Are there secrets to being a wise, well woman?
Am I a wise, well woman?
And for that matter, what is a wise, well woman?
When can I consider myself a wise, well woman? Do I earn that designation somehow and do I have to be “old” to be wise? Maybe when I’m old, someone will tell me.
If I asked you to describe a woman who is wise, what would you say? What words come to mind?
Gentle, kind, thoughtful, like a grandmother…
Smart, intelligent, perceptive, like a college professor…
Caring, compassionate, intuitive, like a nurse…
Selfless, giving, open-hearted, like Mother Theresa…
And to be well, means to be what?
Physically and emotionally healthy.
Balanced.
Centered.
At peace with oneself.
Miriam Webster’s online dictionary tells us
To be WISE is: characterized by wisdom: marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment; and suggests a great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.
To be WELL is: To live to an extent approaching completeness; without doubt or question; in a kindly or friendly manner; with skill or aptitude; where wellness is the quality or state of being in good health especially as an actively sought goal.
For me, the secret to being a wise, well woman is really no secret at all!
A wise, well woman is one who presents her authentic self to the world
each and every day, with joy and pride, and encourages others to do the same.
She shares her truth with courage, openly and honestly.
With passion, the wise, well woman lives life on life’s terms.
She chooses each moment to step bravely in the direction of her higher purpose.
The wise, well woman extends love to all.
She is guided by a deep faith in the God of her choosing, and
she carries a message of hope to all those in need.
And who might I use as a role model? Pat and Ruth Williams compiled a wonderful book called “How to Be Like Women of Influence”, full of more than enough incredible women to chose from:
Mary Kay Ash, Anne Frank, Golda Meir, Helen Keller, Oprah Winfrey, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Teresa, and Sandra Day O’Connor, are just a few mentioned here.
Each of these women has been an inspiration to so many! Who is your “woman of influence”?
And who might you be influencing today?
Someone is looking up to you. Are you living as a wise, well woman?
In the spirit of wisdom, wellness, and prosperity-
Nanette, aloha. Congratulations on the almost two year anniversary of your blog. That’s fantastic! Not too many blogs make it to such a blogiversary.
Nanette, I love your description of a wise well woman and I happy to say that I have long lived my life that way.
Since I am going to be heading on over to Amazon soon to order some books, I will definitely check out “How to be Like Women of Influence.”
Wishing you a wise, well and wonderful week, Nanette. Aloha. Janet
I wish you a wise, well and wonderful week, too, Janet.
Funny, when you mentioned blogiversary, I had to go back to check…I actually started posting back in the fall of 2008. Truth be told, I didn’t let anyone know I was writing for quite some time- almost a year, as I recall.
And here we are.
I appreciate your support and all who stop by to connect and to share.
Thank you.
Sending you many blessings-
Nanette
Dear Nanette,
I enjoy reading “The Secret to Living as a Wise Well Woman ” as you tell us.
I don’t feel enough now a wise well woman but …
It’s really wonderful to come here that makes me feel I have someone ” the wise well woman- Nanette” I can follow with. And Janet too. 😀
So I am pleased to be a wise well woman in the future. =)))
Much Love with my lovely heart,
Yen.
Yen,
I am so inspired by young women today, who, like you, have found their way to claiming their unique voice in the world, often through blogging.
Enjoy the journey. I believe the greatest lesson I’ve learned is that “I already have inside everything I need to be the very best I can be” — I just have to make time and space to listen to the voice of my inner wisdom.
In the quiet, you will here yours, too.
I wish you well-
Nanette
That’s awesome. Amazing post. Congratulations on completing 2 years anniversary of your blog
Have a great day.
Hi Dev-
This post evolved from a journal entry quite some time ago…as have many of my posts. My blog actually began back in October 2008 as literally an online extension of my personal journal. Back then, I didn’t do anything to encourage people to see it. It was almost a year before I had the “shell” done professionally so I could begin to put it out into the world.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the content.
Wishing you well-
Nanette
Hi Nanette!
I like your definitions of wise well woman. I definitely live authentically and passionately and have wisdom to share.
But I am not sure I am living life on life’s terms completely. I’m still trying to get away with a few things. Like last week’s pineapple pound cake cookies and my current avoidance of exercise.
Great post!
Jeanine
Oh, Jeanine, I just had to smile when I read your description of “trying to get away with a few things” and “last week’s pineapple pound cake.”
And I, too, have been avoiding exercise. UGH!
I’m practicing my baby steps on that one.
Wishing you well-
Nanette
HI Nanette,
Your description of a Wise Well Woman is awesome…. perhaps it can also be applied to a man? Looking at your criteria, I see no sex bias 🙂
Presenting one’s true self to the world is so important for being in integrity with oneself and having a feeling of genuineness to all you connect with.
It’s a great aspiration for both men and women!
Thanks for the though-provoking post, Nanette!
Yes, Bob, I believe it can be applied to a man, just the same, and your appreciation for the post certainly confirms that fact.
I’ve toyed with the idea of integrating some discussion about “wise well men” into my writing, and it looks like you’ve just pushed me to explore that sooner rather than later :-).
Thanks for the inspiration-
Wishing you well-
Nanette
Wonderful explanation of what is being a wise well woman. I am pretty sure that all women will benefit from what you are saying. And I am happy to say that I am so far being a wise well woman.
And, many congratulations! That is a big achievement.
Jane.
I am glad to hear that you are “being a wise well woman”, Jane.
And I know you are sharing your wisdom in the world, too.
Good for you!
Wishing you well-
Nanette
Hey Nanette,
I like to think of my mum and grandmother, both of them are still alive. They exemplify what you wrote and I am so proud of them.
They might not be as popular as the women you mentioned but I still adore them all the same.
Women are integral part of our lives and how so thankful to God I am to them.
Thanks for putting a lovely piece together. And congrats on your anniversary. Nothing to be sneezed at honestly.
Cheers!
~Tosin
How right you are, Tosin. Our mothers and grandmothers are often the best example of “wise well women” we’ll ever know. It’s beautiful that you can think of yours in this way, and pay tribute to them by honoring them here.
I send you and your family many blessings-
Nanette
Hi Nanette,
I think two women I consider wise and well (besides my wife, that is) are Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mother Theresa. These women all live by faith, making their decisions based on things that can’t be seen. This makes them perceptive and loving, because these qualities come from a power that can’t be seen. Great things to be posting about, Nanette! Thanks for sharing.
Lou
Thank you, Lou, for expanding our thoughts about mothers.
With a little love, faith and hope all things are possible, yes?
Sending you many blessings-
Nanette
These sure do sound like qualities I strive to attain, Nanetta, but I feel that I have a long way to go. Wisdom seems to come with experience and I feel like I have plenty of mistakes left to make. Nevertheless, you’re right that I can be influencing others, so I hope that I continue to have a kind heart and that I can continue to be humble as I gain wisdom.
Wellness is something I definitely need to work on as well. I need to take care of myself more because I spend hours and hours thinking of everyone else but myself — although, sometimes I wonder if this is characteristic of women. =P
Thanks so much for having me think about this, Nanette! =)
Samantha-
I believe we all have everything we need inside of ourselves– our inner wisdom– and our hardest job is figuring out how to listen and to hear when our inner voice speaks. The experiences that teach us don’t always have to be mistakes — we can learn from moments of simple joy, too.
May you find peace in knowing that the wisdom you seek is already there–
Nanette
The record for the oldest documented age for a person is Jeanne Calment who died at the verified age of 122 years, 164 days in 1997 in her native France. Christian Mortensen, who lived until the ripe old age of 115 years, 252 days passed away in April 1998 was the oldest man documented.