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!

My One Word

     I've been reading about the One Word movement and have decided to participate. For a while now i've been reflecting on a number of words and ideas, but one in particular seems to keep returning to me. This word, for me, unifies a skill set, longtime passion, current and future goals, and a path of new opportunities through sharing with others. Over the course of the year, I'll share my journey with you.

My one word for 2013 is write.

Happy New Year!

In five months, I will be participating in my first Relay for Life. I've been thinking and talking about it for years, and this year i'm actually going to do it! I'm really excited, but I know it takes work to prepare, and i want to maximize my time to share my goals and collect donations for the cause. I'll be posting periodic updates and occasional reminders of opportunities to participate and ways to help. I'm even dreaming up some special thank you incentives! Feel free to let me know what you think about these. Please contact me if you're willing and able to help in any way.

Birthday Bonus! : My birthday is next week, but i certainly don't need a cake. I can bake you one, or a pan of brownies or a couple dozen oatmeal cookies if you choose, to thank you for making a donation during my birthday month.

Happy Heart Cinnamon Ornaments for February Friends!

March on into Spring and get a special thank you in an Easter Egg.

Showers of (virtual or paper) Flowers: Hope Springs Eternal for those blessed enough to celebrate another healthy day. Thanks and inspiring thoughts to brighten your days in April and May.

on June 1st, I will snail-mail a personal, hand-written thank you note if you haven't already been acknowledged. The Relay in Cortland, NY is the 7-8th.

I'm still working on what my special thank you prize will be for biggest financial donor and for most info shared. I'm really thinking I would like you to have one of my friend Kelvin's Intensely Positive pens.

While we think about it...stay happy, healthy, connected, committed to do what you can with what you have where you are, and have some really bright days. Thanks! ~Pam A.

Trade a Tradition!

     When I was younger, I delighted in the sanctioned snack food binge-fest that occurred at our house on New Year's Eve. Sometimes we would manage to stay awake long enough to watch the famous ball drop in New York City's Time Square on the television; sometimes we would not. For me, it was all about the cheese and the smoked miniature sausages! I loved drowning them in barbecue sauce and counting how many I could eat until my stomach said, "no more!" As I got older, though, I did not enjoy what my body felt like afterward. It had nothing to do with alcohol or even staying up too late--i rarely included those factors in the experience--this was about learning that no matter how much i might like something, it might not be good for me. Sometimes one reaches a point where headaches and stomachaches just aren't worth it anymore!  
  
     This year I have decided to trade my "binge" tradition with a bit of a "detox" approach.

     Tonight i'll trade the cheese for some teas; those famous wienies for some spinach (which i really like and haven't had in ages!), and any sugary soda for a relaxing lavender foot soak. I really think that slowing down tonight, relaxing a little, and being mindful of my present situation and future goals will be just what i need to rocket in to next year with health, happiness, and the heart to do all that's in store for me to do. Today i'm also taking time to secure and send some goody boxes that have been waiting to be mailed, return some deposit containers, and start some new secret envelopes. See, the energy's flowing better already!

       Eat, drink and be merry safely. Have a bright day and a wonderful new year!

Love on Long Island, NY

Greetings from Ithaca! For the past two weeks, i was blessed to be part of a group of volunteers who gave their time and talents to help in shelters on Long Island. While the hours were long and the frustrations sometimes evident, the overall sense of the adventure was one of love and respect for community. We met so many people affected by Hurricane Sandy who wanted to help their neighbors and were truly appreciative  of the efforts of others...it was very humbling and inspiring. It saddens me to think it takes a disaster of this magnitude to bring people back together, but it is a joyous thing to see people indeed coming together to help one another. I hope that in the days and weeks ahead through the recovery process folks continue to show kindness and gentleness to each other. We can make the world a brighter place, one smile or cup of coffee at a time. I will not forget the people i met, and wish them peace and comfort through the tough days ahead. I look forward to reuniting under more favorable conditions and celebrating their new outlook. I urge each of you to do what you can with what you have where you are. If you are able to give of your time, money or supplies, there are people near you who could benefit. Don't wait for a disaster to show you care.

Carrots as Metaphor?

Carrots are good for us. They contain things to keep us healthy and strong. Sometimes they are perceived as a reward for effort. I like carrots. Yet, i must confess, there have been times i have refused carrots because the raw ones do require a lot of effort to consume. Sometimes it seems like they take forever to chew, and i actually get tired before i finish the process! In this introduction, I'm talking about actual carrots, but i challenge you to ask yourself, as i asked myself this morning, have you ever avoided a metaphorical "carrot" (decision, project, relationship, etc.) because it seemed like it might require "too much work?" (guilty as charged over here). Have you ever considered what outcomes might be missed by not being willing to put in that effort? With a couple months left this year, take some time to consider and pursue some carrots. You'll be glad you did, and you might even be surprised by how good they make you feel. Have a bright week!

I'm Still Writing...

...I just haven't been building in enough time to post! Please, do stay tuned for updates this week and next...great things are happening in my professional and personal growth that might just inspire you to press on with your journey of ever-increasing excellence. Until then, stay reasonably healthy in mind, body and soul, and if you're so inclined, choose one of your special gifts or talents to share. The world needs your bright moments each and every day.

100 Day Challenges

There was a fair amount of buzz yesterday about using the last 100 days of this calendar year. Perhaps we need a little re-start, or a reason to try something new, or motivation to finish something we started. I liked the idea of challenging myself to (re)commit to doing something I enjoy but have not been honoring: writing.  I decided that every single day for the rest of the year,  i will write something. It may not be a lot and it may not be anything i want to share (though i hope it will be) but i will write first and judge later. I look forward to sharing the better stuff with you, and hope that some will share their challenges and success stories with me. For those particularly interested in sharing, if I gather enough, i would like to compile them into another project. Let's write! (or anything else that you want to do) Use the time you have. Do something that makes you happy. 99 days left to this calendar year...

Joy in little things

Is your heart light? What ideas or experiences help you return to that feeling? Thursday morning i was pleasantly surprised by little things that helped me think of great things. I walked with a friend i see about once a week on a common commuting schedule to a local coffee shop. I was able to admire the pastry case selections without choosing (needing or wanting) a single one. Victory! Then as we walked to the bus stop on the corner, I found eleven cents. A shiny penny heads-up and a dime to go with it in the give-away jar! Fantastic! When i arrived at work, a coworker announced she had made a blueberry-blackberry buttermilk cake to share. Yum!

Friendship, Self-Control, Helping Others, and Sheer Gratitude all combined for a BRIGHT day.

All in a Day!

Today I took a "vacation" day to do some things at home. It was so nice to sleep till sunrise, lounge with my cat, and finish reading a book! I made and sampled a pan of brownies, surfed a store's website for deals on "essentials" (and chose not to buy yet), and processed a couple loads of laundry. My big event of the day, however, was attending a volunteer instructors' planning meeting over dinner. Someone else paid for dinner, and we worked as a team to establish a training schedule for local and regional basic disaster preparedness classes. I am very excited to be on the schedule as a co-teacher for this round of sessions this fall. I will also be attending a two-day class next week! I explained to the team member driving home that I feel renewed purpose and excitement, like i have a new way to use my formal education as a "teacher" -- it's been a while since i worked with really young students and while i love them dearly, i find greater confidence and comfort in "community education" than i did in the public schools. I enjoy a quieter day job in an academic library these days, and then gain additional experience and excitement through volunteerism. I feel so blessed to be able to help and to belong to a diverse, gifted group of caring individuals.

Updates: Perfect Timing

Sometimes, no matter what's happening in life, be it perceived as good, bad, or something in between, circumstances align and enable us to see how perfectly the pieces fit together. Most of us have ups and downs, difficulties, and hopefully someone and something helping us re-balance.

It's already been more than a couple of weeks since we started talking about the Spreading Joy Challenge. If you haven't already discovered it for yourself, it's impossible to share true joy without renewing your own in the process! I think that's the special quality about actions rooted in love: like an infinite multiplier, those thoughts and actions, "vibes" or ripples expand, flow, and return. It just feels GOOD.

What I'm recognizing tonight, in having tried to help others, I am also helping myself. I am breaking away from old thought patterns about what other people might think. I'm less fearful of emotion and connecting with others. I've always wanted to be  a "giver" and am learning that to truly be a better one, I also need to better develop the "receiver" aspect...You know, as in one hand to give, the other to receive? yeah, that.

This afternoon i learned of the passing of a retired coworker. While sad, I was also relieved for her, and glad that I was among those who got to visit her in her final days. This evening, I received my copy of Marie Wikle's book, Spreading Joy Daily. I started flipping through it, and found a piece about sharing joy through sorrow. Of course, it spoke to my heart tonight, and I am determined to do that at work tomorrow with my team. Those times often bring people closer together.

Marie sent me special messages on Twitter and while I haven't met her in person yet, her good will reached me like having an old friend in the room offering hugs. In this moment of knowing others care, I felt valued, refreshed, and uplifted. That in turn gives me the strength and desire to go out and make a spot a little brighter.

I hope that each of you in your ups and downs finds whatever it is that speaks to your heart in that moment of need, that you are able to embrace it, and to use it for good.

How are you doing with your challenge(s) today?

It's almost the halfway point (two day warning) of a recent 30-day challenge I embraced. It doesn't take long to discover lots of little (and big) things we can do to help someone along the way. Maybe one day all you think you can muster is a smile to every single person you meet. Not knowing their full stories you might not realize just how great an impact that could be for someone. Maybe another day you get to do something a little bigger and you get to keep it a secret. Those are super-charge days. I like to dream of being wealthy enough to be a generous, anonymous benefactor. These days, mysterious mini-blessings feel pretty big, too. It's not all about money, and not about what you have, but what you choose freely to do. I encourage you to experience the happy heart of one who lives (and gives) cheerfully.

Rememberize Your Card!

I experienced great joy this weekend...I hosted my niece on an impromptu visit. She brought Flat Sally with her to have some fun and record it in her travel journal. For those of you not familiar, there is a series of children's stories about Flat Stanley, which contribute to absolutely fabulous elementary school lesson plan ideas. Many children have taken a new interest in their environments, experiences, and means of recording them as a result. They make these flat pals who join them on some adventures, and then they write about them to share with their teachers and their classes. Flat Sally joined us on a walk to the local library (which sadly was closed for early summer hours already), a bus ride, and a trip to the corner store for milk and eggs. She helped us make French Toast for breakfast and shaped some homemade salt dough into a beautiful set of sculptures. We baked a "one bowl" chocolate cake from scratch. She helped my niece with a really neat card trick. I "rememberized" my card and they knew exactly which one it was!

I am looking forward to future visits. We still have museums, parks, and concerts to enjoy. We have farmers' markets and festivals coming later this summer. We have other friends and family to join us or take their own turns to visit. We might even be able to find some yard sales or host one. Most of all, we have love and great imagination. Please, dear heart, rememberize that and carry it with you always.

I've taken a 30-day Challenge. Will you join me?

Today is the start of a new fiscal year at work. It is also the beginning of a new month, and a time to discover lots of new opportunities, reasons to be grateful, joyful, and helpful to others. I found a "Spreading Joy" challenge and couldn't resist. I like to shine my little light making the world a brighter place. It brings me great happiness to add to a more positive experience for the people I encounter each day. I don't need or want recognition for any of those things I do so I won't be listing any of them here, but I do want to offer you that same special feeling that occurs when we do good in the world. Drawing from the ideas and inspiration shared by Marie Wikle on http://www.spreading-joy.org/site/
I accept and share the challenge to spread the joy each and every day this month and beyond. Start small (unless you're ready for big already) and help hearts grow.