Dear Friends,
I have been glued to my desk since January 20th, trying to find the right message to send you. I write these letters from my heart, and my heart is heavy right now.
My struggle has been about balance. I'm keenly aware that women in our community have a diverse set of views and values. We don't agree with each other on everything, and that's a good thing. It makes us stronger. Because I serve our whole community as executive director, I normally focus only on common threads, aspects of everyday life that bind us together.
As I write to you this time, however, I feel it would be disingenuous to ignore the flood of unprecedented changes that are being implemented in our country. I don't want to be like a reporter on the evening news who does a piece on spring planting while standing in the middle of a hurricane.
I ask those of you with other points of view to give me grace as I share what is true for me: I am far from okay with what is happening right now. I feel shell-shocked and vulnerable. I'm angry, but also quite afraid. And along with all of that, I am grateful beyond words that I'm not standing out here in dangerous weather all by myself.
Leading Women's Connection isn't really a "job" for me. I am here because I believe in us. I know from personal experience -- and research has proven -- that friendships are an essential ingredient in a happy and healthy life. Women's Connection members understand each other, encourage each other, make each other laugh. We know how to lift each other up, and we're doing that now, on overdrive.
Building our future
As we enter our 25th year, the Board and I are focused on making it as easy as possible for members to cement meaningful relationships with each other. One clear priority is to ensure that a peer group or special interest group (SIG) is available to every member who wants to be part of one. Our small groups are time-tested paths to deep friendships. They are a safe place where we talk with each other, play with each other, and get to know each other well.
We all have a role in building our future. Everything you enjoy as a member is a gift from another dues-paying member who donated her time and talents to you. This makes our all-volunteer community something like a potluck; everyone brings something for the table. If you haven't been actively engaged recently, please think about what your contribution will be. I guarantee that "giving" will bring you great satisfaction, and a lot of fun as well.
Savoring the present
I am personally looking for more ways to meet with women in person. I was thrilled to have lunch last Friday with two of our original members, Bethene LeMahieu and Anita Jaffe. As you'll see in the story Anita wrote for this newsletter, they met at one of our events more than 20 years ago and remain very close friends today.
Bethene said something during our lunch that stuck with me: "It's in the doing that friendships are formed." I couldn't agree more. Shared experiences, time spent together, are what bring friendships to life and keep them going. Her words inspired me to check in with an old friend I haven't seen for a long time. We took a leap and went to a movie together. We laughed ourselves silly on the way home. It felt unbelievably good.
Life on earth has always been challenging in one way or another. No matter what's going on in our lives, it's important to maintain a healthy perspective. You'll find 10 anxiety-reducing strategies later on in this newsletter with the title "How to Stay Strong".
Please make it a priority to take care of yourself. I can personally recommend going to lunch or a movie with friends!
Love,
Darla Hastings
Executive Director