Guts, Grace & Gusto

Welcome to our Guts, Grace & Gusto blog, dedicated to all who seek slices of serenity in their ever-changing worlds. Whether you’re not sure what moves or changes you want or need to make, or perhaps your life is on full tilt right now, come blog with us for connecting on issues with kindred spirits.
This is a forum for travelers of transitions, whether by choice or chance. We feature topics related to the wide world of relationships, personal growth, wellness and well-being.
We’re professional speakers, authors and coaches helping to uplift women through the twists, turns and transitions of life. We’re a cyber community, committed to providing connection . . . to share from our hearts, gain wisdom, encourage growth, sustain our spirits in the process, while traveling through life’s turning, learning and yearning points. Join us for the journey.

The Guts, Grace & Gusto spirit—Learning to take a step at a time
Ironically, our own worlds experienced major heartquakes--sheer shake-ups while writing and collecting stories for Dancing through Life with Guts, Grace & Gusto. It was as if our strategies were being tested directly in the line of fire, shaking our paths, uprooting our plans and shifting priorities. We reeled in uncharted spaces which threw us off balance, yet we kept taking a step at a time, holding to our guts, grace & gusto spirit, until we found balance again and landed in new ground with a totally new map.
Here’s a very brief overview of our own profound turning points, which rocked our world with the unimaginable, dramatically changing our focus and direction.

Sandra Strauss: My “never sick” husband of 27 years was stricken with a mysterious illness in Spring 2004, severely affecting his body, brain and behavior. After more than a year of exhaustive tests, he was finally diagnosed with toxic encephalopathy, a condition resulting from a “body burden” from exposure to toxic agents, including chemical solvents and biotoxins (mold & post-Lyme disease) coupled with a genetic susceptibility making him unable to process them out.
As the disease progressed, his dementia caused wildly uncharacteristic and irrational behaviors—he moved out without supervised care, continued driving on a revoked license jeopardizing his safety and others, blocked my access to his medical and mental health care, and revoked my legal rights to help him. Although he was urged continually by family, friends, colleagues and even his doctors to get treatment, with insufficient mental health laws in Virginia, he wasn’t required to do so without his permission, until the court system finally intervened.
As a result, my eyes have been opened to what’s now termed, “the 21st century silent epidemic.” Toxic exposure is commonplace in today’s world and causing a multitude of health problems including brain problems. Thousands of toxic agents are impacting millions with all the symptoms and effects not easily or properly diagnosed or treated.
I will be sharing more about this in future blogs, as well as my other favorite topics of creating quality relationships, sustaining yourself through transitions, going for your dreams and finding time to do what makes your heart sing, even when swept into chaos and confusion, exactly when your heart needs, more than ever, to belt out its tune.

Allie Bowling: As a long-time caregiver to my mother and mother-in-law, both with chronic health conditions, including dementia, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and coped with single-sided deafness as a result of the surgery. Having to juggle eldercare while balancing my personal and professional pursuits, I learned to let go of perfection and the feelings of guilt that went along with not being able to accomplish it all. I replaced these feelings with realistic standards of behavior. What worked at the moment to get through any given task became my new level of perfection. It was a freeing feeling. If a Band-aid approach worked to solving a problem then I accepted it. I found that it made everyone involved with the problem happier.
I also learned to ask for and accept the help of others. When family, friends and colleagues asked what they could do and how they could contribute to lightening my load, I told them specifically what I needed. Being a martyr had never been my style and I wasn't about to change. I learned that asking for help is a not a sign of weakness--rather a sign of strength.
In future blogs, I'll address sanity-saving tips when you’re overwhelmed, overextended and overdue for an overhaul.

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The Guts, Grace & Gusto spirit was founded upon our shared philosophy of living adventurous lives in tune with your heart. Usually, the heart gets twisted in different directions in search of bliss. We encourage you to breathe during the times that take your breath away—when you may wonder what’s next, wander for what may seem like an eternity in the “What Now? Zone” and wish you could just get on with it.
When faced with the unexpected, you may not exactly feel like dancing through it, but you do have the guts, the grace and the gusto to land on the other side of the unexpected with restored hope and happiness. That’s what our blog is all about—the genuine journey of authentic living.