Today I bought a coordinating domain name!

That's right...this blog is going to have new content, and the purpose is expanding. Stay tuned for some updates.

Encouraged!

     Not long ago, a coworker friend asked me, "Do you have a blog?" She told me she would subscribe and I realized I have been neglecting our worldwide audience. I truly could not believe more than a year had passed since i'd made a public post. I never stopped writing in my brain or on paper, but i still have to work at scheduling the public sharing. Today I write with renewed excitement believing there is someone out there who wants to hear what i have to say. Today I write with renewed enthusiasm to encourage you to do what makes you happy and to make the world a better place.
     One of my best friends posted an inquiry on social media about a major fundraising event involving a physical, emotional and personal challenge with a simple link to the page and the words, "Who's in?" I wanted to jump right in, but of course i wanted some details, too. I had to dig through a couple of pages to find the financial "minimum" and was a little scared by the number. Then i took a breath. I looked at the calendar and realized how much time we have before an event date. Perhaps most importantly, I thought about all the people i know living each day of their lives with something difficult and the choice they make to continue to survive and thrive. I get nervous about fundraising because i don't want to make other people uncomfortable. It's hard to ask someone if you know they don't really have much to spare. I also get excited about the possibilities when we start small and combine our efforts. My mind and heart are leaping this morning with ideas to try as i move forward this year on some major fundraising adventures. Here's what i posted on social media: "2015 might just be the Year of the Fundraiser. Since i can't do all of them, i choose among multiple factors including knowing someone living the fight, my ability to make a difference, and my conviction that the cause is legit. Please help when, where, and how you can and stay tuned to what matters to you."
     Thanks for being you and for what you do. Thanks for joining me for part of the journey.

Things I Saw On the Way to Work This Morning

Some mornings, i feel like I'm dragging a lead pipe up the hill, but the walk is always a pleasant one. This morning I moved a little slower than normal and took the time to notice a few more things than just my thoughts and the cars zooming by. It took me all day to steal a moment to document it, but here is a sampling of what I noticed this morning as I walked up South Hill:


* a Blue Jay in flight
* half a rotting eggplant
* the gentleman who handles morning crossing guard duty at the elementary school
* a little "yip yip" dog silently (hurray!) walking with its human
* a family of deer eating their breakfast
* the bright colors of the changing leaves

After i made it to campus, I remembered where i put my ID/bus pass. I was both grateful to have it and pleased with myself that i had chosen to walk anyway rather than wait for the bus up the hill.

It always intrigues me what i notice, what i remember, and what i forget, so i'm thinking another writing exercise might include another attempt to document what i notice and how i respond to it.

My "coup du jour" as originally perceived was perhaps having accomplished my 60 minutes max countable daily cardio for my fitness challenge before 8am, but at 3:30pm it may very well be the peace and pleasure of having more fully experienced that first hour before the day got so busy.

Love Without Limits

I had the opportunity to spend some time at an event known as Mercy Weekend. I found it to be a very positive experience, because it was bigger than any label we choose (or lose) when we try to describe our faith. I happen to have grown up a little "Protestant" (no denomination) girl who just shared the universal language of loving mercy with around 14,000 Catholic pilgrims in Stockbridge, MA at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.

My mother blessed me with the simple explanation of her faith when i was little: "I'm a Christian, period. I don't need a label to connect with Jesus." My parents also blessed me with the freedom to attend a variety of services so that I could grow in my own faith without becoming overly concerned with choosing one denomination. My God has blessed me with friends from many faith traditions including those not Christian or practicing. I treasure that we can come together on common ground in mutual respect and understanding rather than be divided by earthly constructs. I value the opportunity to continue to learn and grow, and plan to reflect on this more in the near future.

Time Flies. Make Time For Your Priorities!

Good morning! When i left for work today, the moon was low in the sky and lit with a soft glow that was quite stunning. Another three hours have passed since then, and now the sun is high above and getting warm. I don't know about you, but sometimes i get so wrapped up in just trying to finish the next task or start the next project that i don't enjoy the beauty around me or build in my reading, writing, sleeping, and socializing time. Somehow another month has passed since i said hello in this forum. I hope that most of your days between posts are bright ones, and if not, i hope to help the future ones become so.

Today's charge is to remember that there's more to life than just staying alive or getting by. Engage all your senses and experience everything around and in you. Make time for the people and activities you deem important. Make sure you're on that list! Develop a dream and a plan. Cultivate the joy in your life and use that wellspring to positively impact others. Make a difference because you want to, not just because you can.

Weekend on a Wednesday

 I knew we were going to have a little ice storm last night, so i made an early decision to notify my colleagues that I would not report to work today. I think it was a very good decision! My rationale was sound; since the danger zone was going to be between dinnertime last night and travel time this morning, i have to walk several blocks to catch my ride, and i needed to be back early tonight to co-teach a class, it seemed like the easiest, smartest, and safest thing to do.

The added bonuses include my opportunity to sleep till sunrise this morning, having extra snuggle time with my cat, and having some quiet time to tidy my living space, since i'll be out galavanting this weekend for another volunteer organization event.

I kind of wish i could have a weekend on a Wednesday more often! How about you? when do you claim your weekend, and how do you spend it?

What if Every Day were "Happy Birthday!"?

     What if every day were happy birthday? Each day is a gift...what will we do with it? As I close out another year and eagerly start a new one, I am reminded of the wonderful people, opportunities, and experiences that fill my time. In a few hours I could qualify as two voting adults, three aspiring writers encouraged by their middle school teachers, our four beginning band instrumentalists. Of course the possibilities are endless...but those were the first three that came to mind because they were indeed milestones in my life (and fun numerically).
     I'm eschewing the cake this year, but the party is just getting started. There are many things i started years ago i wish to resume or complete, and there are many things i have to date perhaps not yet even fully dreamed. I look forward to all that awaits me, and invite you along for part of the journey. I encourage you to think about what you'll celebrate and grow, and hope that you'll be blessed with a positive moment to graciously accept even those "gifts" that aren't at the top of your wishlist (I can attest sometimes this is hard, but oh so important).
     I'm starting a new tradition--for my birthday, I'm sending a check to my local orchestra to celebrate one of the most enduring gifts I ever received, the language of music. This is my grown-up gift to myself and my community so that others may enjoy it as much as I do.I'm committing to making it to a concert this year!
     I'm also learning how to ask for things on behalf of others. For those of you inclined to consider giving, I ask that you choose a cause close to your heart. Rather than wait till i die and throw some money at some flowers that'll make me sneeze beyond the grave, celebrate everyone's LIFE by connecting where you can. Give of yourselves, whatever you can--your time, skill or talent, money, other resources...and if you really need some starter ideas, here are just a few i find meaningful and far-reaching:

*Literacy programs, including any age and/or public libraries
*The arts, for ALL: music/theater/dance/museums/visual, auditory, tactile, mult-isensory...
*Hunger awareness and relief--your local food pantry or meals on wheels
*Disaster preparedness and recovery--learn to be "ready" and how you can help
*Social supports, like peer mentoring and pal programs
*Animal welfare--visit, adopt, spay/neuter, prevent cruelty
*Relay for Life--everyone knows someone with cancer.

Happy Birthday! Now get out there and celebrate. Have a bright year!