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A new female archetype, The Eccentric Nerd Woman can be found married or raising children, but are usually independent, devoted to furthering personal development. Eccentric describes an unconventional nature sculpted by insatiable interest, and nerd refers to being more passionate toward knowledge than popularity. The social majority, critical of individuality, blesses followers of the status quo and unjustly diminishes the appeal of nerds. In nerd relationships, prerequisites include smarts and a distinctive character rather than age, creed, or appearance, which is why nerds often have a diverse collection of like-minded friends.
Eccentric Nerd Women manifest personal style that's impossible to categorize. Creating identity from the inside out makes them beautiful. These curious adventuresses are young at heart, playful, but not play things. Their great compassion extends from intelligence. A respectful manner in dealing with people, animals, and valued things, exemplifies their regard. This sensitive, idealistic nature will not be found among the rough and tumble, an Eccentric Nerd Woman’s scene is more meditative. A career would have to challenge mind, body or spirit. Naturally committed to purpose and outcome, these are the women you want on any team.
Eccentric Nerd mares are hard to catch. When randy, biologically programmed stallions pursue fertile mares they take the one they can lasso, not always the finest. Unfortunate foal cannot discern quality while being so impatient. However, it may be just as well that they pass up something too wild to ride; this mare needs a bull.
Because Eccentric Nerd Women do not subscribe to conventional roles they require renaissance men. Certain types of women are interchangeable but these ladies are notable. Eccentric Nerd Women adore creativity, education, and free will because they feed perpetual contentment. She will be a friend, confidant, and an equal - easy to love but impossible to control, but never a desperate housewife.
Eccentric Nerd Women don’t compete for male attention, utilizing that energy for personal evolution. It appears as though a relationship isn’t needed to complete their lives, but this is a misconception of EN Women. They don’t settle because, they don't need to. This lady horse must be powered by her own muscle since dependence or control would cripple her spirit. Finding a relationship of virtue is important, but these convictions don’t make her search any easier.
Roots of this Eccentric Nerd flower may stem from the often misunderstood Greek hetaera or the Japanese geisha. Judged against social laws of their time, these women were tarnished for having sexual relationships outside marriage. In his book “Lying with the Heavenly Woman” Robert A. Johnson explains, “…this particular kind of woman – is a companion, and intellectual partner, a carrier of grace and beauty, a source of inspiration. All women have the hetaera capacity in their natures, and in some it is so strong as to dominate their personality structure. It is no less powerful for us in our own modern times, but we have virtually no terminology for it…” Until now!
Katherine Hepburn, Amelia Erhart, Diane Keaton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Oprah, Bonnie Raitt, Angelica Houston, Julia Child, and Cherrie Hanson are my short list of modern Eccentric Nerd Women. Shall I add your name to the list?
THE LIST:
Georgia Berndsen
Colleen DuVall
Shelly Stark
Katrina Cravy
When asked whether it was acceptable to wish “Merry Christmas” to Christian friends or business associates, Indian Islamic preacher, Dr. Zakir Naik, declared, “Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to a non-Muslim submits that Christ was the son of God and makes us one of them. It is one hundred percent wrong.” Dr. Zakir, a doctor of medicine, knows that the human body is a universally designed machine, created by one architect, and regardless of who/what that was, we are physically the same flesh and blood in need air, water, food, sunlight, love, etc. It is our thoughts that separate us from each other. However, acknowledging another person’s thoughts does not deny our own. If life experience shapes beliefs, how could we expect them to be the same? Wishing "Merry Christmas" to a non-Muslim is not about self interest, it’s about recognizing someone else’s customs.
Christmas is a time to remember charity, family, friends, and blessings. We give gifts and spend quality time with loved ones. Muslims celebrate Eid in similar fashion. http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/eid_fitr.htm
Eid follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.
Before the day of Eid, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Muslim family gives a determined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is of actual food -- rice, barley, dates, rice, etc. -- to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the celebration. On the day of Eid, Muslims gather early in the morning in outdoor locations or mosques to perform the Eid prayer. This consists of a sermon followed by a short congregational prayer.
After the Eid prayer, Muslims usually scatter to visit various family and friends, give gifts (especially to children), and make phone calls to distant relatives to give well-wishes for the holiday. These activities traditionally continue for three days. In most Muslim countries, the entire 3-day period is an official government/school holiday.
This year I greeted my Muslim friends, Ziad and Kamel, with “Happy Eid!” And, though it’s only customary to give children Eid gifts, I gave them presents anyway. I mixed essentials oils to create individual cologne fragrances. They were moved by my thoughtfulness and consideration. Ziad remembered the excitement of Eid gifts as a child and how much he cherished them. Kamel could not stop smelling his hand.
A few weeks later I was preparing for Christmas. My friends and family agreed, no presents this year, instead giving the precious gift of quality time. But, on Christmas Day I discovered a package wrapped in a colorful gift bag. Inside was an ipod from Ziad, he remembered that I wanted one, and from Kamel, a traditional Palestinian headdress (scarf) called hattah. In Jordan, where Kamel is from, they wear the red and white hattah, known as shmagh mhadab.
It was a Muslim "Merry Christmas" from my two very dear friends!
Eid Mubarak! (Blessed Eid!)
Merry Christmas!
Kul 'am wa enta bi-khair! (May every year find you in good health!)
And a Happy New Year!
POWER VS. FORCE
David R. Hawkins book contains a bounty of insight to human behavior. Its a Jedi training program. As you take in the information, strength builds, knowledge adds mental muscle, and you grasp power in its best form. When we raise our individual vibration we benefit the energy around us. And when we lower our vibration, we destroy the energy around us, usually through force.
If you want to know power and are frustrated by the results of force, read this book.
My annual viewing of the play, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, continues its tradition of perspective and holiday tone. The distinguished message this year comes from Jacob Marley, Scrooge's deceased business partner:
"But you were always a man of business, Jacob."
"Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
A favorite quote of mine, "I like people...but I hate them too!" rings true occasionally. But at Christmastime the best of mankind is on display, magical things always seem to happen and the loving part of our nature comes out of hiding. Maybe that's why they say keep Christmas in your heart all year long.
Merry Christmas with love, from my home to your home!
Cherrie
My Christmas will be very different this year because there’s little money to host Christmas dinner, buy presents, or a tree. I don’t feel sad because financial issues can’t compete with the prospect of new meaning. The cost of making Christmas special always causes pressure, but this year the financial scenario is so serious for most that things just won’t be the same. When you can’t use money to make yourself or others happy, what’s free becomes very clear.
Love. Let someone other than your family or spouse know that you love them. Say it out loud. Humor. Find someone who’s stressed and turn their mood around with laughter. Kindness. Be generous in a unpredictable way. Listen. Be a quiet canvas for someone to paint their thoughts on. Compassion. Take unwanted books or clothes to Goodwill for someone else to treasure. Friendship. Include someone who doesn’t have a family to share your holiday. These things are available anytime to give and receive. I can always use more of them, and certainly must remember to give more as well. If you’re worried about whether or not your Christmas will measure up to years past, envision a new way to experience comfort and joy.
The Wizard of Oz won’t leave me alone. The story line, its characters, and themes have been showing up uninvited for quite some time. It’s weird since I’ve never been a huge fan. The most recent “Wizard” intervention came when I was channel surfing. Smoke letters were shooting out of the witch’s broomstick above the Emerald City spelling out a message. The trembling Tin Man was pointing toward the sky calling out the letters, “Sur-ren-der Dorothy!” A woman in the crowd yelled, “Who’s Dorothy?”
At this point in my life “surrender” means letting go of expectations and attachments, having faith in the outcome. In that framework, the meaning of this old familiar story changed dramatically. I’m starting to realize that every time the “Wizard” appears I learn something.
One Christmas many years ago I found myself alone, separated from my biological family because of disputes and disagreements. I wasn’t sad to be apart from them, just petrified to possibly spend the holiday alone. Because tradition and religious beliefs are installed by parents, searching for our own truths may require breaking away from the family at some point, mentally or physically. Remember the story of the prodigal son? The yellow brick road was my metaphoric spiritual path, and the road to find my true self was a great adventure.
I have a wonderful Godmother named Marlene that I call “Auntie”. She has seven kids but a heart big enough to add another. It occurred to me that she was my Auntie M. I was relieved to be included in her large family celebration but I still felt like an orphan because as they say, “there’s no place like home.” For now, home was an open road.
That Christmas was a sunny bitter cold day with temperatures dangerous enough to freeze your nostrils together. I didn’t dress properly. I never imagined I’d have to leave the warm car…
Before leaving town I stopped at the children’s bookstore I live above, aptly named Rainbowbooks. Joseph, the owner, pulled a hot new seller from the bookshelf to share with me. It was The Wizard of Oz pop-up book by genius Robert Sabuda. This fortune teller gave me fatherly advice, a holiday cookie for the trip, and sent me on my way.
After two hours I was passing my father’s hometown of Westfield. When I was a kid my family would stop at The Pioneer Inn for home cooking and a fresh slice of pie. It was always our halfway marker. I noticed a car on the side of the road with a flat tire. I felt sorry for the misfortune and plans thwarted. Seconds later my car started making a terrible noise. Whatever flattened the other tire just dug into mine. I’d never had a flat tire before. As I stepped out to check the damage the icy wind choked me and went right through my clothes. I jumped back into the car and called Auntie M. A drunken cousin picked up the phone and started laughing. No one offered to come help me because Santa was about to arrive. AAA’s line was busy. Back then, my antiquated cell phone was powered by my car, so if I ran out of gas before I got through, I would die in the cold. The only way to survive was to walk back to Westfield. I called Auntie’s house one more time and told my Godfather to keep calling AAA. He couldn’t hear me over the gift-ripping mayhem.
The valley between the highways was extremely wide and full of snow. The air was too cold to inhale. The wicked wind slashed like razor blades across my face and the sunlight blinded me. Chills pierced so deep my bladder started cramping. Walking made it worse. I didn’t think I could hold it much longer. I started to cry, turning back to the car. Just then a vehicle whizzed past so fast I wasn’t sure I saw it, but it kicked up a frosty dust cloud. Another car was coming out of the powder, skidding towards me. A man emerged, calling out to me as he approached. He was bow-legged and skinny with a large nose, weak chin, wearing an odd shaped hat with a chin strap. It was the highway Trooper. The first thing I said was, “did anyone ever tell you that you look like Ray Boldgers?” He replied sprightly, “All the time Ma’am, so what seems to be the trouble here?”
He drove me to the rest stop and called AAA. We waited for over an hour while he did all the talking. Before he spotted me, he was on a high speed chase hitting 110 miles per hour but couldn’t catch the speeder. That’s why I barely saw the car. He pulled over when he saw me reeling in the dust. I was happy to be safe and warm. His job was lonely and he enjoyed having someone to talk to.
The AAA driver came eventually and swiftly hooked my car on his tow truck. He was barrel-chested with thick strong legs wearing a cap slightly cocked to the side. He tossed me up into the cab and drove me back to Westfield. It was four miles away. I noticed a Mc Donald’s next to the Pioneer Inn. We passed a movie theater my father went to as a child. It was dilapidated and falling into the river. The Tin man took me to his garage to tinker with my tire and get me back on the road. The shop was oily. I read slimy magazines while waiting to be salvaged. Since we were alone he told me I could come into the garage and hang out with him while he worked. I thanked him for being available on a holiday. He was a single man without family and a business owner licensed by AAA to help stranded motorists in the area. He didn’t mind working on a holiday. I started to embrace my strange Christmas adventure. Being side-tracked was ok; I had surrendered to the plan. Only 45 minutes of road left to reach my destination.
Everyone at Auntie M’s was happy to see me. I wanted to scold them for not saving me, but they gathered around expecting to hear a story. I couldn’t believe they weren’t frantic or worried, but I did have a tale to tell. A strange man in the back of the room caught my eye. His hair was so long it blended into a full beard that grew from the top of his cheeks down into his chest hair. Auntie told me he was invited for Christmas because he was on his own this holiday. He was nervous around Auntie’s large rambunctious group and relieved to find another stray cat. He followed me everywhere I went, so I sat at the piano and he bravely joined in, singing Christmas songs for the family. It was lovely.
A few days later I took the road back home. My mind was calm and content because I knew the place called “home” was in my heart forever.
The End
…but I doubt it…
A new female archetype, The Eccentric Nerd Woman can be found married or raising children, but are usually independent, devoted to furthering personal development. Eccentric describes an unconventional nature sculpted by insatiable interest, and nerd refers to being more passionate toward knowledge than popularity. The social majority, critical of individuality, blesses followers of the status quo and unjustly diminishes the appeal of nerds. In nerd relationships, prerequisites include smarts and a distinctive character rather than age, creed, or appearance, which is why nerds often have a diverse collection of like-minded friends.
