Love Story

This story was sent to me by a regular reader and I wanted to share it with you for "Love Thursday":

"You know I do hair up at the nursing home here on Wednesdays. There is a lady up there whose hair I have done for awhile. Anyway, I have to tell you about her and her husband. The funny thing is they are Mr. and Mrs. Wright and trust me they are right for each other.

"She is in the Alzheimer unit and she is very mobile walks all over the place constantly. She is lucky if she weighs 80 pounds soaking wet and maybe in her 20s was 5 feet tall on a good day. She is also a former hairstylist. She is someone who doesn't speak much. When she tries to talk it is just babble. She is kinda grouchy (but I love her to death). She is resistant to go with me (or anyone) to have her hair done (or anything for that matter). So I learned a long time ago to call her husband when I had to work with her.

"When she sees him walk in the room she is a totally different person. She is calm, smiles, knows him. Calls him honey. She will do anything he tells her with a smile on her face. The funny thing is she is all over him. He sits next to her in a chair while I am giving her a perm and she likes to face him and put her legs up on his lap (smiling the entire time). When she is turned in the chair she will contort herself to touch him. The way they look at each other is like something in a movie. It is like they are 16 yrs old and it is their first love. You have to remember they are in their 80s and have been married forever and have 3 grown kids.

"It is almost something you have to witness because it is hard to describe the interaction between the two of them. It is witnessing true love. In today's day and age I don't think we see that and if you have that you are extremely lucky. He is up there a couple times a day to see and he worries about her so much. It makes me wonder if my marriage is that strong (I'd like to think so). They have the kind of relationship that no matter what your age you are envious of! Even though there is nothing at all dirty about it, it is almost like no one should be able to witness the intimacy there, and see the love, trust, and connection but there is no way not to. When you leave them you are happier person. If everyone had this kind of relationship there would be no divorce in the world.

"You don't have to use this story. It is just something I thought I would share with you since you are like me and like these happy, emotional stories. I just thought a story like should be shared."

I agree.

Have a great Thursday, everyone. May your day be full of love.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session with Wanda email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

For the working woman--

Check this out!

Sean at Sean's Horse Farm and Family Blog was looking for some coveralls for his wife. Any woman who has ever looked for good quality work clothes knows how hard it is to find clothes that fit well the feminine form. Well, Sean found them.

Go to Charm and Hammer to find safety gear for the hard working woman in your life. (Looks like something Rosie would wear, doesn't it?) Sean suggests, "If you have a blog, why not spread the word and support Charm and Hammer, a woman owned store in Apex, NC."

Great idea, Sean. Thanks for supporting woman owned businesses. Let's all do what we can to help them out and spread the word.

If you buy something, let me know how it works for you. I'd love to hear.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session with Wanda, email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

What do you stand for?

The village was threatened by a tribe of barbarians. The inhabitants were abandoning their houses and fleeing to a safer place. At the end of a year they had all left – except a group of Jesuits.

The army of barbarians entered the city without any resistance and held a great feast to commemorate the victory. In the middle of the dinner a priest appeared.

“You came in here and drove out peace. I beg you to leave at once.”

“Why haven’t you fled yet?” shouted the chief of the barbarians. “Don’t you see that I can run you through with my sword without blinking an eye?”

The priest answered calmly: “Don’t you see that I can be run through by a sword without blinking an eye?”

Surprised by such serenity before death, the chief of the barbarians and his tribe abandoned the place the next day.

Thanks again to Warrior of Light for this story.

Sometimes all it takes to disarm a bully is to call his bluff...and when you really mean what you say, the odds go up exponentially. You don't always have to be ready to die for what you believe in to get the point across. Speak your truth in love. Easier said than done? Yes. The more I practice this art, however, the easier it becomes.

I don't like confrontation. When I must confront, I work on being centered. I state my truth. I name the problem. Even if I am afraid, I hold love and compassion out in front. I stand in my strength...with gentleness. I know what I know.

The more I find my center, the less I need to be combative to make my point. No fear. Just truth. I want to be like the priest in this story. No fuss. No muss.

We can all do it. Tell me about yours. I'd love to hear.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session, email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

Love Thursday - True Confessions

(All credit to the unknown photographer)

When I was of the age that young girls do such things, I practiced making out. The "object of my affection" was a stuffed penguin. Not taxidermied--stuffed. Like teddy bear stuffed.

Not many people know this about me. When we played Three Truths and a Lie, my osculations with the family Spheniscidae was one of my truths. Now my sister knows. It was her penguin. Hope she doesn't mind.

I prefer my practice partner to this kid's...but, to each her own.

Any truths you want to confess? I'd love to hear.

Wanda Tucker, Coach


For a free 1/2 hour coaching session with Wanda, please email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

Three truths and a lie

[Note: This was originally posted on February 4, 2006. For some reason, it never showed up as a post. So here it is. I guess it is just one of those technological quirks that happens sometimes.]

We laughed. We laughed hard and long. None of us wanted to stop playing, but a couple of us had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to go to the airport, and the reality of a short night of sleep brought us to the end of the games.

Jasmin (see the post on October 26, 2005) invited me to her birthday dinner. Seven of us spent the evening celebrating the anniversary of her entering this world. We ate good food and shared each others' company, the way good friends do, and we played games.

Tracy heard of a game on the radio that he brought to the party. Three Truths and a Lie. You come up with four statements about yourself...three truths and one lie. Then you share all four statements with the group and let the others guess which of the four is the lie. Talk about a way to get to know your friends better! The stories behind the truths made Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures pale in comparison.

We shared facts from the ridiculous to the profane. Since it was a late night adult party, some of the topics were even R rated. And we had so many laughs, we played another round and another.

How long has it been since you have laughed long and hard? The euphoria that followed several hours of belly laughing with tears in my eyes stayed for days. Everything looked brighter.

What do you like to do to laugh? I'd love it if you would share your favorites here. Try this game and give me a report. Spread it around. It's good for our health.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

Discernment and compassion

The master and his disciple were talking at a street corner when an old woman came up to them: “Get away from my window!” shouted the old lady. “You are disturbing the customers.” The master apologized and crossed over to the other sidewalk.

They went on talking until an officer came up to them and said: “We need you to move away from this sidewalk. The count will be passing by here in a few moments.”

“Let him use the other side of the street,” answered the master, without moving.

Then he turned to his disciple and told him: “Don’t forget: never be arrogant to the humble. And never be humble to the arrogant.”

[Thank you to Warrior of Light for this story.]

As we gain confidence and know our own power, we know who the bullies are and we can stand up to them--even if we are afraid. We also know how to stand in our humility and compassion for our fellow humans.

During the first half of my life, I would have acted exactly the opposite of the master in this story. When the shopkeeper complained, I might have moved, but I would have been huffy and puffy about it. "How dare she tell me to move! Who does she think I am?" But when the officer came up, I most likely would have moved without question. After all, the count is a very important man!

This is not something I am proud to admit; however, my response is not uncommon...especially among women. We do what we are told...especially when told by men.

At this stage of my life, with more experience, learning, strength, boundaries, and sense of self, I have more choice. I can decide when to move and when to stay put. My ability is keener to discern when I am truly being helpful to another human being versus when I am being pushed around to make someone feel powerful and important.

One of the things I love about my work is watching people come into themselves and find their power. When you are sure of yourself and your worth, you know when to stand up and when to sit down.

Put yourself in this story. What would you do? I'd love to hear your story.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session, email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

New Beginnings - Love Thursday

(My great nephew and my brother)

A clean slate. A new beginning. Full of expectation. Ready to go.

What would it take to start each day with that kind of freshness, hope, and possibility?

(How can you not love that face?)

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session with Wanda, email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

Be true to yourself

Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you have an obligation to be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this.

~Eleanor Roosevelt~

What a gal! I have always admired the common sense and wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt. She spoke her mind and stood up for what she thought was right.

Bottom line is, who can I be if I am not being the individual I was born to be? There is only one me in all of the universe. Each of us can say the same. Be yourself...in all your glory.

Wanda Tucker, Coach

PS - Who says we are not ready for a woman president? Just look at Eleanor!

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session with Wanda, email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.

Love In Action

Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself.

~Antoine De Saint-Exupery (1900-1944), French Pilot, Author ~

For a free 1/2 hour coaching session email your request to wtuckercoach@comcast.net.