Perhaps because I was a journalist long before I was a life coach (and am still a writer/editor at heart), I am fascinated by words. I'm especially interested in the life a word can take on, either negative or positive, because of how people use it over time.
One such word is "crone." Originally a word that denoted an elder, a person of wisdom, over time it became a derogatory word for an older woman. When you saw the word in this blog, you no doubt conjured an image of a witch-like, bent-over woman with warts on her nose!
Several women are trying to reclaim the word and restore its original meaning. Several years ago I read a delightful book by Jean Shinoda Bolen called Crones Don't Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women. The book cover promised 13 qualities to cultivate. Bolen didn't disappoint. I have underscored and highlighted passages to which I love to return for inspiration.
As Bolen says, the qualities that make women wise and juicy are not cultivated overnight. And as the book jacket says, "Crone years are 'growing' years, when women can devote their time, energy, and creativity to what really matters to them. Bolen offers us a blueprint: Crones don't whine. They're juicy, and they trust their own instincts. They don't grovel. They do meditate. They choose the path with heart. Crones are fierce about what matters most to them. They speak the truth with compassion. They listen to their bodies, reinvent themselves as needed, and savor the good in their lives."
So what's not to like about being a crone? Perhaps you'll want to reclaim that word, too. And no matter what you call yourself, try on some of those behaviors. Follow your heart. Pursue your passions. Devote energy to what you truly value. And savor the good in your life.
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