H – Horse. If I were Queen every little girl would get a pony!

On April 9, 2015April 9, 2015 By jolenenavarroIn A to Z blog Challenge5 Comments

I think most little girls at one point in their life would have picked horses over any prince charming. Why do we love horses or at least the idea of have a horse.

I have to say some of my best friends growing up were horses: Smokey, Mitzi, Pancho, Marya, Jet Set Lena and Tank are just of few of the horse that gave me the honor of riding with them. I also played with Barbie’s horse and she rode with the Lone Ranger, yes I owned Silver. I have several model horses and poster of horses.

“He’s of the color of the nutmeg. And of the heat of the ginger…. he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him; he is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.”
― William Shakespeare, Henry V

Horse are secondary character in most of my stories. I was blessed to be raised by a mother that loved horses. We always had them in our life. Her grandfather was a farmer and horse trainer for the Army.

It runs strong in our family. The pictures are my cousin Audrey.

“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes. ”
― William Shakespeare, Henry V

“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom”
― Helen Thompson

Oh and just because I can here is Hugh on a horse.

Hugh Jackmen on a horse — Hugh Jackman on a horse

Have you owned a horse or wish you did? As a child did you play with toy horse?

G – Go, Girl, GO!

On April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 By jolenenavarroIn A to Z blog Challenge, aging, women9 Comments

As I get closer to 50 I find myself more willing to take risk to achieve my dreams. I also don’t find the term GIRL offensive.

Little girls face life with a fearless attitude. They dance as if they are the princess, they dream of being horse trainers, doctors, mothers and queens. They play with dolls or trucks, but they are in control of their world. They will wear red cowboy boots and pink tutus with pride.

Somewhere along the way the world tells her she is not good enough, she has to fit in, she has to be this or that. Not too much… not too little…just right, but she doesn’t know what that means. So she starts looking outside of herself. Maybe by the time she is 50 she can be that little girl again that twirls with joy and laughs from her gut.

There is something stunning about a women in her full confidence of who she is and in that she builds others up and knows risking for love is always worth it.

I was a little irritated when I was doing some fast research and goggled women over 50 – I got hair styles, fashion and staying sexy. UGH…When I looked up men over 50 I got what they are working on in their careers and how long they’d been married. The men did not have a single suggestion on how they should wear their hair or a list of clothes they should or should not wear.

“She has been marinated in life experience. She is at the peak of her influence and power. She is committed to living fully and passionately in the second half of life, despite failures and false starts.” – Gail Sheehy, author of Passages

Great things about Women over 50.

Here are some women that came to mind.

One of my favorites is Helen Mirren. Here she is having fun with Jimmy

Then you have the wonderful Diane Keaton – I think she has just become stunning.

Diane Keaton

“Here is my biggest takeaway after 60 years on the planet: There is great value in being fearless. For too much of my life, I was too afraid, too frightened by it all. That fear is one of my biggest regrets.”

Katie Couric 58

Right now I’m in awe of Patti LaBelle. Well into her 70s she is performing outside of her comfort zone and has stepped onto a new stage…Dancing with the Stars.

So which women over 50 inspire you? There are so many more. Do you embrace getting older?

Embracing Failure leads to joy and success!

On January 1, 2015January 1, 2015 By jolenenavarroIn Family time, memories, writerLeave a comment

Below is a link to a blog I wrote for the Craftie Ladies of Romance. What are the three things you need for a successful year? What about embracing failure, creating community and resilience? Hit the link below and read more about it.

All the things I need for a great 2015.

I want to thank my family for such a great year.

Bon fire and family — A year ago for my birthday family gathering around the bon fire

Lower-Manhatton-New-York-memorial- — A dream coming true. Lower Manhattan – It amazes me how so many people can live in such a small space. It looks as if it could just fall of the little piece of land.

Times Square with Fred. A dream coming true.

June is the West Texas A&M writer's Academy with Jodi Thomas, Alex Sokoloff and Sasha Summers — June is the West Texas A&M writer’s Academy with Jodi Thomas, Alex Sokoloff and Sasha Summers

RWA panel about the truth of the Texas cowboy

Great times with family and friends at Port A on the Texas coast

My parent had three girls who gave them ten grand-kids - ten grand kids that love each other so much. Annual pumpkin carving slam down — My parent had three girls who gave them ten grand-kids – ten grand kids that love each other so much. Annual pumpkin carving slam down

Talking about How We Liove Our Heros at the Rita's & Readers in Dallas. With Jolene Navarro, Jade Lee & Julie Ann Walker — Talking about How We Love Our Heroes at the Rita’s & Readers in Dallas. With Jolene Navarro, Jade Lee & Julie Ann Walker

Best Group of writers an author could hang out with. San Antonio Romance Authors

Family makes the year full of joy even if you only see them on the holidays - maybe because you only see them on the holidays. lol — Family makes the year full of joy even if you only see them on the holidays – maybe because you only see them on the holidays. lol

Here's to many more smiles in 2015 — Here’s to many more smiles in 2015

Wow – Looking back on the year and finding my highlights I was amazed at the wonderful people that have been brought into my life. Some long term and had no choice, family is family, others have come in and guided me and came with so much love I have a hard time believing it. Thank you.

G is for Greta Garbo

On April 8, 2014 By jolenenavarroIn Blogging A to B April Challange, Movie4 Comments

Life would be so wonderful if we only knew what to do with it.

Greta Garbo

Know your greatest passion and live it! Are you living your life?

Embrace the fear.

On July 22, 2013July 24, 2013 By jolenenavarroIn writer10 Comments

The writer Peter De Vries said, “I write when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at 9:00 am every morning.”

We are all born with a creative brain. If you don’t believe that, hang out with some four or five year olds. The impulse control is underdeveloped. The filters of acceptable behavior and fears of rejection aren’t there yet in the young mind. This is why the creative genius, Picasso, said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

So how do we redevelop our creativity?

In the mid 1800s there was a movement that changed how the world would forever look at and judge art. Impressionism was incubated at Café Guebois. How did a small group of people accomplish this fete? By meeting together regularly, they challenged and debated the idea of art. They had heated disagreements over the “rules” of art. Manet, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Degas were a widely diverse group of artists, but their creative energy paved the way for generations of modern artists. Steve Jobs said collaboration works best when ideas are met with brutal honesty and are forced to explore a deeper purpose. Sound like good critique to me.

Four years ago, I found SARA (San Antonio Romance Authors), and my writing has greatly improved because of their questioning, pushing and tough critique. They introduced me to other writers that changed my life.
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In June, for the last two years I have made my way to West Texas A&M to a writers week organized by the amazing Jodi Thomas and Tim Lewis.

Morgan Hysinger, Winona Cross, Matt Sherley, Linda Trout, Alexandra Sokoloff, Jolene Navarro, Storm Navarro, Deann Landers, Sheri Waide, MarilynTucker, Sherrill Nilson

The people above are superstars. For five days, we meet about five hours a day in a class led by Alexandra Sokoloff. This year bordered on magical. A full week of brainstorming, being pushed by this small group to find that twist in your story. The ideas are there, buried deep in your brain.
Side benefit? Lifelong friends that “get me” in a way no one else ever will.

If you want to be creative, you can’t let fear of rejection or ridicule hold you back.
Find people that help push past your first superficial idea and get to the imaginative workings of your brain. Whatever it is- art, writing, computer, finance, or building things- We are beings created to create, find that group of liked passions and discuss how to make your dreams come true.
Do you have a group that challenges your creative mind?

Are you living your life or a default script?

On February 24, 2013April 15, 2013 By jolenenavarroIn Family time, Inspire, memories8 Comments

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=203280383144662

Watching this video reminded me of the words my father told me my senior year when I was trying to plan my future. My father was a professional airline pilot, he flew commercial planes, he flew small planes, at one time he and his best friend Ken Taylor built their own plane. My father loved flying. He lived in a place he loved, doing what he loved. My father, Roger Von Guinther, was 49 when he died as a passenger in a small plane. If he had known, would he had changed anything? His family and planes brought him many hours of joy.

Katrina, Storm and Jackson hanging out in one of Poppy's planes. — The grandkids, Katrina, Storm and Jackson hanging out in one of Poppy’s plane.

That night, twenty-eight years ago, my father sat at the foot of my bed and asked about my future plane is still clear in my mind. What my father said that night. His advice: find what you love and do it the best you can. I have to admit it took me a bit to figure it out but I’m more happy with my life right now than ever before, art and writing fill my tank. I have a sister that teaches yoga. Our baby my travels across Texas pulling a stock trailer from show to show. Daddy said many time he just wanted us to be happy…I think his wish for our lives have come true.

Life gets busy but I do believe with work, perseverance and being ready when the opportunity arrives you can live the life of your dreams. What path did you choose: safety or bliss?

Do you guide your children to a career promising security and wealth or one that fills their passion?

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