First off, thank you for sharing this story of inspiration. Second, please accept my condolences regarding your late husband.

Children in general are a great inspiration to me because they look at life through eyes of wonder. As to a specific individual, I would have to say Spencer West is a huge inspiration to me. I myself climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with all my limbs in tact. I had some knee and foot issues along the way, but I did it. When I saw this video of Spencer West climbing for such an awesome cause, with no legs, I could not help but let the tears stream down my face. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHWXGPgyj1c He is truly an inspiration. Thank you for letting me share.

I am so very happy you two found each other. You're an inspiration to us all!! I wish you both many happy, joyful, exciting years to come!

Well said my friend. We've never had a problem communicating... I love our hour long phone chats but nothing beats getting together and sharing a hug. If I had to describe our friendship in one word... AUTHENTIC!!!!! Love ya soul sista (:

Well said Dianna. I gave up bitchin' to my Mom about my life back in my early 20s because it had occurred to me that I was running to her everytime I had a problem with my feelings instead of learning how to mature emotionally. I rarely bitch about my husband, my clients, co-workers, parent (my mom passed 4 yrs ago), but I am still working on not bitchin about my kids. I'll lean in a little harder.

Hi, I have had a similar path, first of all thank you for sharing and what I would suggest is for you to get a coach or start doing some personal growth work. I have had a similar path, my husband was an addict, I raised my kids on my own and had a serious spine surgery that had me stop in my tracks for over a year.
The hardest thing for us as human being is to let go of the past. Embrace your past, forgive those who need forgiving (especially yourself) and move on. Nothing good can come from hanging on to the past. The only thing that can be changed is you, so working on yourself is the only solution. I know because I spent many hours and months focusing on me and my victim attitude.
If you are interested I could direct you to a couple of wonderful coaches that could help you with this.
I can tell from your message that you are a loving, caring women, you deserve a wonderful life, and you have the power and control to reach it, just you.
Dianna
If you want some referrals my email is dianna@fabulousat50.com

I apologize in advance for ghe gloom of the following message. Your site is designed to be inspiaritional to this age and stage of our lives. I think tha's "fabulous." Oprah, Iyanla, Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra all have inspirational slogans and beliefs they like to proselytize. A wealth of books target the same subjects. I've listened, and I'v read, heard cliches from friend, family and therapists. Despite my efforts, my question has yet to be answered. Here's my issue:

I knew my passion early in life; I studied for it and acheived my dream job; I was successful and passionate for the 30 years that I worked before I had to take a short term disability. Due to unexpected circumstances, that short term turned into a long term, and my career was over. I take satisfaction in knowing I suceeded in doing what I wanted, and I realized and was calmed by that closure.

I had a wonderful marriage to the love of my life for twenty-five years until I was blind-sided by his adultry which he turned into a public circus while I was on short term leave. I broke.

I was blessed with one spectacular daughter, the finest human being I have ever met. I k ow i have mothered to the best of my ability-she just graduated and is ready to begin her career. She is leaving, and most mothers will agree that although we raise our kids to do just that, it's heartbreaking when it happens.

I have volunteered at several organizations and disliked it. I studied another language, one which was to be useful during my husband's and my retirement. I have joined activities where women my age speak of husbands, travel, parties, etc. I moved from the burbs to downtown, realizing too late that I was way out of my demographic. All of my friends are married.

FINALLY the questionS: what do you do when you have fufilled your passions and know who you were meant to be? What do you do when family is your first priority by a loving choice, know you were meant to be a wife and mother also, and you find yourself with no family at all? What do you do when friends now only occasionally get together and you know that they all have someone at home who loves them? What do you do when all you can notice when out and about are people's wedding rings? What do you do when you know that you have been very fortunate to have found your true places and passions And they no longer exist?

DO YOU COMPROMISE THE REST OF OF YOUR LIFE??

Thanks, great article.

You never cease to invoke thought and inspire me. I am so very blessed to have you in my life. We connect on a level which few of my friends have reached. Love you my friend!

Love it ladies, thanks for your comments. I hope that my blogs reach some of your hearts. If you are interested in joining the Edmonton meetup. go go meetup.com and search Fabulous@50...

See you soon.

Dianna

Thank you for speaking into my heart this morning. I have always been "the original" one - the one that never stayed with the status quo. Visionaries are like that. It is only recently that I can truly say that I am gifted and talented and YES Different than the woman who must please each person and put herself last. I still do please people and still do put myself last, but I do it because I want to- not because it is expected of me.
How do I become a part of the tribe you are running with?