It’s a new year, a new beginning and my head is full of new ideas for 2021. I began writing this blog early summer 2020. I had never written anything with such caliber before other doing my own marketing for my business Blue Star Collections. Does that count in writing?

This past year Covid changed a lot of things for each of us. I knew I didn’t want to host a sale for Blue Star at my shop in Superior. I felt it was too dangerous to invite people to come shop with the pandemic taking place all around us. Instead I have a dear friend Pat McGill that identifies herself as a woman in her “Spontaneous 70’s” that inspired me to write and share stories as I continued to drive my van down the road and explore.

Today it is my pleasure to write about my mentor, confidant and loving friend Pat McGill. We all have people that come in and out of our life’s. We never know when and where they will show up. I so remember the day I met Pat McGill when she stepped into my life.

Blue Star Collections was hosting a Holiday show a few years ago and in the door walked this woman with a larger than life, big gregarious personality! She looked around and said “so this is what everyone is talking about” ~ Blue Star Collections!

Pat had heard on the street that there was a gal doing “junk” shows in Superior, Iowa. At that time Pat lived in Okoboji and Superior was only a few miles away. Pat decided to hop in the car and find out for herself what the hubba hubba was about. The rest is history, Pat and I became instant friends and she became my biggest cheerleader! I have felt so blessed to have this friend walked into my life.

I love strong women that inspire me. Pat McGill is one of those women that deeply inspires not only me but many other women and men. When I chat with Pat, one of Helen Reddy’s songs always pop into my head. “I am Woman hear me Roar”. If I were to use one word to express Pat, it would be “Roar”. Pat is so full of wisdom, energy and is eager for living a big life!

Pat McGill is founder and president of McGill Speaking and Training Resources (www.patmcgill.net).
A former middle-school teacher and adjunct professor of human relations, Pat holds a master’s degree in education from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. She’s convinced, however, that her talents are rooted in her Midwestern upbringing, Irish heritage — and an early adventure in pageantry.

Before being named Miss Congeniality in the Miss South Dakota pageant, she tripped upon entering the judging room, then fell down! But she got up and asked if they wanted to see more. They did, and she mentions she has been tripping up ever since — learning lessons and passing them on to those who’ll listen.

As a member of the National Speakers Association, Pat presents professional development keynotes and workshops on such topics as change, leadership, and relationship building. Her “Pat-tested, Boomer-approved” material is at once entertaining and informative, and helps her to engage those of varying backgrounds, and in different life stages, professions and industries. A certified Psycho-Geometrics® trainer, Pat is further positioned to facilitate effective communication strategies that appeal to a variety of learning styles.

Pat is second oldest of an Irish Catholic family with eighty two in her immediate family. The gifts from her family is what has made Pat today. She often talks of her Grandmother McGill and what a strong woman she was going through divorce in the early 1900’s. Pat was also close to her mother, another strong woman that inspired Pat to soar and fill her dreams.

Over the years Pat has built her career in education and generously sharing with others her talents of teaching. Supporting women has always been first for Pat supporting many women’s groups over the years. With Pat’s quick wit, intelligence and inspiring to help women grow is just a few of many of Pat’s strong suit.

Pat has worn many hats over the years and taken home several awards for her accomplishments. When you meet Pat you are quickly drawn in with her fun style, love of life and spontaneous humor that makes her such a beauty in and out.

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Pat business today in her “Spontaneous 70’s” she is still going strong with her business. Her resume looks a bit like this: Leadership Training, Individual Coaching, Zooming Motivated Speaking and Mentoring

Pat always has good words to share when she is supporting and mentoring others. I’m sharing a just a few with you ~ One of the biggest gifts we give to another human being is to listen. Change the letters around in listen and it spells Silent. We become Silent and Listen.

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One of Pat’s favorite quotes from an Irish poet ~. The quality of our looking determines what we come to see. By John O’Donahue

In our lives we are either coming out of hell, going through hell, or hell is around the corner. It’s how we live our story thats makes it worth living. By Pat McGill

Age wrinkles your skin, however the loss of enthusiasm wrinkles your soul. Age only matters if your cheese.

A couple of of Pat’s morning prayers: Dear God, Get in my Head before I do ~ Amen. My prayer for life: My work is good ~ My work is important work ~ My work is creative work ~ For through my work, I make LOVE visible. Amen

For further information about Pat McGill you can go to LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcgill

We all have road blocks in life as Pat McGill might say. None of us are excluded to changes in our paths. My change this last year has been to focused with my Blue Star Binocular blogging and sharing stories such as my friend Pat McGill. Also, one of my road blocks was loosing my business and personal Facebook I had for many years that hosted my Blue Star Collections customers.

I’m now searching for them to “come back” and share with them my new presence at Blue Star Binocular. So as I move forward with this blog, Pat McGill might say this – first you: Think it ~ Ink it ~ Own it ~ Live it ~ Share it

In closing, for the women that want to sing along with me, here you go! Maybe you too have a friend like I have with my friend Pat McGill that inspires you. None the less, let’s stick together and turn up our speakers to enjoy! “ I am woman hear me Roar” and sing like nobody is watching ~

Helen Reddy ~ https://youtu.be/rptW7zOPX2E

I am woman, hear me roar. In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor No one’s ever gonna keep me down

Oh yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can face anything
I am strong
(Strong)
I am invincible
(Invincible)
I am woman