy and enjoyable day celebrates all women including those making an impact in the corporate world, women as creative forces in the arts world, as researchers and healers in healthcare and as generous philanthropists helping those in need.

A local non-profit charity is supported through this event and the important work of Anago’s Parkhill Therapeutic Residence is being spotlighted this year. Anago serves complex needs girls requiring protection, youth at risk with the law, and individuals with developmental challenges who may also be medically fragile. Kudos to them for all they do to make the community a better place to live!

I’m honoured to be among the dynamic … oh yes, we all are, honest! …  presenters for the day along with my fabulous friend and speaking partner,  Susan Sommers, co-author of the ‘must-have’ fitness book Power Source For Women.

Although Susan and I write in very different genres, our messages are based on the same philosophy.  We focus on women’s stories and  celebrate how they empower and support each other through the connections they make.

Our presentation reaches women of all ages with a message about fitness, friendship and the potential and possibilities change can offer at every stage in life.  Be a possibilitarian (thank you Amber West!) and make life the very best it can be!

The best part for us is having the opportunity to hear the incredible stories of other women. They inspire and motivate us every single time we are asked to speak! We love it!

Later in the day the Conference Centre is transformed into the popular Vendor Networking Marketplace showcasing local entrepreneurs and their products and services.  It is a terrific chance to connect, support and learn who is doing what in your community … okay … and to indulge in a little retail therapy too!

If you live in the area, we hope we’ll see you there. It’s going to be a blast!

Have you attended a conference like this? What was the most important part of the day … and not just those fabulous earrings you couldn’t resist!