Motivational Speak and Empowerment....

 Oxford Dictionary:

Empowerment definition:
the authority or power given someone to do something
or
the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.

Motivational Speak:
Emotional message and purpose...yaddah yaddah...and so forth.

So there are some gals holding a Woman's Retreat to help Empower women so they can meet challenges in life. Yoga, Self Defense, Hike in Nature, Catered Lunch, Motivational Speaker, and so forth for a whole day. 

One of the gals who I know through the gym was asking me if I would attend. I  gave an evasive answer because even though I'd love to spend the day doing stuff with these women pals, I wasn't exactly comfy with the whole scenario. 

There is a nearly $200 price tag for the day. It would probably be a lot of fun. Even at my age, the word "Networking" comes to mind. These women own businesses and are pretty impressive on their own.

But the word EMPOWERMENT kept nagging at me. To me it means something different???

After a day of using the air compressor, a drill, a saw, a mini chain saw, handling chores, moving mules around, checking to see why one mule had a sore foot, watering, cooking for the two of us and sorting meds for the next week.............I sat back on a overturned bucket in the shed. 
I decided to think about this event. 

Conquering Through: Facing Challenges!!! 

Hmmm. 

I'm a Caregiver and I also take care of our little 'farm' and all the decisions that have to do with the house/farm maintenance.
Facing challenges? Most of you know that folks who care for others do face daily challenges and not the kind that will be talked about by a Motivational Speaker.

I mean, if I was there, could I contribute on how to handle a loved one when bathing them? How to agree with someone who knows the sky IS purple today? 

I don't think that is going to be anywhere near what is going to be covered. 

Back to Empowerment. 
Empowerment definition:
the authority or power given someone to do something
or
the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.

Yep. I wanted a tree swing for years. Yesterday I gave myself
the authority and power to do it.

I also wanted to trim a tree and build a spot
where I could watch deer from a place 
in another tree. So I built a place for my

morning coffee..
while I sit in the little stand with my 
back against the massive trunk.

The view from this little stand allows me
to gaze over our little meadow and
the neighbor's land to the east.
I can see the house from here and yet
I can feel removed from indoors and
feel surrounded by
nature.

Oh heck, by the end of the day I felt pretty powerful errrr, empowered? 

It is nice that I was asked [now over and over!]. But I wonder if those that are in charge of organizing the Retreat realize that I am a generation ahead of them. The target age of those organizing and running the retreat and those going are in their 30's and 40's.

I'm sort of torn between wanting to go and thinking that there is really nothing in it for me. I am curious though as to what this next generation is thinking. 
That would be interesting.

I mean, I recall burning bras! I recall title IX which allowed females to play sports! It was a civil right for women! 

Suddenly I was able to play on a team and not just after school intramurals. 

Bam! One year later women gained more access to health care with Roe V Wade.
I understand that the younger women of today are facing all sorts of challenges that are different from my generation.

Should I go? Hmmm? The worst that could happen...is that I learn something from a different perspective.

So there you go....

My Inspirational and Motivational Thought today?

Last note: Red Flag Warning for us through tonight and tomorrow. YIKES!

Should I?

Wakey Wakey...
to yet
another significant snowfall...

The front open pasture with the bale ring ... view off the porch before I started chores...

The mules. They were moving around to the different hay piles and later, took snow baths.

At 11:30 I walked up the driveway to the neighbor's house to bottle feed Sven. So named because they have a white goat named Elsa. The movie Frozen, seems to have a pattern here this January and February.

Sven is doing wonderfully. I am in current negotiations with the neighbors...well...actually with trying to approach my husband about keeping Sven to do the weed clean up work that Little Richard won't do.

Besides. I think pulling a kid goat and holding him and clearing his airways...and being the first thing he smells in life...may have done something to me..and to him.
Just call it silly, but I feel a special thump in my heart when I see him.

He is small now, but will be a full sized Lamancha [goat with the itty bitty ears]. As he is a male, they will whether him and sell him. They have offered to let me have him for free.

Could you say no?

I've raised goats before and know what a pain in the ___ they can be. And I also know how fun they can be, as well as useful.

Hmmm.

PT appt for Rich today. Our driveway is plowed, but I'll have to do some clean up work later today.
And prepare for the next 6 inch snow fall predicted to come in tomorrow evening through Wednesday.

18" of snow since last week. Well. I guess I could go enjoy a snowshoe adventure this afternoon? Or ski?
Make snow fun while the snow lasts...

Sven.
Hmmmmm.....

Edit....
I don't know if Rich knows that he just agreed to let Sven come and live here or not. I sort of was vague and indicated that Sven would be excellent for clean up of weeds with Lil' Richard. Lil' Richard doesn't it noxious weeds, but Sven will.

Yes to Sven.