motivational speaker

E and I met (I don't know how many) years ago when I worked for a local downtown business group and she owned a marvelous shop in the same local downtown. she was the first woman I had ever met that had such vision. such insight. such vitality. her enthusiasm was contagious. she was full of ideas. ideals. I learned so much from her then. and, in the course of what seems to me mere minutes later, I am still learning.

so last night E and I met for supper - as we do occasionally and quite truthfully, altogether too infrequently. and over a glass of wine and a plate of nachos, we solve all the problems of the world - or OUR little corner of it. we talk about our kids. mutual businesses. mutual friends. mutual not-so-friends. and what we want to be when we grow up (both of us works still in progress).

she is the one that got me started in this amazing blogging world. and we have long conversations about new blogs we come across. delightful friends we have yet to meet but read. posts that have wowed us. and how to make our own on-line diaries prettier. happier. tech-ier.

last night she asked me about my new undertaking to work with the homeless teen population in Georgetown. as we chatted she shared such a simple revolution - offer these teens skills. simple hands-on training that will not only boost their skills enabling them to join the workforce, but their self-esteem. E is an accomplished seamstress. and she suggested that she could go in and give sewing lessons. perhaps donate a sewing machine. Voilà! it was a light bulb moment for me (as many E-isms have been for me over the years). and I will take her suggestion (along with my willingness to coordinate the effort) back to a friend that sits on the board for this project. and my head (and heart) raced thinking of all the factions that could contribute. I am giddy with excitement. promise. potential. oh the possibilities.

so thank you my friend. you continue to utterly. completely. uniquely. inspire me.

'but oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.'