...where every woman over 50 is TOP DOG!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Janet Grace Riehl and WOOFer Power!


Janet Grace Riehl is an all-around creative WOOFer having made the rounds of every discipline in the arts: writing, visual art, music, acting/storytelling, and dance. Since 2006 her work has mainly focused on writing and publishing. Her most recent project is "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Song" that extends the written work in "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" into the realm of sound.


ELDER POWER LOVES COLLABORATION:


Janet Grace Riehl’s Village Supported Her Dreams Publishing a book! That was the dream I pursued all my life and in my 50s, I made it a reality. A few years later at 60, I expanded the print version into an audio book. It took bliss, yes—that is to say, it took vision and passion. It took effort, yes…old-fashioned sweat, guts, and tears. And perhaps most importantly, it took a village; yes, a team of collaborators. It was the village that made it possible to see “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” into print in 2006 and in 2009, produce “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music” in a 4-CD album -


Sightlines: A Poet's Diary
Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry & Music

For the book I was mainly on my own, but I had a mentor by my side only an email away. When I needed something, amazingly, a friend would appear at my doorstep--if only for 15 minutes--to help me.

For the audio book, my team expanded to include my father; a blogging buddy, who led me to her son-in-law, who became the sound-cum project manager; my legal guy for licensing and copyrights; a poet friend and blogging buddy who read the intro…and now the 20 bloggers helping with this Internet tour. I was the team leader, but what a team! They smoothed the way and kept me from falling into the ruts I hadn’t realized were in the road.
Why is collaboration a natural tool for Elders?

• We are often not as arrogant (or as blissfully ignorant?) as we once were and more open to working with others. It allows us to blend strengths and offset weaknesses so that we don’t have to learn whole new set of skills.

• Knowing that we can count on others relieves some of the pressure and makes our dreams seem achievable.

No matter what your dream is, know that you can achieve it if you don’t hesitate to use your Elder Power to call your collaborative village to your side. It can be as close as your kitchen table or your Internet connection.

Thanks, Janet for giving us your secret of Elder Power, or as we say around here, WOOFer Power!

As a bonus, if readers click here (this will take you to the top post on Riehlife) and comment on the video, they'll be eligible to be chosen in a contest raffle.

In addition, click on this link, http://www.riehlife.com to sign up for a 10-minute audio download of poetry and music from our new audio book, "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music."

Read more about Janet Grace Riehl July 20 on Bookland Heights

Visit Janet's next Blog Stop - Janet's Jargon


Mary Cunningham - Milkbone
Mary Cunningham Books

Buy WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty Today!


8 comments:

Diana Black said...

I'm so happy to learn more about Janet. And I love her thoughts about Elder Power!

Couldn't agree more that this phase of life is about balance ... between loving ourselves and letting others in...to help us, to nurture us, to love us, too.

Thanks, Janet, for stopping by WOOFers Club on your tour!

Diana
http://www.basicblackblog.blogspot.com
http://www.wendelwordsworth.blogspot.com

Janet Muirhead Hill said...

I appreciate Janet's insights on collaboration. Too often I have tried to go it alone, but find that help and advice from friends and peers have made my dreams possible.

JGR's statement, 'It allows us to blend strengths and offset weaknesses so that we don’t have to learn whole new set of skills." is so true, and an important lesson to keep in mind.

Thanks for this insightful post.

Mary Cunningham said...

Your words give us all power, Janet. I'm so in awe of what you've accomplished, along with your amazing dad!

Mary

http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com
http://www.marycunninghambooks.com

Janet Grace Riehl said...

Thanks Mary, Diana, and a sister member of The Janet Club.

I was in Ghana when I turned 60 December 2008. There an elder occupies an honored role in the culture. So, there couldn't have been a better place to launch into my next decade.

That's when I started thinking about Elder Power and changing my head and heart about aging.

Janet Riehl

Mary Cunningham said...

What a wonderful experience, Janet! Your post as certainly been an inspiration on WOOF!

Mary

Anonymous said...

Janet,
Each time we allow a door to open, the guests come in and bring with them their skills, love, challenges and talent. It takes aging and mellowing, I think, for us to be brave enough to open those doors...and our inner door of acceptance.
Thanks for sharing your learn-ed wisdom! Arletta

Susan Gallacher-Turner said...

I love your concept of WOOF...new to me but so wonderful. Especially, the idea of Elder Power and how when we mature we are more open to letting ourselves get the help we need as well as helping others.

Susan Gallacher-Turner
http://sculpturepdx.blogspot.com
www.voicesoflivingcreatively.com

Eileen Williams said...

I agree with everyone who's commented. Elder power rocks, or if you use its synonym, "WOOF," it howls!