Comments for Suzanne Grenager http://suzannegrenager.com Let's get dangerously real . . . Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:33:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on My first guest blog post drew lovely comments by Alex Blackwell | The BridgeMaker http://suzannegrenager.com/first-guest-blog/#comment-96 Alex Blackwell | The BridgeMaker Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:33:33 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=825#comment-96 Suzanne, It was a pleasure hosting you and featuring your book. I have the sense this book will change, for the better, more than a few people's lives. Best wishes for continued success, and happiness. Alex Suzanne,

It was a pleasure hosting you and featuring your book. I have the sense this book will change, for the better, more than a few people’s lives.

Best wishes for continued success, and happiness.

Alex

]]> Comment on Becky’s burning question by Carol Cris Hudson http://suzannegrenager.com/beckys-burning-question/#comment-94 Carol Cris Hudson Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:05:21 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=761#comment-94 Worrying about money is a consuming, negative thing to do. I was on foodstamps, welfare, and Farmer's Home Housing when my children were growing up. (I had 3 children and was a single parent recieving no support) I grew up with money and lots of pride. I did not want to ask my parents for help so struggled by myself. I wen back to school toget my 4 year degree in educaion when my children were 6, 5, and 4 years old. There were many mountains of adversity to conquer - wondering which was best to tryand go over them or just take the easy way around them. We all lived without alot but I always said we were ever so rich in love. It is amazing how little we all actually needed. I was lucky to live in Maine which was quite rural and had boys who were not fashion conscious. They had a great childhood, played sports, and all went to college without my family's help. I suggest perhaps you have a good talk with your husband and children and decide how important material things really are. Another course would be to bite the bullet and wait til your kids are out of school . What is most important is others around you will sense your dilemma and no one will be happy. THere is nothing worse than a martyr - not being appreciated is almost as bad. ! Your family needs to share your feelings and you nee to count your blessings! There is lots of yin and yang in life. NOw that I have grandchildren I look back and have decided those were the best years of my life! Raising my children - working - living! The yang is I am happy today too and still loving life's challenges - and I am not yet really financially secure. I am just trying to live each day to the fullest! Worrying about money is a consuming, negative thing to do. I was on foodstamps, welfare, and Farmer’s Home Housing when my children were growing up. (I had 3 children and was a single parent recieving no support) I grew up with money and lots of pride. I did not want to ask my parents for help so struggled by myself. I wen back to school toget my 4 year degree in educaion when my children were 6, 5, and 4 years old. There were many mountains of adversity to conquer – wondering which was best to tryand go over them or just take the easy way around them. We all lived without alot but I always said we were ever so rich in love. It is amazing how little we all actually needed. I was lucky to live in Maine which was quite rural and had boys who were not fashion conscious. They had a great childhood, played sports, and all went to college without my family’s help.

I suggest perhaps you have a good talk with your husband and children and decide how important material things really are. Another course would be to bite the bullet and wait til your kids are out of school . What is most important is others around you will sense your dilemma and no one will be happy. THere is nothing worse than a martyr – not being appreciated is almost as bad. ! Your family needs to share your feelings and you nee to count your blessings! There is lots of yin and yang in life. NOw that I have grandchildren I look back and have decided those were the best years of my life! Raising my children – working – living!
The yang is I am happy today too and still loving life’s challenges – and I am not yet really financially secure. I am just trying to live each day to the fullest!

]]> Comment on Becky’s burning question by Mary http://suzannegrenager.com/beckys-burning-question/#comment-93 Mary Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:18:25 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=761#comment-93 Hi Suzanne and Becky. Wow, I can totally relate to Becky's situation. Perhaps it happens to many of us who reach a certain age and sense a conflict with what we have to do and where our passion lies. I relate to Becky in many aspects...corporate job, family to support, feeling trapped in a job, but obligated to stay due to financial considerations. Passion lies elsewhere. Co-workers are competitive and not authentic. i don't relate as well in this atmosphere as I am about inclusion, teamwork, everyone is happy, etc. I've come to believe that some things can't change, but we can find other outlets to offset what we are lacking. At work I try to focus on things I am grateful for such as having a job in this economy, the part of my job that helps people, personal relationships etc. Try to avoid the negativity and people that sap my energy. Personally, I have learned Reiki, read about Feng Shui, read a lot of books that give me new ideas and try to find groups of women with similar passion. My husband and I often say wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have the obligations we have, to just quit our jobs, move to another state and do something we love. However we have 2 children we adore, that we need to support so the decisions aren't ours alone. I personally like to save up and treat myself to relaxation techniques, such as massages, alternative therapies etc. Becky, I wish you the best and want to let you know you are not alone. Hoping you can find a way to live your passion even if it means staying with your job and finding another outlet for your creativity and passion. Much love, Mary Hi Suzanne and Becky. Wow, I can totally relate to Becky’s situation. Perhaps it happens to many of us who reach a certain age and sense a conflict with what we have to do and where our passion lies. I relate to Becky in many aspects…corporate job, family to support, feeling trapped in a job, but obligated to stay due to financial considerations. Passion lies elsewhere. Co-workers are competitive and not authentic. i don’t relate as well in this atmosphere as I am about inclusion, teamwork, everyone is happy, etc.

I’ve come to believe that some things can’t change, but we can find other outlets to offset what we are lacking. At work I try to focus on things I am grateful for such as having a job in this economy, the part of my job that helps people, personal relationships etc. Try to avoid the negativity and people that sap my energy.

Personally, I have learned Reiki, read about Feng Shui, read a lot of books that give me new ideas and try to find groups of women with similar passion.

My husband and I often say wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have the obligations we have, to just quit our jobs, move to another state and do something we love. However we have 2 children we adore, that we need to support so the decisions aren’t ours alone.

I personally like to save up and treat myself to relaxation techniques, such as massages, alternative therapies etc.

Becky, I wish you the best and want to let you know you are not alone. Hoping you can find a way to live your passion even if it means staying with your job and finding another outlet for your creativity and passion. Much love, Mary

]]> Comment on Becky’s burning question by Alex http://suzannegrenager.com/beckys-burning-question/#comment-92 Alex Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:54:26 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=761#comment-92 hi guys, becky and suzanne, thought i might share here even though im younger without having the responsibilities of raising my own children and taking care of my family. hopefully these ideas can help in some ways. when we change, our relationships change, and the people around us change... we dont always have control of how. when we make decisions to take care of ourselves whether it be our basic needs or of self affirmation this impacts our closest relationships and others... it seems reasonable to think that those that are more dependent on us might be impacted more than others by these decisions. the impact is variable of course and it seems we can never know for certain what outcomes to expect. i tend to believe that so much of life and the meaning we experience is what we make of it -- as such, the ups and downs we experience. transition can be challenging especially when things seem new and unfamiliar. it's in these kinds of situations that we learn to readjust and recreate. this doesn't seem intrinsically like a negative thing. ultimately maybe it's what we make of it. this kind of transition can be a wonderful thing. knowing this possibility could provide you with some hope moving forward... hope is essential! it can lead to a vision which can be a guiding star for you along your path. is anything ever perfect? doesn't there always appear to be areas in life that could use some adjusting or stabilizing? having your basic needs met is important but it isn't everything all the time. at least that's what i have to tell myself -- im 26 years old and learning how to achieve stability on the basic and higher levels. but, it happens to all of us. my uncle and i were just speaking last night about this... he's 42 and is in the same boat as i am and is trying to achieve something similar. and there are kids involved. it's okay to be selfish to some degree. we must take care of ourselves. my aunt likes to say "after me, the world comes first." we all will learn how to make our ways as individuals... even our children. they will some day get to an age where many of their life experiences will be so much about how they choose to navigate, accept or surrender or will their way within them. this is a decision however that you might want to try and make together with your husband and your children (depending on how old they are). since it's a decision that's going to impact everyone, maybe it's important to get everyone's input. find a common thread that you can all agree upon and build on that (thinking about "conflict resolution" techniques). maybe together you can find ways to assert and have your needs met with out neglecting others'. thinking about local level development and sustainability and justice :) it seems that figuring out a way to empower everyone and take care of their needs through this experience regardless of what you end up choosing is most important for you and for making this time a success for you. this will be an evolving process. one step at time. as long as you continue to reconnect with your intention to find happiness and meaning, and keep it alive while you are making decisions, those will be the kinds of experiences you will create in your life. and i can imagine, this will likely be a positive impact on your family. best of luck! hi guys, becky and suzanne,

thought i might share here even though im younger without having the responsibilities of raising my own children and taking care of my family. hopefully these ideas can help in some ways.

when we change, our relationships change, and the people around us change… we dont always have control of how. when we make decisions to take care of ourselves whether it be our basic needs or of self affirmation this impacts our closest relationships and others… it seems reasonable to think that those that are more dependent on us might be impacted more than others by these decisions. the impact is variable of course and it seems we can never know for certain what outcomes to expect.

i tend to believe that so much of life and the meaning we experience is what we make of it — as such, the ups and downs we experience. transition can be challenging especially when things seem new and unfamiliar. it’s in these kinds of situations that we learn to readjust and recreate. this doesn’t seem intrinsically like a negative thing. ultimately maybe it’s what we make of it. this kind of transition can be a wonderful thing. knowing this possibility could provide you with some hope moving forward… hope is essential! it can lead to a vision which can be a guiding star for you along your path.

is anything ever perfect? doesn’t there always appear to be areas in life that could use some adjusting or stabilizing? having your basic needs met is important but it isn’t everything all the time. at least that’s what i have to tell myself — im 26 years old and learning how to achieve stability on the basic and higher levels. but, it happens to all of us. my uncle and i were just speaking last night about this… he’s 42 and is in the same boat as i am and is trying to achieve something similar. and there are kids involved.

it’s okay to be selfish to some degree. we must take care of ourselves. my aunt likes to say “after me, the world comes first.” we all will learn how to make our ways as individuals… even our children. they will some day get to an age where many of their life experiences will be so much about how they choose to navigate, accept or surrender or will their way within them.

this is a decision however that you might want to try and make together with your husband and your children (depending on how old they are). since it’s a decision that’s going to impact everyone, maybe it’s important to get everyone’s input. find a common thread that you can all agree upon and build on that (thinking about “conflict resolution” techniques). maybe together you can find ways to assert and have your needs met with out neglecting others’.

thinking about local level development and sustainability and justice :) it seems that figuring out a way to empower everyone and take care of their needs through this experience regardless of what you end up choosing is most important for you and for making this time a success for you. this will be an evolving process. one step at time. as long as you continue to reconnect with your intention to find happiness and meaning, and keep it alive while you are making decisions, those will be the kinds of experiences you will create in your life. and i can imagine, this will likely be a positive impact on your family.

best of luck!

]]> Comment on Over the moon and under the porch—it’s B Day by Suzanne Grenager http://suzannegrenager.com/over-the-moon-and-under-the-porch%e2%80%94it%e2%80%99s-b-day/#comment-33 Suzanne Grenager Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:43:01 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=736#comment-33 Thanks so very much to all of you-- Mary, Topsy, Cindy, Karen and Shalom--for what feels like your unconditional support of my journey and its fruits. Each one of you wrote words that deeply touched my heart. And, Shalom, the Campbell quote you shared, may be the most apt and powerful words I've seen to describe the very essence of that odyssey of mine. I especially love the closing phrase that "where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with the world." It is precisely that truth that makes the sometimes terrible struggles to "come to the center of our own existence" altogether worth it, and then some. With more thanks and much love to all. Thanks so very much to all of you– Mary, Topsy, Cindy, Karen and Shalom–for what feels like your unconditional support of my journey and its fruits. Each one of you wrote words that deeply touched my heart. And, Shalom, the Campbell quote you shared, may be the most apt and powerful words I’ve seen to describe the very essence of that odyssey of mine. I especially love the closing phrase that “where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with the world.” It is precisely that truth that makes the sometimes terrible struggles to “come to the center of our own existence” altogether worth it, and then some. With more thanks and much love to all.

]]> Comment on Over the moon and under the porch—it’s B Day by Shalom Ormsby http://suzannegrenager.com/over-the-moon-and-under-the-porch%e2%80%94it%e2%80%99s-b-day/#comment-32 Shalom Ormsby Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:22:14 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=736#comment-32 Congratulations on the completion of your seven year spiritual odyssey. The fat that you traveled all the way to the realm of your fears reveals how devoted to your journey you are - devoted to traveling beyond the domain of conventional, comfortable "reality." Your process reminds me of this quote by Joseph Campbell: “We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a God; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.” Congratulations on the completion of your seven year spiritual odyssey. The fat that you traveled all the way to the realm of your fears reveals how devoted to your journey you are – devoted to traveling beyond the domain of conventional, comfortable “reality.”

Your process reminds me of this quote by Joseph Campbell: “We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a God; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”

]]> Comment on Over the moon and under the porch—it’s B Day by Karen Latvala http://suzannegrenager.com/over-the-moon-and-under-the-porch%e2%80%94it%e2%80%99s-b-day/#comment-31 Karen Latvala Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:09:15 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=736#comment-31 Suzanne, I am so excited to see that you have gotten the book published and that it’s on Amazon!!! Reading your feelings about B-day gives me an intimate look at how it feels to have accomplished this. What a journey! Congratulations on sticking with this labor of love through all the ups and downs! The book cover is stunning and the website is beautifully done. Right now I am holding the physical manifestation of your work--the book--in my hand. Can't wait to read it! Congratulations and thank you! Suzanne, I am so excited to see that you have gotten the book published and that it’s on Amazon!!! Reading your feelings about B-day gives me an intimate look at how it feels to have accomplished this. What a journey!

Congratulations on sticking with this labor of love through all the ups and downs! The book cover is stunning and the website is beautifully done.

Right now I am holding the physical manifestation of your work–the book–in my hand. Can’t wait to read it! Congratulations and thank you!

]]> Comment on You’d have thought I was going on Oprah by Karen Latvala http://suzannegrenager.com/you%e2%80%99d-have-thought-i-was-going-on-oprah/#comment-30 Karen Latvala Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:58:49 +0000 http://barenakedinspiration.com/?p=123#comment-30 Suzanne, the website is LOVELY and user-friendly and, from looking at the photos, I would not guess that you had been awake all night :-). The experience you describe about dread before the photo session and revealing who you are in a bigger one is one I can relate to and empathize with. The important thing is YOU DID IT and you modeled it for the rest of us. Thank you! Suzanne, the website is LOVELY and user-friendly and, from looking at the photos, I would not guess that you had been awake all night :-) . The experience you describe about dread before the photo session and revealing who you are in a bigger one is one I can relate to and empathize with. The important thing is YOU DID IT and you modeled it for the rest of us. Thank you!

]]> Comment on Over the moon and under the porch—it’s B Day by Cindy Hamon-Hill http://suzannegrenager.com/over-the-moon-and-under-the-porch%e2%80%94it%e2%80%99s-b-day/#comment-29 Cindy Hamon-Hill Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:56:43 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=736#comment-29 Suzanne, The website looks terrific! I love that it appears so graceful, genuine, and complimentary to the book itself. The overall impressions I was left with were "warm and inviting"...more than that...dynamic and engaging!... with a wonderful splash of your own energy and personality that shines through. I particularly like how easy it is for a visitor to participate with you - to read your pages and hear your voice. Your website, like you, 'dances'. I love it. I'm happy for you. Suzanne,

The website looks terrific! I love that it appears so
graceful, genuine, and complimentary to the book itself. The overall
impressions I was left with were “warm and inviting”…more than
that…dynamic and engaging!… with a wonderful splash of your own
energy and personality that shines through. I particularly like how
easy it is for a visitor to participate with you – to read your pages
and hear your voice. Your website, like you, ‘dances’. I love it. I’m happy for you.

]]> Comment on Over the moon and under the porch—it’s B Day by Topsy http://suzannegrenager.com/over-the-moon-and-under-the-porch%e2%80%94it%e2%80%99s-b-day/#comment-28 Topsy Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:02:35 +0000 http://suzannegrenager.com/?p=736#comment-28 Suzanne, I love your blog. Keep writing. And after reading some of the excerpts for your book, I am anxious to read the whole thing. I am already inspired by what I have read. Just ordered the book from amazon.com. I wish you all the best in this endeavor. Suzanne, I love your blog. Keep writing. And after reading some of the excerpts for your book, I am anxious to read the whole thing. I am already inspired by what I have read. Just ordered the book from amazon.com. I wish you all the best in this endeavor.

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