Listened to an excellent interview with Seth Godin and Marie Forleo in which Seth reiterates his recommendation that every person keeps a daily blog. Watch here
This page started in 2011 and although the frequency of my posts has decreased, it's value (to me) has not. I am proud of the work that fills this tiny corner of the internet and am glad to have it. I'm going to try and get back to more regular posting.
"If day after day, week after week you leave this trail behind of thoughtful examinations of your world, you can't help but get better at whatever it is you seek to do."
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Goal met
I started to learn about community grants in the fall and subsequently researched and listened to about 20 episodes of a "how to" for grant writing before applying for my first grant this December. With the principals support, I wrote a project proposal for an Earth Day event at SJS and was awarded the $2500 request! We will use these funds towards tshirts for all the students and faculty as well as gardening equipment, gloves and some plants. In a school with a limited budget, $2500 for a "fun" day for the kids is most certainly an accomplishment and a great way to do something extra without having to dip into funds better used for the classroom. It was also a great reminder of the resources out there and what is possible with a little bit of commitment.
My goal is to get 2-3 more grants approved in 2020, thus generating an additional few thousand dollars without needing to ask families for anything more than they already do! A small example of personally moving the needle for the communities that matter to us and a good way to start the year!
Monday, January 13, 2020
39
Today I enter my 39th year. I feel good, strong, proud about my past and hopeful for my future. I am in a place in my life that I am happy to be and think I have been lucky, worked hard and taken chances to arrive to where I am.
Of course, I am far from perfect - I could have healthier habits, be more organized, lose some weight and those are and will always be goals to which I strive but I also believe life is good and I am good.
Going into this one feeling grateful for my heath, my strength to be a mother, my ability to do my job, be generous to those around me and provide a good and stable life. Looking forward to the continued journey.
I've posted it before but there is no harm in saying it again...
"There's always another level up. another ascension. more grace, more light, more generosity, more compassion, more to shed, more to grow" - Elizabeth Gilbert
Prayerfully asking for continued peace in my life as I enter this final year of my third decade.
Of course, I am far from perfect - I could have healthier habits, be more organized, lose some weight and those are and will always be goals to which I strive but I also believe life is good and I am good.
Going into this one feeling grateful for my heath, my strength to be a mother, my ability to do my job, be generous to those around me and provide a good and stable life. Looking forward to the continued journey.
I've posted it before but there is no harm in saying it again...
"There's always another level up. another ascension. more grace, more light, more generosity, more compassion, more to shed, more to grow" - Elizabeth Gilbert
Prayerfully asking for continued peace in my life as I enter this final year of my third decade.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Year in Review - 2019
A January tradition to recount my year and reflect on all that was good and done. Although it included the passing of my dad, it was all in all a very good year.
Travel:
2019 was the most exciting travel year I have had in a long time. Two major trips - Banff and Spain - fulfilled decade long dreams and lived up to my very high hopes. I'd repeat both of the trips again in a heartbeat! In addition to major trips, the year also included a few fantastic trips in NYC, New England weekends including glamping, cross country skiing, and biking in VT, a first time to Atlanta and the Catskills, and a fantastic trip to Colorado to visit our forever friends. I really could not ask for more here.
Life:
Feeling the most content I've felt in years. J is growing into such a kind, smart and enjoyable boy, I love living in Cambridge, I enjoy our neighborhood and neighbors and my relationships are centered on love and peace. I feel grateful that I am moving towards a life with decreasing amounts of friction and wasted energy.
Unfortunately, we also said goodbye to my dad and Joe's papa. This is the first significant death I have had to endure and while I miss him all the time and think of him several times throughout the day, every single day, his death has also given me a deeper spiritual life and I still feel intensely connected to him. I try to live my father's legacy of generosity and kindness and in doing so, feel his love and warmth surrounding me. Joe misses his Papa a lot but I'm glad he has such wonderful memories and they had time to forge a lasting connection. He knows he's in Heaven and watching over us. <3
Art:
Consistently making it to a few productions every year - 2019 included Wicked, Rent, Hello Dolly, the adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things to theater, an Elephant & Piggy show with J, a trip to the Ogunquit Art Museum, cooking classes, wine tours and some wonderful author readings: Dani Shapiro and Elizabeth Gilbert were fantastic!
Work:
Proud of the change I've made to build a career and this year I have done well professionally and learned a lot. I feel more and more confident in my role and am grateful to have a job that gives me appropriate levels of challenge and contribution while also offering wonderful life balance and time to work remote.
I've also become very involved in J's school, not simply as a parent volunteer but as someone who believes in the mission and the work of Catholic schools. Discovering this cause has been gratifying and impactful and has given me a lot of direction for doing work that matters to me.
Parenting:
J is now 7 and in 1st grade. He is a pure delight. Kind and empathetic, with an enormous imagination. We had a great teacher conference and report card, his teacher tells us that he's well liked by all of his classmates and he tries hard. As he gets older, we're finding more things to do together including riding our bikes and hiking. He is certainly my pride and joy and not a day goes by that I'm not so grateful to be his mama.
Life:
Feeling the most content I've felt in years. J is growing into such a kind, smart and enjoyable boy, I love living in Cambridge, I enjoy our neighborhood and neighbors and my relationships are centered on love and peace. I feel grateful that I am moving towards a life with decreasing amounts of friction and wasted energy.
Unfortunately, we also said goodbye to my dad and Joe's papa. This is the first significant death I have had to endure and while I miss him all the time and think of him several times throughout the day, every single day, his death has also given me a deeper spiritual life and I still feel intensely connected to him. I try to live my father's legacy of generosity and kindness and in doing so, feel his love and warmth surrounding me. Joe misses his Papa a lot but I'm glad he has such wonderful memories and they had time to forge a lasting connection. He knows he's in Heaven and watching over us. <3
Art:
Consistently making it to a few productions every year - 2019 included Wicked, Rent, Hello Dolly, the adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things to theater, an Elephant & Piggy show with J, a trip to the Ogunquit Art Museum, cooking classes, wine tours and some wonderful author readings: Dani Shapiro and Elizabeth Gilbert were fantastic!
Work:
Proud of the change I've made to build a career and this year I have done well professionally and learned a lot. I feel more and more confident in my role and am grateful to have a job that gives me appropriate levels of challenge and contribution while also offering wonderful life balance and time to work remote.
I've also become very involved in J's school, not simply as a parent volunteer but as someone who believes in the mission and the work of Catholic schools. Discovering this cause has been gratifying and impactful and has given me a lot of direction for doing work that matters to me.
Parenting:
J is now 7 and in 1st grade. He is a pure delight. Kind and empathetic, with an enormous imagination. We had a great teacher conference and report card, his teacher tells us that he's well liked by all of his classmates and he tries hard. As he gets older, we're finding more things to do together including riding our bikes and hiking. He is certainly my pride and joy and not a day goes by that I'm not so grateful to be his mama.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Spain
J spent Christmas 2019 with the Campos family in Rio so S and I jetted off to Spain for a bit. We spent time with family & friends in Madrid for a few days before heading off to La Rioja and San Sebastian; all new to me places!
It was insanely beautiful. The trip incorporated the prettiest vistas, Gothic churches, medieval towns, winding roads, so much jamon, the best dressed young children (I never got tired of seeing the stylish Spanish mini-fashion), oceans, mountains, vineyards, cellars, ruins, hotel room views, and all around bliss. Until next time, Espana!
It was insanely beautiful. The trip incorporated the prettiest vistas, Gothic churches, medieval towns, winding roads, so much jamon, the best dressed young children (I never got tired of seeing the stylish Spanish mini-fashion), oceans, mountains, vineyards, cellars, ruins, hotel room views, and all around bliss. Until next time, Espana!
"Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think you've lost time There is no short cutting to life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." Asha Tyson
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Finding your why
One of the reasons I've been on this blog less is because I've become quite involved in my son's small Catholic school, St. Joseph School in Medford. I was raised in a family of Irish and Italian Catholics, attending weekly mass and holy days, but didn't attend Catholic school until college. However, when I divorced and found myself craving a city life, but had reservations about the urban school district, we enrolled J in St. Joseph School, the same school his beloved Papa had attended as a boy.
We had a few things on our side as we started out: 1) how exciting, you get to go to a school with YOUR name! (at the time, J asked if his best buddy from daycare would be attending St. Max's...), 2) did you know these are the same classrooms and hallways that Papa went to... for the first year, J asked constantly to walk to school "just like Papa used to" 3) it was back in my parent's hometown which meant they felt comfortable with the change. They help me do pickups and like to attend his events, so their familiarity with the neighborhood made for an easy transition.
I really didn't know much more than that. Fast forward, and J is going on his 3rd year at St. Joe's. He feels completely at home and is thriving in the small school. The vibe is loving, the teachers are warm and the families are very nice. We're making friends, we're part of a community and my son is safe and happy.
As I understand more about the challenges the Catholic schools are facing, I've become more involved. For our small parish school, I've joined some other capable moms to get the Parents Club back and running. We upgraded some of our school events which had become tired and needed some TLC and we are working on building a stronger community which can strengthen the future of our school.
It's a challenge and a problem I'm not sure we can solve. However, I am committed to do my small part to put in the energy, time and resources to make it the best it can be. Some have asked why I'm doing this. I have been thinking about the answer to that question... I suppose this is the best I can give right now: I'm doing this because I believe Catholic schools matter. I believe that they teach virtues of kindness, discipline and faith that are being lost today. I believe that as a parent I have less time than my parent's had to instill those values and therefore appreciate the extra help of the Catholic school to support my son's foundation. Catholic schools work. The evidence is that they consistently outperform their neighboring city schools and for more than 100 years, they have been safe havens for immigrants and marginalized members of society. Those members, when loved, nurtured and cared for by a Catholic educational institution, became great leaders in business, government and many industries. I believe in my identity as a Catholic; I feel it is a community of warmth and generosity and like minded individuals. At perhaps the time of greatest need in my life, I needed a safe home for myself and my son. I found it in a Catholic school. I am working to keep those doors open so others may, too.
We had a few things on our side as we started out: 1) how exciting, you get to go to a school with YOUR name! (at the time, J asked if his best buddy from daycare would be attending St. Max's...), 2) did you know these are the same classrooms and hallways that Papa went to... for the first year, J asked constantly to walk to school "just like Papa used to" 3) it was back in my parent's hometown which meant they felt comfortable with the change. They help me do pickups and like to attend his events, so their familiarity with the neighborhood made for an easy transition.
I really didn't know much more than that. Fast forward, and J is going on his 3rd year at St. Joe's. He feels completely at home and is thriving in the small school. The vibe is loving, the teachers are warm and the families are very nice. We're making friends, we're part of a community and my son is safe and happy.
As I understand more about the challenges the Catholic schools are facing, I've become more involved. For our small parish school, I've joined some other capable moms to get the Parents Club back and running. We upgraded some of our school events which had become tired and needed some TLC and we are working on building a stronger community which can strengthen the future of our school.
It's a challenge and a problem I'm not sure we can solve. However, I am committed to do my small part to put in the energy, time and resources to make it the best it can be. Some have asked why I'm doing this. I have been thinking about the answer to that question... I suppose this is the best I can give right now: I'm doing this because I believe Catholic schools matter. I believe that they teach virtues of kindness, discipline and faith that are being lost today. I believe that as a parent I have less time than my parent's had to instill those values and therefore appreciate the extra help of the Catholic school to support my son's foundation. Catholic schools work. The evidence is that they consistently outperform their neighboring city schools and for more than 100 years, they have been safe havens for immigrants and marginalized members of society. Those members, when loved, nurtured and cared for by a Catholic educational institution, became great leaders in business, government and many industries. I believe in my identity as a Catholic; I feel it is a community of warmth and generosity and like minded individuals. At perhaps the time of greatest need in my life, I needed a safe home for myself and my son. I found it in a Catholic school. I am working to keep those doors open so others may, too.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Tis the season
From Halloween - New Years has become my busiest time. This year I chaired J's school's Halloween Party which was a fun, but time consuming endeavor, and followed by Halloween, J's birthday, Thanksgiving with visitors and parties, and Christmas and all the festivities that surround it.
Every year teaches us something if we can soften. My thoughts and ruminations on this blog over the years have been circling it. As I get older, it gets slightly more clear. The growth isn't linear, and the progress is far from perfection. I most certainly have short tempered moments and days, days where I wonder what or why I'm doing it but those days get fewer and farther apart. One seasons seems to be winding down and with the coming of my 40's it seems I'm welcoming a new season of greater purpose and more clarity.
I'm better at boundaries. I'm better at expectations. I'm better at letting people in who should be there. Those steps, small as they may seem, have been wonderful tools in a path towards peace.
"It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." - Agnes M. Pharo
Every year teaches us something if we can soften. My thoughts and ruminations on this blog over the years have been circling it. As I get older, it gets slightly more clear. The growth isn't linear, and the progress is far from perfection. I most certainly have short tempered moments and days, days where I wonder what or why I'm doing it but those days get fewer and farther apart. One seasons seems to be winding down and with the coming of my 40's it seems I'm welcoming a new season of greater purpose and more clarity.
I'm better at boundaries. I'm better at expectations. I'm better at letting people in who should be there. Those steps, small as they may seem, have been wonderful tools in a path towards peace.
"It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." - Agnes M. Pharo
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