Dare to Claim Your Right to be Your Own Queen

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There comes a time in every woman’s life when dreams of being a fairytale princess evolve into the realization that to fully embrace their potential, they must step into the next chapter and claim their right to be queen in their own lives. It’s time to reign over their Queendom and sit upon the throne of their own design.

Yet, too often, we hesitate. We stall and forestall. We tell ourselves we can’t step out and shine brightly or sing loudly—just in case others take notice. Just in case they talk, mock, or shun us.

Enough.

We are born to shine. We are born to cast off the limiting beliefs that push us into the shadows, dimming our light and our capacity to make a difference.

It’s one of the many gifts of aging. The realization that only we hold our unique gifts, and holding them tight denies the world the possibilities that open up when we share them.

Recently, someone asked if I feel self-conscious when speaking into the camera. “Feeling self-conscious is a form of false humility,” I replied. “I do it to inspire other women to do the same. Why feel self-conscious when what I’m doing is modeling bravery?”

Years ago, I wrote a story for my daughters called “Princess Iwannabe.” At the time, they were preteens, and I wanted to inspire them to cast off the need to fit in so that they could carve their own paths.

Princess Iwannabe resisted taking up her Queenly duties, preferring instead to sit around eating bonbons, waiting for her Prince Charming. When told she had to learn the duties of a Queen, she ran away from the castle. She had many adventures and ultimately discovered that the Prince Charming she was waiting for was never coming. Instead, she was waiting for herself to wake up to her own power.

Awakened, I am standing in my power and claiming my right to be Queen in my own life.

What about you?

Are you ready? Will you dare to cast off self-doubt and fear to step beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone into a whole new era of living wild and free in the land of your own Queendom?

Are you ready?

An Ode to the Eclipse (collaborative poem with Bandi Photography)

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I started to write this piece in a 2 minute writing process during yesterday morning’s meditation. —. It drifted in and out of my day, through a lunch with three friends of my sister Jackie. She used to have a semi-annual lunch with them before the fall that lead to her death last November. It was a beautiful time together that felt even more potent with the pending eclipse almost upon us. And then, during lunch, the moon passed in front of the moon but from where we sat, its happening was barely physically noticeable despite its energetic force. And still, it’s power lingered in tendrils of thoughts of the energy of the eclipse that kept slipping in and out of my mind’s eye. A late afternoon zoom interview with a woman for my upcoming 6 month course, ReEnvision Your Journey, that lead into an evening sharing dinner with my beloved, sitting back at my desk overlooking the river flowing with energy towards a distant sea. Effortlessly I slipped back into the quiet and the words spilled out.

And then, after penning it and searching for a photo on Unsplash, a photo appeared on the wonderful Bandiphotography.com ‘s FB page and I sent the poem to him to ask if he would be willing to collaborate.

I am grateful he said yes. ❤ Thank you Bandi for being such a beautiful creative soul and friend.

An Ode to the Eclipse 
by Louise Gallagher

Tapping in
to align
energy flowing
pregnant
with potent wholeness
calling
    Let go
    Welcome in
darkness
light
    Don’t be afraid
    Open up
    Become
shadow turning dark to light
    Become
the all you’ve dreamt into being
possible
    The all that has been holding
space
for you
to awaken
to your own potency
giving birth
to your dreams.

The Pie of Our Humanity (A poem for April- Poetry Month)

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I told a friend on the weekend that I believe the muse is always flowing. She does not discriminate. She does, however, pass on by if we do not turn towards her whisperings to let our creativity flow in whatever form we wish to express it.

I awoke this morning with an image of a pie and a memory of a description of how community is like a pie. The challenge is, often, there are some who want their piece of the pie who do not leave any pie for others.

Throughout the day, I kept coming back to the pie image, amidst a zoom and working on the marketing materials for my six month, ReEnvision Your Journey course I’m launching in May and a delightfully long and rich lunch with three women I haven’t spent a lot of time with but whose company I enjoyed immensely, I kept feeling the muse’s urgings that I write it out.

And so I did.

The Pie of All Humanity
by Louise Gallagher

In a world bent on othering,
we divide ourselves into slices,
forgetting, humanity is formed of one whole pie
born from a single human race.

We slice and dice,
casting aside pieces of the sumptuous whole
onto a refuse heap marked "unfit,"
discarded by those who claim the feast
is reserved for the few
deemed worthy
to sit at their table.

Fighting to keep the many from their feast,
they wield their knives 
with well-manicured hands,
hoarding the best parts
to preserve the richness of a banquet
laid out for an exclusive few.

Yet, in their quest to savour
only the choicest cuts,
they miss the pie’s true flavours:
its beauty lies in sharing,
in mingling tastes, aromas,
colours, and textures—
a masterpiece far surpassing any single slice
reserved for only those invited to the table.

We have sat at separate tables long enough,
heeding the few who decree
the pie cannot be shared by all.

It is time—
time to rise up from disparate tables,
to set a larger One
laid out with the beauty of all humanity
coming together
to enjoy the pie in its entirety,
where every slice enriches the many,
leaving none to feed on the crumbs 
left by the few.

Thank you Lady M (a poem for April Poetry Month)

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For the last few years, the gifted and soulful Brian Pearson has been the guide of an online community, The Mystic Cave, which offers sanctuary to those searching for spiritual depth beyond conventional religions.

Brian describes The Mystic Cave podcast as “a haven for seekers—narratives, dialogues, and musings on the spiritual quest beyond the boundaries of church land.”

Our paths crossed when I was organizing an annual Christmas benefit concert, to support formerly homeless veterans, at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Calgary. As the head pastor, Brian not only opened the church’s doors for the “Christmas at The Madison” benefit concert but also graced the event with his soothing voice and masterful guitar play, captivating everyone, including my daughters.

With time, Brian ventured beyond the church to establish The Mystic Cave and, in doing so, has become a cherished friend and mentor.

Today, as I listened to Brian’s conversation with the luminous Meredith Heller—poet, educator, musician, songwriter, and a woman of incandescent spirit—on his podcast, the muse stirred and whispered her melodious urgings into my heart.

In the stillness of the morning, with my beloved asleep beside me and Beaumont the Sheepadoodle stretched at our feet, I lay immersed in the quiet, attuned to the breathing that filled the room, a lullaby of presence.

I listened. I felt. I heard.

The words beckoned.

With the exquisite silence of dawn wrapped around me, following the tender gratitude in Brian’s sign-off and the lingering echo of Meredith’s poetry dedicated to Lady J, the words surged within me, spilling forth with fervent ease.

Thank you Lady M
by Louise Gallagher

Love found me
    broken
pieces scattered without
rhyme or reason
    lost
in the darkness  
of knowing
the way home
    was through  
the pain
    of having been
      broken
        open
           to Love.

May we all find the courage to surrender to the call of the creative flame within us. May it compel us to rise and fully experience this transient, stunning life in all its fleeting beauty and ephemeral joy flowing in the enduring nature of Love.

And may this April Poetry Month awaken you to the poetry of your life.

Namaste

Awakening – April Poetry Month

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April is Poetry Month. A month to create and celebrate words that rhyme, words that flow on gentle wisps of promise, words that stir hearts to dance and cry and spin about.

This is the third poem I’ve written this poetry month. It arose unbidden, like a memory awakened by the sound of a laugh, a retreating figure, a voice on the phone, as I sat down to journal this morning.

It seems to pair well with this image I created as part of my She Dares series.

I hope you feel the call this month to read a poem, share one, perhaps even cast one to a page in the hope the words will flow into images that make your heart want to dance as you come alive to the poetry of life.

How’s the Weather?

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I expect to receive an influx of photos of cherry blossoms bursting and daffodils rising their sunshiny heads towards clear blue skies from my family and friends on the west coast today.

It’s just the way it goes.

The weather here on the windward side of the Rocky Mountains is always entertaining and, for some reason, seems to bring out gleeful expressions of ‘so sorry it’s snowing’ from the west.

It’s okay. Whether I like it or not, it’s the weather. I still get to go outside and frolic and savour nature’s beauty.

Especially because Beaumont does not let me rest, no matter the weather!

How’s your weather?

Better yet! How’s your attitude? 🙂

There’s no age-limit on dreaming

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While strolling along the river’s still-frozen shoreline with Sir Beaumont the Sheepadoodle, a thought struck me with the suddenness of the squirrel that had crash-landed on our deck this morning, scrambling for an escape. This thought – “Why are you so concerned about aging, Louise?” – whirled through my mind, refusing to settle despite my efforts to focus on the present.

It was relentless. As if possessed a life of its own, operating independently from my conscious self. Ever experience that? When your mind feels detached, a whirlwind of thoughts you can’t seem to control?

Right. And there I am wandering off topic. Back to the present…

The crux of my concern isn’t so much the personal fear of aging. It’s about our societal attitudes towards aging and how these collective perceptions shape not only our individual beliefs but our experiences as we age. They influence how we see ourselves, our abilities to contribute and find meaning, and our place within families, communities, and society at large.

Society’s view on aging deeply affects our personal viewpoints, beliefs and actions.

But there’s more to it than societal perceptions. The frequency and tone of portrayals of aging in advertising, movies, social media, and other media forms often diminishes as we grow older, making us feel invisible or irrelevant. This invisibility, this sense of being wrong for aging, is deeply concerning.

In my time working in the homeless-serving sector, I strived to change narratives individuals experiencing homelessness, our perceptions of homelessness and how we support those living it. I made an impact.

Now, as an older adult, I’m dedicated to altering perceptions around aging. My mission is to rekindle a sense of wonder and power in living and aging, encouraging individuals to embrace this journey fuelled by the knowledge they are not irrelevant or without agency. Our wisdom, experience, contributions make a difference.

So yes, I do ponder on aging a lot. Not out of fear, but out of love.

Aging comes with its set of unknowns and changes. However, I’d rather meet these changes head-on, actively participating in my own aging process, than hide away, passively awaiting the end.

I aspire to live each day fully, infusing every moment with wonder, awe, and curiosity. To keep unfolding my dream of a world where every life has value, no matter their age, origin or fairth. Let my every breath be a testament to a life lived beyond the confines of complacency, striving always to create better.

Let my every act inspire others to take action to engage with their aging in love with their dreams unfolding and their life well-lived.

_____________________________________________

If you are interested in learning more about how to age with passion, purpose and pizzazz, join me on April 12 at 9am MT, for my 90 minute free masterclass, Radiant Bold Aging. (Click on image below to register)

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“Joy transcends age; it’s not confined to youth. It’s a universal treasure that spans all ages, reminding us that to experience joy we must embrace the journey of life with love, laughter, gratitude and compassion every day.” Louise Gallagher

As I sit before my computer navigating various sites to launch thep of unveiling another chapter of the Radiant Bold Aging Masterclass, and transforming my two-month ReEnvision Your Journey program into a six-month quest to champion women in crafting the life of their dreams, age notwithstanding, my journal pages have blossomed with musings on JOY.

What essence it holds, whence it springs. What, if anything, fills its void when it gently slips away? In its absence, where do I seek refuge? And why, oh why, does joy hold such paramount importance?

These existential ponderings, to me, are not just intriguing—they are essential quests for understanding.

Today, merrily working in my studio, with the melody of birdsong heralding spring to the barren branches of the trees that line the riverbank, and sunlight dancing on the snow-blanketed earth of our backyard, I found myself cradled in the sheer joy of the present.

Joy—like an ocean wave—envelops me, washing away the remnants of turmoil. It saturates my being when I cease to engage with joy’s thieves: resentment, regret, anger, sorrow, and the mundane grievances against the world’s bad drivers and the monotony of customer service scripts. Ah, those familiar foes.

I’ve come to realize that irrespective of age, emotions crash upon the shores of my consciousness, uninvited. To truly know Joy, I must allow these feelings to be swallowed by the temporal tides, and in their stead, embrace love, self-compassion, mindfulness, and the endless possibilities each moment holds.

In such moments, my heart feels lighter, my thoughts as clear as the rainbow stretching across the sky after a storm, and I am embraced once more with Joy.

Such a profound, exquisite blessing.

_______________________________________________

Click image to register

What is this Aging Thing Anyway?

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Breaking News! Every single day, we’re all getting a little older.

I know, right? It’s pretty mind-blowing when you stop and think about it.

But here’s the thing: there’s this moment, this elusive line we cross, where suddenly it feels like the world is tapping us on the shoulder and saying, “Hey, guess what? You’re not just aging gracefully anymore. You’re officially ‘old’.”

Especially in our western society, where youth is worshipped and older folks often get sidelined, ignored in mainstream media, and sort of pushed to the sidelines of our conversations.

This past weekend, Third Action Film Festival held their 2024 Film Festival — a festival focused on shifting the narrative around aging to more age postive through sharing film and programs that tell the stories of older adults and the remarkable, everyday lives they lead. For a film or documentary to be eligible for the festival, the leading character must be over 65.

Those types of films and stories are hard to find, not because there aren’t a lot of older actors and people capable of starring in the films and documentaries. Nope. It’s because of a thing called ‘symbolic annihilation’. That’s where a certain group or cohort (like older people) are under-represented or simply not portrayed in mass media, including film, advertising and the internet.

As humans, when we don’t see ourselves represented in the media we consume, we begin to feel invisible, like our stories don’t matter, like we don’t matter. It can lead to feelings of isolation, aloneness, confusion and despair. Who am I if no one else sees me and I can’t see myself in what everyone else is seeing? Do I matter?

As an age and aging activist, I believe we all matter. We all make a difference, and as Mother Theresa suggests, this ocean of life in which we are all collectively swimming would be so much less without each of our drops.

Fact is, one day, each of our drops will evaporate from this ocean of life. It is part of the circle of life. Let’s not fade any drops out before their time. Let’s hold each drop as precious, every life as important to the whole of life.

So instead of fading into old age, let’s fade out that invisible line between getting older, and being ‘old’. Let’s start celebrating older age as a gift, a privilege, an amazing state of being present in this world.

‘Cause, the fact is, regardless of how old I am, my life will never be old to me.

What about you? What do you do to keep your life from becomng old news? Are you aging with passion, purpose, pizzazz?

_______________________________

If you’re craving some tips on how to age with passion, purpose, and pizzazz, I’ve got a few spots left for my Radiant Bold Aging masterclass tomorrow. Check it out and join the party! Find out more HERE

Oh, and full disclosure: I didn’t make it to the festival this year. Life got busy, and I needed to hit the pause button for some much-needed self-care. But from what I’ve heard, it was one heck of an event. And you know what? I’m not even feeling the FOMO, because I had the most wonderful, rejuvenating weekend which culminated with dinner with friends and family. Sometimes, that’s just what the soul needs.

Discovery Seminars: Are you willing to explore your possibilities?

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Imagine spending five days diving deep into the core of your being, challenging the thoughts and habits that hold you back from joy, growth, happiness, love and so much more.

This past week, coaching at the Discovery Seminars, I did all of that and more. From the lightbulb moments of self-forgiveness to the awakening of personal power and the unfolding of miracles, the journey was full of inspiring moments and transformation.

It all begins for trainees at noon on Wednesday. People walk in with a full spectrum of emotions: reluctance, desperation, hesitation, excitement, and even anger. Some are unsure why they are there or what they are seeking, or have come simply to please their boss or get a loved one of their back. Others are holding onto a last thread of hope they will find a reason to take another next step.

As the days unfold, so dp the stories shared. There are so many moments that stand out for me: someone who walked in skeptical about what was in the room for them realizing their worth. Another finding the courage to release shame by sharing something they’ve never told anyone. Another choosing to forgive themselves; breaking through a barrier that had once seemed insurmountable. These acts of courage and vulnerability became a continuous thread of turning points, transforming the seminar room into a sanctuary of empathy, understanding and loving kindness.

Through guided discussions, reflective exercises, and shared experiences, we delved into the habits and thoughts that trigger unhealthy responses. The process wasn’t just about identifying these triggers but learning how to confront and reshape them.

And then, the fifth day happened. Everything changed. It wasn’t just one event but a culmination of moments, insights, and revelations that led to this transformation. Participants who had walked in carrying the weight of their pasts were now looking forward with determination, their faces and hearts alight with hope. Others found a friend to lean on. Others a shared experience to grow through. Others a glimmer of possibility to take in and nurture its flame.

For me, one of the most beautiful momments is always watching the trainees say goodbye. When a group of strangers gathered on Wednesday, they held themselves separate. Now, in their goodbyes, it’ss clear that the bonds formed were unique and profound. They weren’t just leaving with new friends; they were leaving with a new perspective on life. The power of hope was palpable, urging everyone to not let the lessons fade but to actively apply them in their pursuit of a life free from past regrets and pains.

I spent five days in the Discovery Seminars room last week. I am changed. I am inspired.. I am grateful.

So, here’s my challenge to you:  Are you willing to reflect on the habits and thoughts that may be holding you back? What if… you decided to confront the habits and thoughts that are keeping you playing small in a supportive, transformative environment like Discovery Seminars? What if… you decided living at a 6 isn’t enough — and to find your 8 or 9 or 10, you choose to explore something new? What if… you decided you’re worth fighting for?

Fact is, on Wednesday at noon, few people walk into the Discovery Seminars room eager to dive into the essence of what drives them to do the things they do that keep them falling down, beating themselves up, or playing small.

And yet, on Sunday, people always walk out grateful they did.