Life Science Cares

Attended an event last night which showcased 19 Boston-area charitable groups and their various opportunities for volunteering and other involvement.  It's always uplifting to hear about these organizations and the important work they do.

Philanthropy is an important part of my identity.  Among my personal goals for 2018 is to increase my charitable efforts.  I'd like to coordinate two drives in my workplace and do a minimum of 12 hours of hands on volunteering.  By writing down measurable goals, I hope to hold myself more accountable.

Lonesome Lake, White Mountains

My first hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains (despite living less than 2 hours away my entire life -- better late than never!).  We hiked to Lonesome Lake, about 1800 feet.  It wasn't easy but it was fun and the trail ended at a beautiful, frozen lake, nestled between pine trees.  I really enjoyed myself and will certainly look for opportunities to do it more often.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” - John Muir   

Ursula Leguin

Please bring strange things.
Please come bringing new things.
Let very old things come into your hands.
Let what you do not know come into your eyes.
Let desert sand harden your feet.
Let the arch of your feet be the mountains.
Let the paths of your fingertips be your maps
And the ways you go be the lines of your palms.
Let there be deep snow in your inbreathing
And your outbreath be the shining of ice.
May your mouth contain the shapes of strange words.
May you smell food cooking you have not eaten.
May the spring of a foreign river be your navel.
May your soul be at home where there are no houses.
Walk carefully, well-loved one,
Walk mindfully, well-loved one,
Walk fearlessly, well-loved one.
Return with us, return to us,
Be always coming home.

---Ursula K. Leguin, famed writer who passed away today leaving the legacy of her work.  

Elizabeth Gilbert (continued)

Continued from an earlier post:   Just wow.  Her way with words.

Dear Ones:

It's been two weeks since I lost my beloved partner Rayya. I wanted to reach out in thanks to all of you — friends, family, and "strangers" (whatever that word even means) — who have sent me so much love and support. Together, you have created an ocean of mercy for me right now. Thank you so much.

In return, I offer you THIS: a video that brings me delight every time I watch it. This was my Rayya just a few months ago, riding on a friend's boat, rocking out in pleasure to a favorite old song. THIS is who Rayya was: a terminally ill woman, dying far too young, living with pain and fear and sadness and stubbornness, about to lose everything...but STILL capable of accessing portals of purest joy and abandon. (Please take special note of her badass moves with the cane, by the way. Fabulousness embodied. That's my rock star.)

I turned my life inside out when Rayya was diagnosed. I spent every bit of my time and energy and love on her. I would do it all again, exactly the same way. My heart is in shards right now, but sometimes that's just how hearts need to be. ("Gamble everything for love, if you are a true human being," taught Rumi. "If not, leave this gathering.")

I will be rejoining the world now — entering the larger gathering once more. I'll see you out there, and I'll see you in here, too, on social media. I have no idea who I will be on the other side of this loss, but that's ok; somehow I will find out. Right now, I know only these three things to be true:

1. There's no going back — only forward.
2. It was all worth it.
3. Rayya, who always loved the music, has now BECOME the music.❤️

Onward,
LG

What you do: January '18

You love your nerf gun and playing PJ Masks.  You're still my sweet boy - never shy to give a hug or a compliment.  Five has been off to a fun start! 

Table

On the surface, it's just a new table but for me it is more than that.   It's:

- making my space work for me and my new life
- it's letting go of something that had a time and a place and no longer does
- it's meals together
- it's cooperation
- it's acceptance
- it's having wonderful people around me to help (thank you, S!)
- it's a new chapter....

Reminder - Good or Bad

Via this TED talk 

There's an ancient parable about a farmer who lost his horse. And neighbors came over to say, "Oh, that's too bad." And the farmer said, "Good or bad, hard to say." Days later, the horse returns and brings with it seven wild horses. And neighbors come over to say, "Oh, that's so good!" And the farmer just shrugs and says, "Good or bad, hard to say." The next day, the farmer's son rides one of the wild horses, is thrown off and breaks his leg. And the neighbors say, "Oh, that's terrible luck." And the farmer says, "Good or bad, hard to say." Eventually, officers come knocking on people's doors, looking for men to draft for an army, and they see the farmer's son and his leg and they pass him by. And neighbors say, "Ooh, that's great luck!" And the farmer says, "Good or bad, hard to say."
.... 

I started seeing that when I released my grip about what made a life good or bad, I could watch my daughter's life unfold and see what it was. It was beautiful, it was complicated, joyful, hard -- in other words: just another expression of the human experience.

A reminder for me to release judgment and classification.  Instead, simply witness that somewhere between black and white is a beautiful shade of grey. 

Travel Goals

Moraine Lake Lodge in the Canadian Rockies.   YES PLEASE! 

Art

Have my eye on some bright, cheery, abstract art for the walls:

Intentions

My word for 2018 is: intentional. 

Life will inevitably throw you curve balls but with clear planning and commitment, many things can be achieved. 

“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice.”  - James Collins

Snow daze

Your smile, your laughs, your creativity - my boy. We had a wonderful winter weekend.

 

I am a tried and true New Englander.  I love the seasons.  I am grateful I can bring my boy to the beach and then teach him the joys of freshly fallen snow.  The seasons invoke a different mentality - winter: cozy, together, warm, slow.     

Rayya

A favorite of mine, Elizabeth Gilbert, lost her partner yesterday.  Below is her moving social media tribute to the woman she loved.   May we all love and be loved so fiercely. 

"She was my love, my heart, my best friend, my teacher, my rebel, my angel, my protector, my challenger, my partner, my muse, my wizard, my surprise, my gift, my comet, my liberator, my rock star, my completely impossible non-cooperator, my otherworldly visitor, my spiritual portal, and my baby. I loved you so much, Rayya. Thank you for letting me walk with you right to the edge of the river. It has been the greatest honor of my life. I would tell you to rest in peace, but I know that you always found peace boring. May you rest in excitement. I will always love you."

Snow Day

We're home today - safe and warm - while a blizzard does its thing outside.   J's ability to entertain himself, so present and carefree with his "monster truck dirt", vehicles, 90 minute bath.  The background noise of his childhood "here it comes!, guys watch out, he's the good guy...." warms my heart in a way that nothing else can. 

A gratitude practice for today:
1) my boy - healthy, present, good. 
2) our home - warm, safe, quiet, enough. 

“As we get older, we define happiness less in terms of excitement and more in terms of peacefulness. Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”  - Sheryl Sandberg

(image)

7 things

A sincere resolution to post every work day:

Found this on Swiss Miss.  The only change I'd make is:

7 Things Every Kid PERSON Needs to Hear 

7 Things Every Kid Needs To Hear

1. I love you
2. I’m proud of you
3. I’m sorry
4. I forgive you
5. I’m listening
6. This is your responsibility
7. You’ve got what it takes
-Josh Shipp

2018

My last post of the year was a reflection on the biggest lesson of 2017.  For me, it was a lesson in letting go.  Now, as we look forward instead of backward, I turn that reflection into a way to improve.  This post from On Being speaks right to it:

I’m no longer asking, “What do I want to let go of and what do I want to hang onto?” Instead I’m asking, “What do I want to let go of and what do I want to give myself to?” I now see that “hanging on” is a fearful, needy, and clinging way to be in the world. But looking for what I want to give myself to transforms everything. It’s taking me to a place where I find energy, abundance, trust, and new life.

What do I want to give myself to will be a question to ponder for the coming year.