Posted by: Suzan | December 14, 2010

What is it to be a Woman?

Desire, longing for the feminine.

The delicate yet bold.

The fiery yet soft.

She is contrasts of both.

To be a woman, a sexual being loving with intensity yet true to herself.

She’s an advocate for her own growth.

 To be a woman is to dress with flow yet know where she longs to go.

To be strong and push forward yet also to be aware of when to go slow.

Discerning and ever knowing because she trusts her internal compass.

Doesn’t spend days on ‘fuss.’

She’s more about gusto and living,

And she’s sincere with her giving.

 A woman has virtue for when she’s on the wrong course she’s willing to start anew.

She doesn’t dilly dally all the while long.

Doesn’t complain like the playing over and over of that same old song.

A woman is substance and power yet gentle.

She reaches and touches and stirs up those along her path.

And doesn’t hold in her wrath.

 To be a woman is to deal with life and handle strife.

She cries when needed allowing herself to express.

Knows how to be with her duress.

When down, she reaches out for a caress.

Loves to gather in groups eager to support other women,

Desiring to be a part of community, she contributes again.

 To be a woman is to want to feel more beautiful inside and out

While she carries herself with finesse.

No more droopy shoulders or tilted face.

She exudes warmth and confidence

And no longer lives from all over the place

Consuming so much space.

She calls out for SIMPLICITY

To allow the feminine within her to be set free.

Comments Off on What is it to be a Woman?

Posted in Inspirational, poem, well-being, women's issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | November 22, 2010

So What is NaNoWrimo?

I wrote 50,000 words during November, 2010!

So what is NaNoWriMo? I first learned about it during a casual brunch at a friend’s home where she hosted a small group of her women friends. Being a life coach and facilitator of women’s programs, she asked us to sit in a sharing circle and participate.

 One woman mentioned she had enrolled in NaNoWriMo again to work on another screenplay. She said she did her best writing of the year during the month of November because she could tap into the energy source of other writers from around the world.

 Turns out NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, has been around since 1999. This organization is a non-profit which assists writers, especially young writers, to improve their skills. Every year in November they host this worldwide event to inspire writers of every age and from all walks of life. It is also their primary fundraising campaign to keep going. People commit to writing 50,000 words or about 175 pages during the month of November. Each person enrolled gets their own web page which he/she can use to update daily word counts, participate in forums in his/her communities, or others, and link up with numerous supports to stay motivated.

 When the intricate, glass talking stone passed to me, I’d decided I wanted to ‘dive in the deep end’ and do something crazy too. Nothing like pushing the  rest of my life aside to write a book in a month. I told everyone, “I have this book I’ve been working on for years and doggone it, I’m going to finish it. Just needs more editing–this is my chance. But there is this other book, the one about my colorful, eccentric father from the deep south. Maybe I can work a little on it too.”

 The woman across from me said, “Wait a minute. I’m going to encourage you to put the ‘other book’ to the side for awhile longer and only work on that book about your father. When you talked about it your face completely lit up.”

 Then the host said, “Yes I’m ready to buy the book right now, and I don’t even know anything about it.”

 So when I returned home that afternoon, I enrolled with one week to the starting line. I’d never written every day, nor had I ever composed a novel, yet I signed up anyway.

 It is now November 22, and I’m getting closer to the finish line. I know that I will reach it. So what is NaNoWriMo? As a writer, it is one of the best choices I’ve ever made. I now know I can commit to writing every day. In fact it has become like a drug which I cannot get enough of. I did push aside the ‘other book’ and am spending all of my time crafting a blend of fiction and non-fiction, called “Houseboys Wanted.” When I started out I had no idea how I’d be able to write so much in so little time. Yet the words are flowing out of me like a winding stream taking me to places I had no idea I could go. All due to my saying yes to LIFE and NaNoWriMo! http://www.nanowrimo.org/

2 Comments

Posted in Inspirational, personal development, personal essay, Spiritual Growth, vocation, well-being, women's issues, Writing | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | November 7, 2010

Transform from the Inside-Out with Daily Ritual Practices

 This is an excerpt from my book, Awakening the Wise Woman Within You, Igniting Your Passion, Purpose, and Playfulness (to be released in 2011).

If you don’t like something, change it.

If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou
  • Establish a time in the day or evening that is your own. Capture 15, 30 or 60 minutes a day, for as many days of the week you can commit to for your life affirming experience.
  • Find a comfortable and quiet place to practice your rituals which is free from distraction. Choose a place where you can entertain silence and celebrate tranquility.
  • Communicate your desire for privacy during your ritual practice. If necessary, place a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and/or lock it. Turn off the ringer on your phone.
  • Give yourself permission to be fully present to this experience as it provides lasting fuel for each day. Allow yourself this ‘inner-vacation’ for your own well-being, as well as, your contribution to ‘outer-peace.’
  • Know that when you attend to yourself first, you can be more available for others.
  • Realize when you pause, you’re less likely to ‘react’ to life’s circumstances.  Stillness before Action = Peace.

No Pause before Action = Reaction.

  • BREATHE. Breathe IN the wisdom you long for deep into your belly. Breathe OUT any stress or tension you feel anywhere in your body. Let it go. Allow this to quiet and calm your mind.
  • Place your ritual items in a basket so everything is easily found for your life renewing practice.
  • Create an altar in the room adorned with whatever is sacred to you.

The following is a list of ritual practices. Select what resonates with you. Feel free to design your own.

 Possible Ritual Practices

v     Select an angel card and/or another healing card

v     Pray and/or meditate by candlelight

v     Read positive affirmations or literature

v     Answer some inquiry questions to learn from your life experiences including what you are grateful for

v     Stretch your body or do yoga 

v     Write in your journal

v     Draw/color/paint in your journal.

Suzan Tusson. Copyrighted 2010. All Rights Reserved.

5 Comments

Posted in Health, Inspirational, personal development, self care, Spiritual Growth, well-being, women's issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | October 18, 2010

Bee-AWare of the Buzz in Anza Borrego Desert

 

Saturday morning we awakened to a loud buzzing hum outside of our pop-up camper in Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert. We’d arrived Friday evening for a week-end escape from all of life’s noises. The desert has always been a place for us to savor silence. Other than occasional wind drafts, we normally only hear the flapping of bird’s wings above.

 We peeled back the window coverings and saw bees of different varieties. Honey bees, along with a blackish-reddish variety, swarmed around our camper. Jim poked his head out of the door and noticed about 100 of them diving at the top of our camper to lap up the early morning moisture. We first thought the left-overs from our traditional apple pie from Julian Pie Company which we picked up on our way may have lured them in. Yet in this arid desert the bees only wanted to quench their thirst.

 I wondered if their purpose had been to deliver a message since they were undeterred by the blazing sun. Even the scorching rays nearing 100 degrees didn’t send them on their way. Many stayed on to create more buzz around our camper.

 I then reflected on what bees are all about: community; workers; assertive yet often more bark than bite; annoying like complaints as they drone on and on; focused on one single-minded purpose; and they will sting when provoked. They may be small yet fiery, pesky creatures yet I do give them this. They’re clear on what they want and which direction they’re going.

 Whether or not the bees purposefully came to communicate a message, I chose to listen. I heard about the need for community and partnership–to let go of being the ‘lone wolf.’ To stop complaining about what isn’t working and concentrate on what will. To narrow my focus so that the Universe will know what it is I want and be able to support it. Isn’t this true for so many of us?

 Muhammad Ali once said, “Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee.” There are times in life when it is necessary to create support, a strong buzz like a community of bees. ‘Bee’ willing to put it out there. Sometimes it is important to show one’s stinger and ‘bee’ fierce rather than a ‘victim of life’s circumstances.’

 Often the clarity we seek is right in front of us, if we dare to listen. Bzzzzzzz….

2 Comments

Posted in Inspirational, nature, personal development, personal essay, self care, Spiritual Growth, well-being, women's issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | October 7, 2010

The Real Cost of High School Drop-outs

The other day while reading the Wall Street Journal at breakfast, I learned that 40% of high school students in the U.S. per year are dropping out. Half of the 40% of drop-outs are Latino or African-American students.

 I nearly spilled my coffee/almond milk concoction. How can this be so?  The article corroborated with what I’ve thought all along. High schools, for the most part, are no longer encouraging young people to go to vocational schools upon graduation. There is a laser focus for all youth to go to college, whether or not this is their preference. College is not for everyone. There must be alternative career plans in place to engage these students so they don’t lose interest and drop out of school.

 In the past high schools provided trade skills yet now the only emphasis is to ‘teach to the test’ so the graduates will be well-prepared for college. What about the students who want to be responsible citizens yet don’t care for the traditional routes? The cost of our educational system neglecting many students’ needs is enormous. Students who do not graduate from high school have difficulties finding work. According to the Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington D.C., drop outs from the year 2008 cost our nation $318 Billion in lost wages earned over their lifetime.

 Their studies further mentioned if we were to raise the graduation rate by only 5% in one year we could capture $8 Billion in lost revenues due to crime related costs. This is another huge component to examine. When high school students drop out of high school, where do they go? Without an education, or any solid employment skills, they often cannot locate work. Many turn to crime by joining gangs or by engaging in illegal means to make their money. It costs $47,000.00 per year of our tax monies to imprison one inmate per year in the state of California. This is aside from the emotional costs which we cannot measure, and the loss of contributions we will never realize from the ones locked away. The Wall Street Journal article stated that 70% of our prison population consists of high school drop outs. Get the connection? 

Our public school systems must find other avenues to retain students. They can encourage informational interviews, no matter the profession; and offer classes which support vocational occupations. They can take some of the emphasis away from ‘testing’ and instead provide an education which better prepares students to be on their own after graduation, whether or not they will be going to college. It is costing us far too much as a society to ‘look the other way.’

2 Comments

Posted in personal essay, youth issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | October 1, 2010

Adventures in the Backyard

 

Hiking boots, covered with thick dust, are lined up close to the door. A trailhead, steps away, leads us to an expansive ridge. On clear days, which are numerous, one can see the ocean and the Coronado Islands. In the evening, the full colors of sunset settle in to bid goodnight.

Our backyard has forty miles of trails which meander up and down thousand foot hills. We live on Mission Trails Park in Tierrasanta, a community in San Diego, California. Though the city we reside in is the eighth largest in the country, we gaze out of our living room window and view majestic hills, deer and coyote. This land will never be developed.

Boulders grace this vast desert landscape reminding us to rest in the stillness and silence. Red tailed hawks soar above in the pale blue sky, on occasion swooping down for an appetizer down below. Slippery, large lizards and even hairy tarantula spiders creep by unannounced.

Gusts of wind on occasion rush in, along with unseasonable heat; due to a weather condition we often experience called the Santa Anna’s. In this dry, dusty landscape our temperature is often in the seventies. When it dips into the lower sixties, we feel winter has arrived.

A new nature adventure greets me each time I venture out. On a recent sojourn a long, thick granddaddy rattlesnake in earth tones crossed the path. He seemed to relish having the sun on his face and would not budge.

Other hikers attempted to pass. One of the young women reached into her pack for her cell phone to call her boyfriend and ask him what to do. I yelled, “Just make a lot of noise with your feet. They cannot hear yet they do feel the movement.”

 I threw rocks down and we pounded our boots on the dirt. Finally, this land dweller curled around and crawled in the other direction – looking forlorn for being forced to leave his sunbathing session.

Then up ahead we heard the strain of loud roaring engines. I’d forgotten that the Air Force’s Blue Angels were performing nearby. The jet fighters flew overhead passing by many times in formations of four or six, in precise alignment, dipping in all directions, even down toward us.

If I’m ever yearning for an adventure, it is as close as my backyard. Given that being an explorer is my essence, I once again lace up the dusty boots knowing the trails will lead me there.

2 Comments

Posted in Fitness, Health, Inspirational, nature, personal essay, well-being | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | September 1, 2010

Simply Be Happy

Abraham Lincoln once said, “We’re as happy as we make up our minds to be.” Can it really be this simple?

I believe happiness is a reflection of our attitude towards life. It is connected to the thoughts we’re having on a moment-to-moment basis. If we aren’t satisfied with who we are and what we have, it is difficult to know joy. We must first accept where we’re at and who we are, ‘warts and all’, in order to ‘be happy.’

When we pack our calendars like overstuffed suitcases, there isn’t any space to even know how we feel. We numb ourselves out, drag ourselves around, and wonder why we can’t possibly be enjoying our non-stop activities.

Slowing down to notice what lights us up and then taking the time to let go of what clearly does not are necessary if we want to experience joy. We must pay close attention to our thoughts which often line up in our minds like the recent traffic jam in China (60 miles long). What are we reinforcing? Do we allow our minds to nag, scold, or even belittle us? If so, happiness doesn’t have a chance in this ‘land mind.’

Take the time to breathe, be present, mindful, and most of all, to appreciate who you are and what you have – right here and right now. There is always more ahead, and planning is important. Yet when you plan, plan and when you are living your life, LIVE. Be in it, don’t question yourself like a slow torture for what you did yesterday or worry about what ‘might’ occur tomorrow. The future isn’t here yet. All we have is NOW.

Happiness resides in the present. When you can embrace each moment ‘as it is,’ be grateful for it, and assure your mind that ‘this is SO’ – you can simply ‘be happy.’

***I highly recommend a visit to Dr. Martin Seligman’s site entitled: Authentic Happiness to learn about his work in positive psychology and to take one of his many free happiness quizzes: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/seligman.aspx

4 Comments

Posted in Health, Inspirational, personal development, self care, Spiritual Growth, well-being, women's issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | August 16, 2010

Simplicity

*Inspired by my 10th wedding anniversary mountain climb – San Jacinto, Idyllwild, CA with Jim and our friends from the Whitney climb 10 years ago!

 Simplicity

 Oh how I yearn for thee

 Time to merely be

 Stop running to and fro

 Less activity by saying NO.

 Simplicity

 Oh, please set me free

To live a natural me.

 To rest, to relax,

 To know no worry.

  Simplicity

 Like the rooted tree,

A simple key,Which opens the door

To so much more

 Of who I really long to be.

 Simplicity

 Like the gentle, expansive sea

 Can I rest in your waters?

And sway to your decree? 

As in a hammock with its crocheted edges enfolding me.

 Simplicity

 Can I learn to release attachments

My squeeze on life – the hold

 Please guide me to the people and places

Where I can allow my full life to unfold.

 Simplicity

Of time and endless appointments

 All man-made, yet surreal

 What if for once my calendar lay empty,

 What would this reveal?

 Ah for the life of simplicity

 Where nothing can dare hide

 Where bare truth can confide

 Where peace and love reside.

 

 

2 Comments

Posted in Inspirational, nature, personal development, poem, self care, Spiritual Growth, well-being | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | August 7, 2010

Life Deserves a Celebration

I grew up in New Orleans where we make any excuse to celebrate. Of course, we’re known for our Mardi Gras revelry, yet we actually have week-end festivities to honor anything from oranges to crayfish. This is where I learned to celebrate LIFE.

 Today I am one year older. I’m on the other side of that hill now, yet I do not believe my summit is over. There is much more ahead of me and with each step I’ll make new discoveries. One thing I have learned is how important it is to stop from time to time to enjoy the view. Why rush through life? Savor the moments. No matter what is going on in our lives, we’re always at choice as to how we view the experiences.

 A few weeks ago a skin surgeon called to give me the results from my biopsy, ‘malignant melanoma.’ Fortunately I noticed it a few months ago and realized it was a ‘foreign’ entity. It itched, had discoloration, and an odd shape. I called my skin doctor, Dr. Leslie Mark, right away for an appointment. She gave me a full body check, which I do every year, though this time her gaze looked more serious. She said, “We’re going next door to the surgery room to remove this.”

She left the next day on vacation for a month. I thought about what could have happened if I had ignored this and had not insisted on getting in to see her before she left. Trusting our instincts and following through with these vital messages are so important. Sometimes it saves our lives.

 I have surgery scheduled on August 16 in the afternoon. They do a wide, deep excision to make sure all of the tumor is removed. It is on my right chest so I doubt I’ll be wearing a bikini again. My  doctor even recommended I not hang out in the sun any more. I’m at a great risk for a reoccurrence. She said, “You really should exercise indoors from now on.”

 I’m not a sunbather, though in my teens and 20’s I remember lathering up the baby oil before hours of ‘sun worship.’ Sunscreen didn’t exist in our household.

 Yet I do have an intense passion for nature and being outdoors as a camper and avid hiker. To continue celebrating life, I choose not to give up who I am. I may have on a higher SPF and a lot more of it, more clothes and a wide brim hat, though I cannot cage myself up. I must spend time outside.

 Thoughts of surgery and will they get all the cancer, etc. will also not stop me from enjoying every minute of my life. This week-end I’ll be immersed in a full on celebration with close friends and family. Then next week-end Jim and I will honor our 10th wedding anniversary by camping and hiking Marion Mountain in Idyllwild with some of the close friends and family from our Mount Whitney wedding party of 8-15-2000.

 So we all have a choice. Shall we cringe with pain and worry during life’s challenging times? I say rejoice in every moment we have because the time is ticking, and some day we will become a distant memory. My mentor and guru, Katy Guard, says to find enjoyment in all things in life, no matter the circumstances. As long as we are breathing there is so much to celebrate.

6 Comments

Posted in Health, Inspirational, nature, personal development, personal essay, self care, Spiritual Growth, well-being, women's issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Suzan | July 18, 2010

Stillness Reigns

Inspired July, 9-11,2010 Camping week-end – Burnt Rancheria, Laguna Mountains

 

View at our Campsite #70

 
 Resting after a big hike!
Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast!

 

Reached Cyyamaca Peak! (came here when we checked out of campground)

Stillness reins

While the songbirds echo their refrains.

My thoughts become quiet

With nothing to cling to.

For there is nothing I want

Only to lean into my captain’s chair

Gaze into the thick forest and stare.

Watch the birds – blue jays, woodpeckers and a myriad of others soar by me

Without a worry nor a care.

They only do what they do and be who they be.

Their gentle fluttering belies the meaning of truly being free.

Then I observe how anchored the tree.

How rooted, green, and lush as far as I can see.

They are still yet they allow their leaves to move.

Grounded yet not stuck in a groove.

The clouds whisk by

Without ever asking why.

The sun sometimes hides

Yet all the while abides.

A rattlesnake slithers near

To close for me I fear.

He shakes his rattle to warn me.

He only wants me to let him be.

The wind gently stirs the wildflowers and taller grasses.

They sway in delight

While the teeny ant carries a heavy load with all his might.

A hummingbird hovers over

Darts so fast she is a blur.

While stillness unfolds me

Causing my soul to stir.

With nature all around

My thoughts taper down.

And in this place

Which opens up space,

Eases my pace –

I’m now available for God’s loving embrace.

2 Comments

Posted in Inspirational, nature, poem, Relationship with Significant Other, self care, Spiritual Growth, Travel Adventures, well-being | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories