Girlfriends: A Fearless Celebration

Today I went to a friends birthday gathering with her nearest and dearest girlfriends. She was celebrating 7 decades orbiting around the sun. Amazing! This gathering was in our mountain community where we have our cabin. It's a very small community. The good news is that everyone knows each other. The bad news is that everyone knows each other.

My friend Sarah, whose birthday it was, gathered about 10 women in her living room. In just the right organized way that is so Sarah, she asked for everyone's attention and gathered us in a (somewhat) of a circle. Of course it was a group of very strong wise fearless women so you can't really wrangle them. However, Sarah pulled out her list of names of friends dear to her, many were not there as they didn't want to brave the freeway from LA through the snowy Grapevine on Interstate 5 to our mountain destination. So here we were sipping on our Godiva hot chocolate and listening to Sarah name off everyone on the list and in the room and how they made a difference in her life.

 

I looked around at each woman mentioned and realized how much history I have had with these wise women who have impacted not only Sarah's life but mine as well. I was genuinely touched by the ritual she created. I was moved by the stories, laughed at many and teared up at others.

It affirmed my passion for photographing women and telling their stories. How powerful and precious are the relationships with our girlfriends. Those moments we can celebrate our sisters are priceless. It's simple heartfelt and inspirational.

I invite you to call at least one friend tomorrow and tell her how much she means to you. Doesn't that make you feel fearlessly warm and fuzzy?

Yours feeling fearlessly warm, and loving my girlie friends and hot chocolate,

Mary Ann

Me Fearless?

Those of you who know me or follow my blog musings may think or perhaps not that I am a Fearless Woman or that I am a Fearless Leader. I capitalize these as it is daunting to me. Last year I would joke when someone called me a "Fearless Leader" I would say, "I should wear a t-shirt that says, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost." Really? I did say that but not anymore....at least not out loud.

I have photographed women with a sword and created three Fearless Women books. Fearless Women: Midlife Portraits released in 2005, Fearless Women, Fearless Wisdom, released in 2010 and last year, Fearless Women, Visions of a New World. All of these books are a reflection of my life, moving into midlife, then my wisdom years and then with 2012 being the big shift, fearlessly exploring a vision for a new and better world.

Creating Fearless Women, Visions of a New World took a lot out of me and as many of you know, I crashed and burned, physically, a little over a month ago. I was in and out of bed and the hospital for two months with intestinal issues. No more details need to be told. The bottom line, I believe, is that I stressed and pushed myself into physical collapse. I didn't even feel it coming on because I was so caught up in the momentum.

Now is a time for me to reflect and perhaps sit for a while in the "I don't know what's next" thought and feeling. It's the perfect place to be. Yes, for this next year I want to be more of a human be-ing than do-ing! "Being Fearless" is letting go, breathing deeply, seeing problems as only situations and loving oneself and the journey. How do I want to continue with this Fearless Movement? It's not only a movement of women who are carrying the sword of transformation for the planet but transformation of themselves. Through our calling we find our lessons and also our brightest most precious gifts.

I am looking forward to meeting new fearless women and hearing their stories. We will be sharing this current book  Sunday, January 13th at Book Passage in Corte Madera in Northern California. I have been told it's an extraordinary book store. So few book stores are left and I am thrilled to be doing a book signing there with some of the beautiful fearless women featured in this photo/essay book, Tamara Archer, Paige Bearce-Beery and Jolin Halstead.

 

What also makes this new book special is the music CD that comes with the book and I am excited to have a this event at Book Passage a Live performance by Karen Drucker, featured artist on Songs for a New World, the CD included with Fearless Women, Visions of a New World.

I am very proud of all my books! They are my children that I birthed with some loving labor. They continue to teach me how to be fearless as I nurture them and share them with other women (and men). My hope is that with my art, my creations, they inspire hearts and souls where ever my books are found.

And the Fearless journey continues....

Mary Ann

Inspired by a Fearless One-Legged Actress

There are some days like today when I just can't get myself in that grateful space, when I just want to sit in my easy chair and stare into space feeling sorry for myself. "Where's the easy button?" I say with tears in my eyes. Then the Universe changes when a fearless angel like Tracy Ashton comes into my studio for a new actors headshot.

 

Tracy Ashton had a recurring comic role on NBC’s “My Name is Earl” as Didi, the one-legged girl. Tracy is a former cancer patient whose leg was amputated. I've photographed her a couple times in the past and have always loved her energy, humor and courage. Today she not only warmed my heart but reminded me that there are no barriers only the ones in our mind. A fearless woman indeed this unique out of the box actress flows through Hollywood with a positive attitude that is remarkable. Today she said, "Hollywood is amazing, your life can change in a heartbeat...you never know!" Another reminder that anything is possible in the whelm of possibilities!

Enjoy, laugh, be inspired by Tracy Ashton in her reel of her wonderful talent. Also, catch her on the comedy show Raising Hope this coming Tuesday-Jan. 8th guest starring with Christopher Lloyd!

Fearlessly Smiling from my easy chair....thanks Tracy!

Mary Ann

I have a lot of feelings that we are doing something crazy...but those are the good days!

That phrase is at the end of the little video created by Seth Godin, genius of contemporary marketing. If you haven't read any of his books, run your fingers to Amazon and buy one or Kindle one. You must, I repeat, you must engage your mind and wrap it around his out of the box thinking.

My brain has been marinating in a swirling pot of hot molasses seemingly working overtime to understand what to do next with my life. To be honest with you, I have to really step up to the plate to monetize whatever I'm doing but in my heart of creative hearts I just can't bring myself to do something mundane and predictable that fits in with the masses and that's where Seth's mind bending creative marketing comes in.

So I have committed to this blog challenge created by my friend, Michele Scism and her friend, Michelle Shaeffer, to write a post every day for 31 days. I am on day 3 and I am writing posts day to day exploring what is next for me and sharing the random things that inspire me.

Today it happens to be Seth Godin. Tomorrow who knows? And I don't know where this is leading me to. We shall see...

As a photographer/author of four photo/essay books, my recent book, Fearless Women, Visions of a New World, I look to marketing gurus such as Seth who market way out of the box. Watch his short video about his new book,  The Icarus Deception. 

Not only does it make you feel starved to learn more about his modern consciousness of marketing but it stops you in your old paradigm tracks. Along with this video he also create....and OMG brilliantly....a F**king brilliant campaign he calls, "This is My Art." Learn more by seeing his blog post from a couple of days ago: Here I Made This. There is an inspiring video that further explains the project.

Yours in Fearless craziness!

Mary Ann

22 Random Acts of Kindness

 I was inspired to blog about random acts of kindness. In this new year of 2013, I have had many moments of reflection about my life, what to do next, focus on, what makes my heart sing and my soul follow her bliss. Somehow random acts of kindness just stops me in my monkey mind tracks.
I think about my sweet husband Joe aka Singing Chef Joe.

 He practices random acts of kindness at the grocery store. He shops there almost every day as he just loves to purchase fresh food for whatever dish he is creating for dinner. Several times a year he keeps an eye out for someone in his line that perhaps has a small order he or she is checking out and may look like they don't have enough money to pay for it. He will surprise them by paying for their groceries. He says he does it for the joy of seeing and feeling their heart open up with gratitude. He always tells me his story with tears in his eyes. That's what I love about my Joe, his kind heart.

So in keeping with wanting to blog about random acts of kindness, I found this video by
Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi who on his 22nd birthday instead of throwing a party he decided to do  "22 Random Acts of Kindness." This video was shot in Islamabad, Pakistan. It could have been shot in the US or anywhere. I know you will enjoy and be inspired by it.

Syed ends his video by writing, "Let's create a society where even if the governments and corporations work against us, we still have each other."

Knowing we are all in this world, this New Year together, let's practice more random acts of kindness, just cause it feels so darn good!

Fearlessly Yours in Random Acts of Kindness,

Mary Ann

Seeing the Blessings & beauty we have in Our Life

Today is the first day of 2013. I am filled with optimism and excitement for this new year. I spoke to my friend Michael Gerber today and he said something so wise and inspiring, "May we always have
the wisdom and perspective to see the blessing we have in our life." I was so moved by this that I wrote it on a photo of my husband Joe and I in the mountain snow as a New Year's email card to family and friends. I used his phrase on the card and added the word "beauty" in the phrase. I believe we need to also see the beauty in our life. There is so much beauty in our world and many times we focus on the problems. It is a wonderful inspired phrase for the new year, don't you think?

Michael Gerber is a living example of someone seeing the blessings and beauty in his life. Michael lives with MS and is in a wheelchair. Nothing stops him from living his life fully, productively and with purpose. He is a bright light in the lives of so many, always smiling, joking and filled with curiosity and delight. He writes in his blog about being inspired by a woman named Debbie who has severe MS but has the brightest smile and lives with purpose. I invite you to read Michael's recent blog about meeting Debbie. http://mgerber.blogspot.com/

Michael ends his blog by writing, "May you wake up happy every day of the coming year. May you find an opportunity for gratitude in everyone of your life experiences. May something as simple as your smile be an inspiration to those around you. May the new year be filled with miracles and blessings for you and your family." 

He makes me smile!

Happy New Year...be fearless...be inspired!

Mary Ann

2013 New Years Resolution

I don't know about you but every year on this day I make a New Years Resolution or as I like to look at it as an "Intention for the New Year." I want no pressure but pure inspiration. So I wrote it out last night and I hope it inspires you to do the same. Make it simple, clear and written on the exhale.

I am inspired by Danielle LaPorte, blogger, teacher, coach, change-maker and speaker. I love this

Cosmic Radio: an audio contemplation for total encouragement

She says, "If this audio experience doesn’t open your heart and get you to sit up prouder … well, it will. This is a sonic love letter from your fellow earthlings. For best results, play on repeat and before and after every lunch break." Give it a listen and let it open your heart: Cosmic Radio

Wishing you the most radiant Fearless New Year!

Mary Ann