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Passionate Musings
By Cornelia Powell | September 10, 2008
Musing on what I’m “passionate” about has been swirling in my life lately: researching and writing books (and getting them published!), creating products that bring an abundance of spirit to all, readying to move in to my little “green” cabin on my magical “bed of crystals” mountainside, being in the glory of these beautiful western North Carolina mountains (I’m nestled between the Blue Ridge and the Smokies), and sweet connections with new friends.
In the midst of all this, my “Internet” friend, Ann Grogan of ROMANTASY: Exquisite Corsetry, sent me an article she wrote to possibly use on one of my sites. So I wanted to share it with you. If custom-made corsets don’t get your passionate juices flowing, then perhaps baseball will! Here’s an excerpt from the article by Ann, titled Baseball & Brides:
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“Baseball and brides — an unlikely combination you say?
“So I thought until I received Cornelia’s latest inspirational e-newsletter for brides-to-be. Her newsletter always motivates me to pause during my busy day to re-focus on what really matters. (I’m glad for our serendipitous connection via the miraculous Internet which, despite its drawbacks, can be connectivity at its best.)
”I recently saw the public television show ‘Between the Lines’ and host Barry Kubrick’s interview of baseball great and author, Cal Ripkin, Jr. When Cal used the phrase ’stay within yourself’ it caught my attention.
“As I understand it, although I haven’t read his book Get In the Game, it was when Cal’s expectations of himself got too high that he let himself down based on his actual performance. However, when he ’stayed within himself’ — stayed true to himself — he made the most evident and personally rewarding progress in his performance as an athlete and his role as a husband and family man.
“I mused on how his observation might apply to my life and experience, and to my personal appreciation for, and love and understanding of, fine custom corsetry.
“As the proprietress of a custom corset business, I immediately thought of the figure ’staying within’ the confines of a foundation garment or a fine corset. (Incidentally, in Victorian times, corsets were called ’stays’ or ‘a pair of stays,’ so Cal’s comments seem particularly appropriate to my corset musings!)
“I advise my clients — including brides-to-be — about the best style and design options as well as best construction techniques that will result in a garment that will comfortably control their entire torso. For brides, this ensures that they will ’stay within’ their gown, creating the lovely enhanced image desired for their wedding day.
“Cal’s comment also reminded me of one of the key principles I use to guide my life: never take myself too seriously. When I tend to let my ego get out of control and not ’stay within’ my true self and recognize what’s real, unhappiness inevitably follows.
“I notice that when my bridal clients ’stay within’ their own spirit and focus on the purpose of their upcoming celebration, my design sessions and fittings with them go smoothly and happily. (And I bet this spills over into their wedding experience as well.)
“Here’s to your ongoing commitment to live a life that ’stays within’ the heart of your personal bliss!”
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Thanks, Ann…..and do you want to know more about Ann Grogan? She continues her musings from her Baseball & Brides article about two of her passions — her 18 year-old business and story of personal romance (”at my amazingly ripe old age of almost 65 years young!”). Read on…
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”I struggled, basically by myself, for the first eight long years owning and operating a lingerie boutique in San Francisco. I invested far more personal energy and finances than perhaps I should have before accepting the reality that I was paddling up stream. I was afraid to give up and close my store, mainly because I had invested so much emotionally in what others might think of me and my ‘failure.’
“It was only when I stepped outside the paradigm of ‘failure’ and replaced it with one of ‘transition’ that I was able to move on to embrace the marvelous new opportunities the Internet presented for me. I am now going on ten much happier and more successful years thanks to ’staying within’ what was consistent with my heart’s desire!
“Regarding romance, it was not until I ‘gave up’ making lists of and visualizing qualities I wanted in my ‘perfect partner’ and started to focus on becoming more of the person I wanted to be — and living the quality of daily life that increased my deep personal satisfaction — that, at age 58, my life partner appeared. When I started to focus more specifically on and ’stay within’ the core values in which I believed, the universe sent — and more to the point, I was able to recognize — the treasure who is my loving partner today.”
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Many thanks again, Ann, for your insights and passion!
Cornelia
Topics: Costume, For Brides, Inspiration, Relationship, Women's Notes |