Hello to you listening in Auckland, New Zealand!

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

As the oldest of 7 children I learned early on the innate wisdom toddlers bring to the game of life. They know how to say No! And then the world shows them the error of their ways. We grow up saying Yes when we mean No!

What changed? We were taught that saying Yes is right, good, proper, helpful even and saying No! is just plain wrong. The problem is the more we say Yes when we mean No we forget how to make choices in our own best interest and well-being. This self-sabotage robs us of our ability to choose wisely, of our personal power, of our legitimate right to say No! with certainty, confidence, and clarity.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with saying Yes so long as we agree with ourselves, are not limited in our options, feeling compelled, or thinking we will be rejected or worse. It takes practice to practice saying No! As you get better at it you will come to value saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

Practical Tip: When asked to take on work you want to decline, say this, “No. It’s good work; but it’s not my work.”

And thank you for listening!

You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as Quarter Moon Story Arts on Substack.

Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

Hello to you listening in Pasadena, California!

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.

I’ve been binge-watching The Big Bang Theory TV series as I do this time each year to humor me through our Pacific Northwest November to May Rain Festival. As you might know a consistent theme is the characters’ devotion to comics and superheroes. Why? The characters are highly intelligent, socially awkward nerds who have difficulty navigating society whereas the superheroes possess save-the-day abilities, rare powers, and bravery. Comics can be a safe place to fantasize living idealized versions of themselves as the nerd-turned-hero.

But what do the Superheroes have to say about living life as a Superhero? Following are 7 quotes:

1. “When you decide not to be afraid you can find friends in super unexpected places.” — Ms. Marvel

2. “Everybody’s story begins “once upon a time,” and it’s up to us to cherish the time we’re given to ensure we live happily ever after.” — Scarlet Witch

3. “I have no idea where I’m going to be tomorrow but I accept the fact that tomorrow will come and I’m going to rise to meet it.” — Donna Troy

4. “The fate of your planet rests not in the hands of gods. It rests in the hands of mortals.” — Thor

5. “The future is worth it. All the pain. All the tears. The future is worth the fight.” — Martian Manhunter

6. “The door is more than it appears. It separates who you are from who you can be. You do not have to walk through it… You can run.” — Franklin Richards

7. “A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know the world hasn’t ended.” — Batman

Story Prompt: For a long time your character has felt that she is more than she appears to be but does not believe she has what it takes to show up fully in her power until one day a door appears in a wall and she .... write that story and share it out loud!

You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

Hello to you listening in Olympia, Washington!

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.

I am a storyteller of the old school. What do I mean? For over 30 years I’ve taught (and continue to teach) my clients and students the same thing: “Put down the paper and nobody gets hurt!” Why? Because storytellers have something to say that comes from their aliveness, which is what people most want to feel and connect with. Sharing our stories out loud brings them to light and life, and encourages us to do what most folks fear more than snakes: stand up and speak up in public.

Story spoken aloud is what we leave of ourselves in another person. A story is an intimate lasting legacy, a permanent inheritance much like a vow or an oath.

When we share our stories out loud, we connect with each other, we belong to each other. We might not realize it but we are creating a verbal promise, a vow, an oath of belonging. Think about how many times we’ve heard someone say, "Repeat after me: I solemnly swear..."

• Marrying couples pledge faithfulness through the challenges and joys of marriage.
• Lawyers uphold the law, maintain client confidentiality, and act as an officer of the court.
• Doctors focus on ethics, patient care and societal responsibilities.
• Politicians preserve and defend the Constitution.
• US military support and defend the Constitution against all enemies.
• Immigrants becoming US citizens swear the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a formal naturalization ceremony.
• From the time we are children in school we recite The Pledge of Allegiance, a patriotic promise of loyalty to the United States flag and the republic for which it stands.

What happens when we share our stories out loud? They become real. We say what we mean, we mean what we say. We—and those hearing us—know what we stand for and what we won’t stand for. Yes, you might write a story but it needs to be shared out loud to enrich and include the wider world. That’s the legacy of the stories we leave in those who have heard them spoken aloud.

CTA: If you’d like to learn more, email me at info@quartermoonstoryarts.net for a no obligation Discovery Call. And thank you for listening!

You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.

Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team

Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.