With a Little Help from My Friends

The journey of my honesty has churned up some things in several of my friends. It certainly has in me for I am looking deeper inside at my behavior past and present. One of my dear friends, after reading my last blog, with concern in her email encouraged me to "be selfish" and accept the bounty that is mine. I am really stepping into that. I think. Another dear friend, a therapist, gave me great advice as well. I confessed my exhaustion at feeling like I am in a fight, sending emails of dismay to people and organizations I have worked with. I am fighting for respect. I am fighting for appreciation. She said, "Don't think of it as a fight. See it as being assertive." With an exhale, I got it.

I woke up this morning at 4:30am with the same email in my head, that I would soon send, someday, to the LA Mission people. After creating a Fearless Women Luncheon with celebrities, fundraising, media attention and a packed room, I didn't even get an email thankyou! So being assertive I emailed them a very strong email. In return I recieved an "I'm sorry and we will miss you, goodbye." After 20 years of contribution to them, that's what they gave me. Hmmm, very interesting.

So I embrace my sword and move on to another organization that will appreciate what I do. Ironically, now that I am being more "assertive", the phone rang all day yesterday with photography jobes and book orders. The Universe works in miraculous and amazing ways.

This afternoon, I will photograph Laura Bush and Maria Shriver at an event called "The Art of Humanity" benefiting the Grossman Burn Foundation. I have been working on a porject with Rebecca Grossman, "Stop Violence Against Women Globally." So it will be interesting to see if I can get Laura Bush to look into the video camera and say that.

Today starts Venus going into retrograde until my birthday December 20th. It's a time to go deep into feelings about reletionships and money. Interesting! I will wake up and put my "big girl pants on", meditate, pray and enter my day with calm and assertiveness. I like the new me! I am grateful for my wise friends, noticing things that I don't. I am grateful for this day, for this life, and for the bounty that is mine! Exhale...