60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday: Messy Imperfect Manifesto for My Personal Independence Day

Hello to you listening for a call to belong to who you are however imperfect!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.I am done waiting for perfect clarity to claim my place in this world.We've been told that doing equals worth, that we must have it all figured out to deserve our place at the table. But here's what I know: it's not about arriving perfect—it's about showing up authentic.I showed up to walk 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, learning breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat, step by step. I figured it out mile by messy imperfect mile.Here’s what else I know: you can’t claim your kingdom hiding in the castle. I’m stepping out of my castle, crown askew, declaring myself ready to go as an elder woman summoning other elder women into our tribe of Whidbey Island Witches. We wield magic through stories. We refuse to let our voices be diminished. No more waiting for permission.We say what we mean and mean what we say. We create a ruckus and make “good trouble” not because we have all the answers, but because we have what the world needs: our questions, rage, tenderness, truth, and collective wisdom.We're figuring out how to create a world of harmony, integrity, kindness, and justice—a world designed for all of us, not just the chosen few. It will be messy, imperfect, courageous, brave, and bold! Join us!Story Prompt: What about you? What would happen if you stepped out of your castle, crown askew, ready to figure it out as you go? Write that story and tell it out loud.You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Greenbank, Washington!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.Driving home on our 2-lane rural road in the morning fog I saw a flash of white and then a larger familiar brown body. A tiny ghost fawn high stepping ahead of its mother before both ducked into the safety of the woods and then .... gone. A ghost fawn is all white instead of the typical brown coat. They are a rare and magical sight to see here on Whidbey.Our life is like that, eh? Every so often we are treated to a “Glory Be Shazaam!” moment of magic; but more often magic tiptoes toward us from the margins of our lives. Magic lives in the margins of our lives never out of reach if we are only willing sit quietly with patience, wait, watch, listen, and call it into being.Question: When has magic from the margins of your life shown up and surprised you? What happened next?Thank you for listening and staying for the magic!You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Rehoboth, Massuchusetts!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.Recently I had the pleasure of talking with my friend and colleague DreamVisions7 Radio & TV Network owner Deborah Beauvais on her Love By Intuition Show. DreamVisions7 is serving the planet through the vibration of our voices. Each radio host creates a safe space to share their internal soul growth while offering unique healing modalities and tools to assist you and our planet. If you are longing for a little synergy, collaboration for the good, or human connection with spiritual enrichment, this episode is for YOU!Highlights:  • Professional and Personal Journey• Soul Growth• What was created  - What was left behind• Sovereignty & Visibility: helping women be seen, heard, understood and listened to  • Presence,  by way of our stories, creates possibility Click HERE to catch the replay of our 50-minute inspiring, uplifting and value-packed conversation on YouTube. Or, if listening is more your style, click HERE for the audio replay of our conversation on Love by Intuition:ResourcesContact Deborah Beauvais and check out the many shows on DreamVisions7 Radio Network to transform your life and business. Come join our community of listeners, hosts, sponsors and advertisers.• Website: https://dreamvisions7radio.com/• E-mail Deborah Beauvais: [email protected]• Phone: 508-226-1723You’re always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you subscribe, share a 5-star rating + nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ Arrange your no-sales complimentary coaching session to learn more: ,✓ Stay current with Diane  as Wyzga on Words on SubstackStories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Victoria, BC, CanadaLand!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more for a change up) for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.My friend Michelle asked me something that made me stop and think. She said, "You always end Story Prompt Friday with 'Write that story!' But you believe in the music of the spoken word - telling stories out loud - why not say that?Michelle knows me well.Here's the thing about our voices - they carry magic that our fingers can't capture. When you write your story, you're having a conversation with yourself. It’s a lovely and necessary place to begin. But when you speak your story out loud, something different happens. Something powerful.Your voice carries the rhythm of your heartbeat. It holds the catch in your throat when you remember something tender. It speeds up when you get excited and slows down when the moment matters most. These aren't just sounds - they're the music of your experience.Think about the last time someone told you a story that made you lean in closer. Was it their words alone? Or was it the way their voice dropped to an intimate whisper? The way they paused right before the surprise? The way their whole face lit up when they got to the good part?When you tell your story out loud, you're not just sharing information. You're sharing yourself. Your voice carries your personality, your emotions, your truth in ways that words on a page simply cannot.Here's what I've learned in thirty years of teaching people to tell their stories: most of us have forgotten how powerful our voices are. We text instead of call. We email instead of visit. We've become quiet.Your story needs your voice. It needs the way you say certain words. It needs your pauses, your emphasis, your breath. These aren't extras - they're essential story ingredients.When you stand up and tell your story, you're claiming space in the world. You're saying, "This happened. This matters. I matter." That's not just storytelling - that's courage.And here's the magical surprise: when you tell your story out loud, you hear it differently than when you write it. You discover new meanings. You find the parts that will move your listeners. You learn which moments need more time and which ones can move faster.Your voice teaches you about your own story.Your stories are waiting for the full power of your voice. They're waiting for the music of the spoken word only you can make.So yes, write your stories. But don't stop there. Find someone to tell them to, a loved one, an animal companion, even to yourself as you’re walking outside or working in your garden. That’s where I practice! What’s important is that you have a story to share.Give others that gift. Give yourself that gift. If you need a hand up I can help. Email me at [email protected] to arrange for a no obligation Discovery Call or reach out to me ("Wyzga on Words") on Substack. I’d love the opportunity to work with you!  Story Prompt: Starting now, tell your story out loud!You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication & Story Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Fairbanks, Alaska!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more) for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.Jack Kornfield, American Buddhist teacher and writer asked, “Where does enlightenment come from?” and proceeded to offer an answer in his book, After the Ecstacy, the Laundry.    For as many times as I’ve read his work I keep coming back to the title: first, we experience an overwhelming feeling of joyful excitement, and then we are back into the reality of day-to-day living.  Our Whidbey Island No Kings rally was my ecstacy, feeling great happiness joining with over 2,500 others waving flags, holding signs, standing together, singing and laughing.Click HERE to access our Whidbey Island No Kings rally Photo GalleryBut when it was over I realized there was still the very long game of piles and piles of democracy  laundry. I felt despair. Until I remembered the “We the People” are America’s Power speech delivered by my hero, Reverend William Barber, founder Repairers of the Breach on June 14th to 100,000 people rallying peacefully in the Philadelphia rain.Click HERE to access Rev. Barber’s speech.My very favorite FanGirl bit starts at minute 3:48 when Reverend Barber asks the rally goers to hold the hand of the person next to them and say in “call & response” fashion, the following:“I love your life!I hold your life dear!I will protect your life!I will embrace your life!I will hope the best for your life!I will stand up for your life because we are one humanity and we need each other to survive.”Now that’s how we do the laundry!Question: How are you standing together to reconstruct democracy in your community?Thank you for listening and taking part. You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication & Story Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello, to you listening in Darmstadt, Germany!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.Recently, I had the pleasure of sharing the mic with my friend and colleague Alethea Felton whose coaching mission is “Courageous, Authentic, Purpose-Filled Living Despite Obstacles.” Question: What happens when we uncover, discover, embrace, and share our unique personal story? We recognize the strength in our own voice and the greatness we're destined to achieve. This episode is for anyone ready to rewrite their narrative, speak their truth, and discover just how influential their story can be. Get ready for an exploration of courage, resilience, and the undeniable ripple effect of embracing all the potential that is your origin story!Highlights:• How Diane’s love of storytelling led to becoming an origin  story co-creator for women;• Unpacking the essence of an origin story and its pivotal role in shaping identity and purpose;• Examining the intricate dance of listening and sharing, pushing back against injustice, and the importance of being seen and heard through the unique lens of personal experiences; and• Sharing strategies for overcoming the fear of vulnerability and the importance of women voicing their stories.Click HERE to catch the replay of our engaging, inspiring, transformative, and value-packed conversation on BuzzSprout.   Click HERE to catch the  replay of our engaging, inspiring, transformative, and value-packed conversation on Spotify. Click HERE to catch the replay of our engaging, inspiring, transformative, and value-packed conversation on Apple Podcasts.Connect With Alethea Alethea Felton Coaching, LLC: https://www.aletheafelton.com/Connect with Alethea: https://linktr.ee/aletheafeltonListen to The Power Transformation Podcast: https://powertransformation.buzzsprout.com/E-mail: [email protected] @aletheafeltonLinkedIn @Alethea FeltonFacebook @Alethea FeltonYou’re always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you subscribe, share a 5-star rating + nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ Arrange your no-sales, Complimentary Coaching Consult, and ✓ Stay current with Diane as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.

Hello to you listening in San Juan Capistrano, California!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.  Podcasting can be lonely work. I offer my episodes trusting that there is at least 1 person in the world who will listen and say, “What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.” [C.S. Lewis] So, you can imagine that nothing gives me greater joy than to receive a note telling me how my podcast episodes show up in your life.A longtime galpal teaches story to men incarcerated in a California jail. She wrote: I found 4 story prompts that I'd love to use because they fit in well with 3 values we want the men to reflect on: Awareness, Change, and Renewal1. Somewhere in the long ago is a story about how you decided to do it your way, with your voice2. What plot twists in your life story brought you to where you are now?3. What new choices might reshape the old story?4. What is it you want? What will you do to give it a go?  When and how?Story Prompt: Think about those 3 values: Awareness, Change, and Renewal. Choose a prompt for yourself. Write that story and tell your story out loud! You’re always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you please subscribe, spread the word with a generous 5-star review and comment - it helps us all - and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ Arrange your no-sales, Complimentary Coaching Consult, and ✓ Stay current with Diane on Substack (Wyzga on Words). Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Sheridan, Wyoming!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.I’m sharing a Findhorn Foundation Meditation to offer you a bit of breathing room as you navigate your day:How to Help the World"Do you realise that what you do, how you live and how you think can help or hinder the state of the world? Cease being drawn into the whirlpool of chaos and confusion, of destruction and devastation, and start right now concentrating on the wonder and beauty of the world around you. Give thanks for everything. Bless all those souls whom you contact. Refuse to see the worst in people, in things or in conditions, and seek always for the very best.It is not being like an ostrich hiding your head in the sand and refusing to face the realities of the world. It is simply looking for and concentrating on the very best in everything and everyone. You are a tiny world within yourself. When there is peace, harmony, love and understanding right there deep within your tiny world, it will be reflected in the outer world all around you. When you can do it, you are beginning to help the whole vast situation in the world." Guaranteed!You’re always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you please subscribe, spread the word with a generous 5-star review and comment - it helps us all - and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ Arrange your no-sales, Complimentary Coaching Consult, and ✓ Stay current with Diane on Substack (Wyzga on Words). Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Warsaw, Poland!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Motivate Your Monday and your host, Diane Wyzga.Recently, I had the pleasure of sharing the mic with my Canadian friend and colleague Beverley Glazer of Reinvent Impossible, Inc. who helps “woman over 50 discover their true purpose, to reinvent themselves and live a life with meaning, passion, and fulfillment.” Together Beverley and I are helping women who desire to rewrite their narrative, speak their truth, and discover just how influential their Origin Story can be for beginning anew, human connection, engagement, and leadership.If you are curious about exploring courage, resilience, and the undeniable ripple effect of embracing all the potential that is your origin story, to connect more deeply with yourself and others this episode is for you! Join us and be inspired!Highlights:• Diane's resilient journey from incest survivor to professional story activist wielding her voice as a tool for change;• The unstinting pursuit of engagement and authenticity in a world that often encourages women to be anything but;• The crucial role of reclaiming your voice no matter what you're going through;• How overcoming personal challenges and fears can lead to a life filled with adventure and purpose; and• How storytelling is not JUST expression, but a powerful medium that can have incredible impact.Click HERE to listen to our conversation on AppleClick HERE to listen to our conversation on SpotifyPlease be sure to spread the word with a generous 5-star review and comment; it helps us all.ResourcesBeverley Glazer MA., ICCAC“Create a life you love.”Premier Custom Coaching Solutions for Business & LifeReinvent Impossible, Inc.:  https://reinventimpossible.com/Schedule a conversation: https://calendly.com/reinventimpossiblePodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-with-purpose-passion/id1562514982E-mail: [email protected]: 1-514-288-1891 You’re always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you please subscribe, spread the word with a generous 5-star review and comment - it helps us all - and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ Arrange your no-sales, Complimentary Coaching Consult, and ✓ Stay current with Diane on Substack (Wyzga on Words). Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. 

Hello to you listening in Victoria, BC, CanadaLand!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds (and a bit more for a change up) for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.My friend Michelle asked me something that made me stop and think. She said, "You always end Story Prompt Friday with 'Write that story!' But you believe in the music of the spoken word - telling stories out loud - why not say that?Michelle knows me well.Here's the thing about our voices - they carry magic that our fingers can't capture. When you write your story, you're having a conversation with yourself. It’s a lovely and necessary place to begin. But when you speak your story out loud, something different happens. Something powerful.Your voice carries the rhythm of your heartbeat. It holds the catch in your throat when you remember something tender. It speeds up when you get excited and slows down when the moment matters most. These aren't just sounds - they're the music of your experience.Think about the last time someone told you a story that made you lean in closer. Was it their words alone? Or was it the way their voice dropped to an intimate whisper? The way they paused right before the surprise? The way their whole face lit up when they got to the good part?When you tell your story out loud, you're not just sharing information. You're sharing yourself. Your voice carries your personality, your emotions, your truth in ways that words on a page simply cannot.Here's what I've learned in thirty years of teaching people to tell their stories: most of us have forgotten how powerful our voices are. We text instead of call. We email instead of visit. We've become quiet.Your story needs your voice. It needs the way you say certain words. It needs your pauses, your emphasis, your breath. These aren't extras - they're essential story ingredients.When you stand up and tell your story, you're claiming space in the world. You're saying, "This happened. This matters. I matter." That's not just storytelling - that's courage.And here's the magical surprise: when you tell your story out loud, you hear it differently than when you write it. You discover new meanings. You find the parts that will move your listeners. You learn which moments need more time and which ones can move faster.Your voice teaches you about your own story.Your stories are waiting for the full power of your voice. They're waiting for the music of the spoken word only you can make.So yes, write your stories. But don't stop there. Find someone to tell them to, a loved one, an animal companion, even to yourself as you’re walking outside or working in your garden. That’s where I practice! What’s important is that you have a story to share.Give others that gift. Give yourself that gift. If you need a hand up I can help. Email me at [email protected] to arrange for a no obligation Discovery Call or reach out to me ("Wyzga on Words") on Substack. I’d love the opportunity to work with you!  Story Prompt: Starting now, tell your story out loud!You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication & Story Services, arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer’s Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.