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FaMiss Women's Historical Wisdom for Today's Modern Lifestyle
Famous Women ~ Their Stories, Your Role Models
Sunday, April 15, 2012 The Pursuit of Financial Independence: Clara Dore, a late Victorian Era American Woman Paves the Way photo from HistoryLink.org
Helga and Clara Estby, Minneapolis, May 1897
Photo by C. S. Ricker Studio, Courtesy Carole Estby Dagg
In 1896 Clara Estby, or Clara Doré, the daughter of Helga Estby joined her mother on a cause-related walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City. As a grand promotional event, both women wore reform skirts, a huge departure from modest Victorian dresses. The skirts allowed women to move more freely and still maintain modesty while participating in the pastimes such as bicycle riding.
Author Jane Kirkpatricks historical fiction account of their journey and the subsequent lives of these women is wonderfully captured in the novel entitled The Daughters Walk. The writing and character development were a little light in the beginning but by the middle of the story I was completely hooked by Helgas family prison and Claras determination for financial independence and security.
It is difficult for most of us to imagine walking along railroad lines across this enormous country but for some reason, their journey seemed more comprehensible to me than that of their familys reaction to their accomplishment once they returned home. The familys shame and resentment over the trip and the time spent away from them were immortalized by tragic family events that occurred while Helga and Clara were away. This large Norwegian immigrant family, who in all other ways represented in the book seemed like a wonderful, loving family punished Helga and subsequently Clara for the choice they made. In the story, Helga was brow-beaten by her family. Neither Helga or Clara were allowed to discuss their adventure around the family. Even the mention of New York was forbidden. Instead of recognizing the amazing strength and courage these women demonstrated, they were completely ostracized from their family. Helga made the painful choice to shed all the strength of her external achievements so that her family would welcome her back into the fold. While reading the novel, it pained me to watch this woman be defeated by those who loved her best but as I write now, I recognize that Helgas strength wasnt beaten out of her, rather it became more humble and inward for it required significant strength to stifle her own personality for the communal love of her family. Helga and her choices is again a reminder that we really ought not judge ourselves and others so harshly. We all make decisions that we feel we must and no matter what the outcome of those decisions, our own strengths at the time are what carry us forward.
Claras path was one I identified with more keenly and I deeply admired the tenacious way she continuously strove to improve herself and establish an independent and financially secure future for herself. Clara did not choose to succumb to her familys prison and instead she made her own way in the world a remarkable demonstration of courage as well. She knew that she couldnt let anyone quite her voice and her drive though as she aged, she did find value in conceding to some of the needs of those around her as a demonstration of her love toward them.
Living from 1877 until 1950, Clara is truly a role model demonstrating drive, consistency, and tenaciousness. She is nearly a Victorian Ayn Rand hero. She rose from her familys financial struggles to become a property owner who mostly purchased her properties with cash. In the novel, she studied business and though she had few female role models, she made a success of herself through education, proper planning, taking calculated risks, and sheer will. Any woman feeling isolated in the pursuit of her dreams of financial independence will find a compatriot in the character of Clara Doré.
Learn more of these two inspirational Victorian era women:
The Daughters Walk, a historical novel by Jane Kirkpatrick
Book Review: A
Helga Estby life and story(1860-1942), details on her life found on HistoryLink.orgLooking for more? Please visit FaMiss Women- Women's Success Profiles, including books and movie reviews highlighting historical and modern women experiences. Women's Success Profiles is a feature on www.faMissWomen.com, a company dedicated to helping talented women become visible online.
Posted byUnknownat9:30 AM1 comment: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels:Clara Estby,Helga Estby,historical novels about women,Jane Kirkpatrick,stories of women in the Victorian era,women biographyMonday, June 22, 2009 How One Woman Struggling with Finding Her Identity Created a New Life Through Yoga Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger Book Review: A
Yogis, relaxation experts and Buddhists all extol the virtues of breath for stress relief and claim breath work unlocks health-compromising stress patterns. I've never been able to experience the power of breath, as they say. I take a few breaths and then do feel calmer, sometimes even more centered but to make a daily habit of breathing deeply never appealed to me. Quite frequently, I forget to take the time to breathe deeply.
The 2009 book, "Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman" by yoga teacher Katrina Repka and yogi master Alan Finger finally opened my eyes (and my lungs) to the potential of breathing techniques.
Repka is an early thirty-something woman who leaves her marketing career and hometown of Calgary in Canada to test her merits in New York City. Her friends and family, baffled by her decision, wondered, "How can she uproot herself like that at the time when she should be settling down and starting a family? How could she give up a good job, promising romantic prospects, and more importantly, us?" Though her motivations were not understood by her family, Repka had been drawn to New York City since childhood. One day, with all her courage and little support, she set off for the big city.
"My life in Manhattan was supposed to be the complete opposite of my life in Calgary, Alberta. I would be thinner, smarter, happier, hipper. My work would be glamorous, my days and nights filled with excitement and fascinating new friends. I wasn't going to settle for the comfortable routine that had threatened to stifle me in my old hometown." * Once she settled in New York and adjusted to the pace and attractions she discovered that she brought her old Calgary self all the way to New York. Her new, glamorous New York self wasn't as easy to keep on, no matter how many Prada shoes she purchased. Old insecurities and reservations bombarded her, screeching more loudly than the big city's noise. Her old self doubt and restlessness was getting in the way. She wrestled with old questions about who she really was and what she wanted her life to be like. The answers, just as they did in Calgary, evaded her. Her frustration continued until she met yogi master Alan Finger. Finger ran a yoga studio in NYC. The studio had many yoga classes and Finger also offered private breathing consultations, that in Repka's case, closely resembled psycho-therapy sessions.
The book, Breathing Space, is broken into chapters that focus on different areas of self growth so the reader can quickly go to a chapter of relevance for themselves. Some of the titles are:
Focus: The power of breath to help you see yourself clearly; Criticism: The power of breath to erased self-destructive tendencies; Faith: The power of breath to overcome hesitation and connect with your truth.
As a woman in my thirties, I found Repka's journey especially relevant to my own journey and quest for a fulfilling life. Repka is self effacing and willing to share embarrassing moments and mistakes with her readers but don't be put off by her age. Her explorations, struggles, and victories are common among all women struggling with their identity and for those demanding an enriched life.
* Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman by Katrina Repka and Alan Finger p. 2
Allison Frederickbelieves that Role Modeling is one of the most effective ways to launch a program, improve a product, and personally achieve a higher level of success and goals.www.AllisonFrederick.comPosted byUnknownat9:47 AM8 comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels:author Katrina Repka,identity,memoir,personal growthThursday, March 19, 2009 Blame Congress, Not CEOsEach day the news is filled with outrage over bailouts and how those funds are spent. I do not understand people's anger. It is like offering a large inheritance to a teenager then being shocked when they spend the money in imprudent ways.
The fault lies more with Congress and less with the companies. Congress is rushing massive bailout packages without taking the time to figure out just how this money is truly going to help. Each bailout is a further disaster with grim tales of gross overspending by the recipients. Each time this happens, we are shocked.
If we were truly worried about the economy and truly concerned with the behavior of corporate America then we should have had more seat changes during last November's election. Instead, we kept most of the incumbents the same ones who were blindly issuing out bailouts last year.
Now as tax payers, we are paying for the companies who also squandered our 401ks. That means we are paying double. Perhaps it isn't useful to blame Congress either; after all, we let them keep their jobs. At least one industry is gainfully employeed.Posted byUnknownat4:42 AM3 comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels:bailouts,economyWednesday, March 11, 2009 Best Book for Women Entrepreneurs: Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-for-it! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business"Change can be daunting, but the status quo can be worse." Birthing the Elephant
Looking at the cover of Birthing the Elephant: The Womans Go-for-it! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business (2008) did not prepare me for the influence it would have in my life.
Finally! Someone wrote a business book with guts! Finally someone had the courage to say out loud "Launching your own business will take its toll on your bank account, your self esteem, and your family." They didn't gloss over the mistakes people make in business as if it is expected and so trivial that the mistakes only merit a few paragraphs.
The authors of this little book, Karin Abarbanel and Bruce Freeman, seem to have been following me around in my head for the last three years while I helped my husband launch and stabilize his business and explored and launched my own. They described the ups and downs of business as stages. Hearing that they were stages was comforting to me that means that what I am feeling now has an end point, a transcendence point. What a relief!
They spoke about how when you leave your job or career to start a new business you need to grieve this change because it is a loss. Even if you were excited to leave your job, it is still a loss and the loss will never be more keenly felt than when you experience struggles in your business. If you do not recognize and deal with the loss of a steady paycheck, an organization that brings in leads, orders the staples, and provides a supportive social network before your own business hits a snag, then romanticized memories of how good your previous career was will distract you from the real problems and the real reasons you decided to set out on your own in the first place.
They also said that turning to the job want ads when your business is struggling will lead to confusion. A job is a different path and requires different thought processes. Looking for a job during tough entrepreneurial times, can in fact, usher you down the wrong path. Instead, they encourage you to take that same fearful energy and get creative in solving your business's problems.
C.S. Lewis says "we read to know we are not alone." I've been reading business books for years. I've read about Vera Wang, Anita Roddick, Richard Branson, Donald Trump, and countless others. For me, reading these business books has proven more frustrating than insightful. Sure, I've picked up some real gems but they never seemed to address the core challenges I've had in business and that is what do I do when my business seems to beat up on my self-esteem? What do I do when client after client says no? Sure, you hold on tightly to the successes but we still deeply remember the "failures."
A young 20-something woman is on the cover of my copy of Birthing the Elephant. Looking at it, you may think as I did that it is for younger entrepreneurs but in fact, I think it is a fantastic book for any entrepreneur.
This book delves into the emotional factors of running a business and we all know that ultimately, emotions dictate our lives. We can only drive ourselves forward for so long if our heart is in doubt. I have never been so encouraged in my abilities to run my own business as I have after reading this book. I hope that you will also find encouragement in how they explain the psychological path of launching and building a business.
Allison Frederickbelieves that Role Modeling is one of the most effective ways to launch a program, improve a product, and personally achieve a higher level of success and goals.www.AllisonFrederick.comPosted byUnknownat7:59 AMNo comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels:author Karin Abarbanel,book Birthing the Elephant,business book,business psychology,entrepreneur,starting a businessTuesday, January 27, 2009 The Trouble with Role Models
When thinking of success many people turn to role models. How has someone else done what you want to do before? The danger with role models is that we often pick them because of their results. We may look at women's success like Jackie Joyner Kersey's athleticism, Katherine Hepburn's portfolio of movies, or Beatrix Potter's generational tale of Peter Rabbit and see them only for what they produced. I realized my own "star struck" role model studies were causing frustration and perhaps unrealism. When we study role models we are so focused on all that the person has achieved and we forget that in some cases it took 10-20-30 years or even a lifetime to create. We read of a role model's success in a period of hours and because it took us a far shorter time to read or to watch a movie of their life, as compared to actually creating the success, I believe our brains develop a false sense of just how long it takes to create something successful. Before J.K. Rowling became a smashing success with Harry Potter, another Englishwoman, Beatrix Potter, drew similar fame and generated another literary legacy with her Peter Rabbit books. I've always been under the impression that Beatrix Potter was a strong, forthright woman. Perhaps Renée Zellweger's bright, solid portrayal of Beatrix in the 2006 movie, Miss Potter, plays in my mind as I read an old biography on Beatrix Potter entitled "The Tale of Beatrix Potter" (1946).