Carole, once again, you manage to write something that tugs at my heart.  We are intuitive, most of us anyway.  It's when and where we chose to share our insights that count.  I can see you clearly, a little girl excited telling your mother something that came to you in the form of an inspiration and having it quelled.  Mom was wise only in passing along to you the value of observing and appreciating what it is and how we shouldn't assume to know the ending of everything.  It's much more fun to see how something plays out, how someone matures in their dreams and then the surprise on us when it does turn out to be different.  I just love reading your posts.  Thanks.

I bite this one.  I married at 18 to get out of my parent's house.  Three marriages, five children, 4 grandchildren, and 24 years of self-employment have been my primary teachers.  But there were so many others too numerous to count.  Some were details, a nasty word here, a promise there.  Taking things on faith when you haven't got any and finding that in the end - you do!  I learned from animals, children, reading between the medicre lines of the newspapers, weeping at the sight of starving children, living through The Cold War that saw us shiver with fear, trying to comprehend why in a male dominated world we could end up with two world wide mechanical wars, the holocaust that would have ended my life save a few years between me and that event, finding out that motherhood wasn't a glossy photo on a magazine, chosing between the grace of growing old and dying my hair, discovering I could "read" people, becoming a collector of art, hearing a voice in myself that was poetry - my life has been a series of experiences each of which was a lens for learning.  Yea, I grew and I know now only one thing - it isn't going to stop until I take my last breath.  The smartest thing I know is that it isn't over until you're dead and buried.  Everything between that end and birth is growth. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast, sometimes painful and sometimes joyful, but in the end - growth.  And I've never met a woman who wasn't learning something, somewhere, somehow, and all the time. 

Great column Carol. I will work on my intuition...I'm not sure I am scary smart enough yet! --Beth Sanders, www.lifebio.com

Carol - What a wonderful post. It's really helpful to be reminded that we all - women in particular - know so much more than we give ourselves crediti for. As you and "Granny" above have pointed out, I think we learn with age and experience to recognise and trust the gift of insight that was always there for the taking. Your mother sounds wonderful, how lucky you were to have her as a role model. Without her example, it might have been harder for you to find it in yourself. My mohter, and grandmother too, are/were wise and powerful women, and there were many others who have powerfully influenced my life. There's something else to remember - when we can claim and hold our own power, we pave theh way for the next generation of young women that stand behind us - our daughters, grandaughters, and all others who, consciously or not, are watching and learning. Thanks again. - Sarah