A mentor? Me??!!

So my sweetheart of a cousin has been calling me for advice the last couple years. Our talks are lengthy and frequent, and seem to cover those eternal questions that have plagued women for centuries…Money and Love. (not necessarily in that order)

What continues to baffle me (and this has been going on for years now) is that she ask for – and expects – GOOD advice.

…from me…

Let’s take a look at my stats: One failed marriage; a great job now, but it’s taken 612 tries; a string of bad relationships (if you can call a date a relationship); and a rocky financial portfolio at best. Granted, I have managed to keep one child alive for over 18 months now, but I think it’s because he’s resilient; and while my marriage is pushing in to it’s third year, I think that’s only because my husband is such a patient, laid back man (which I do keep telling her she needs to find).

So really, what do I have to offer in the way of GOOD advice? Bad advice? Definitely. How to do it wrong? For sure. And yet she keeps coming back to the well.

Which made me think…maybe I do have something to offer. Maybe we all do. I mean, good grief, we’re still looking to Martha for ideas and she’s done time! I would venture to bet most of us have managed to stay out of a federal penitentiary…and yet something holds us back. Why do we think only perfection is allowed to render advice? What is it that makes us swallow a comment at our husband’s dinner party, in a meeting, when a friend asks for honest advice?

Ladies, we have GOT to stop selling ourselves short. I mean it! Apparently we have women looking up to us – daughters, cousins, friends, strangers. And believe me, they’re watching what we do - - - not just what we say.

Which means after you buck up and toss that comment in to the ring, you’d better start living it!

…to my favorite cuz, thank you for making me see the value of my ideas, my thoughts, my passion...

EMPOWER YOU, EMPOWER ME