Rainy Days and Fridays

There's an old Carpenters song (I know, I'm showing my age) called "Rainy Days and Mondays." Kind of a sad tune, really. The lyrics moan, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down."

Strangely, I've always loved the rain! Water of any kind, actually. I'm definitely a water-person, true to my Pisces birth sign (for however much you can put stock in that sort of thing). I do my best relaxing, writing or music composition when it's raining. I like it best when it's a gentle mist or a slow and steady pitter-pat that brings life and refreshment to our thirsty planet. But thunderstorms are also a favorite. I won't tell how many times I've probably risked my life, walking under a cloud-tossed sky to gaze, mesmerized, into the electric horizon as thunder boomed and rain drenched me to the skin.

Today, I rose to welcome a cool-and-misty kind of day. A Friday.
"Rainy days and Fridays always make me smile."

Just finished an a-MAZ-ing bowl of black bean soup, seasoned perfectly, and have now begun to devour a plate full of nachos. No meetings this afternoon...just writing away in my office. So I went for the full monty - onions, jalapenos, the works. Yum. Along with Yellow Tail after a long, hard day, good food makes me deliriously happy.Or maybe it's just the fact it's Friday. And I'm blogging. And I know in a few more hours, I'll be home to rest and enjoy the weekend with the most important people in the world...my family.

I've been thinking a lot. About women in my life - special women I know, respect and love. About how we tend to try to carry the burdens of the world on our own shoulders. How we feel compelled to heal the hurts, wipe the tears, fix the brokenness and mend the wounds of others. And how, in the process of yielding to our compassionate, nurturing souls, we occasionally risk forgetting to take care of ourselves. I know some women like this. Do you? Are you one of them?

I guess I want to say--to all my sisters out there--make time to take time to recharge your own batteries. Do what you love. Feed your own soul. Laugh out loud. Be silly. Paint a picture. Dance in your shower. Get all dressed up and take yourself to lunch. For 5 minutes, just look in the mirror to admire your natural beauty without make-up, tanning lotion or worrying over your weight.

Learn to revel in your grace and passion and power while still being okay with your own tenderness and vulnerability. Women are made to be complex. It's part of our mystique. It's part of how we make our own unique worlds a little finer, a little richer and a little more amazing.

Today, I'm glad to be a woman. Glad to be eating nachos. Glad it's Friday. And glad it's raining.

From the words of a more contemporary tune, "This one's for the girls." Make it a great day...wherever you are and whatever you do. Rock on, sisters.