Welcome!
During April 2024, I will publish eight blog posts as part of a Toastmasters International project. Who knows where it will go from there? Maybe I’ll be bitten by the writing bug and keep it up, or maybe it will die a painless death at the end of eight posts.
Life is full of paradox, and there are often no clear answers to our big questions. Instead of becoming paralyzed by ambiguity and chaos, I have recently chosen to search for peace and stillness right in the midst of it all. I am a work in progress and don’t pretend to have all the answers. Topics that speak to me include family, health, and faith. I often employ humor and sarcasm as coping mechanisms. I enjoy big words and elaborate metaphors. If any of this resonates with you, you’ve found a great place.
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Integrity
This past Spring Break, we took the family on an East Coast adventure. Nine days, 6 states + DC, 1000+ miles in the rental car, and over 90,000 steps walked. One of the highlights of our trip was seeing the musical Wicked on Broadway. We were enamored. The music! The performances!! The songs!!! The 2-1/2…
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Do I have to put away childish things?
Do you remember your childhood? Or have you spent time recently with children? One thing that strikes me the most is how little time most children spend overthinking everything. Picture a little girl in a park. Her hair is up in pigtails, she’s wearing a slightly grubby ensemble, and she’s left her sandals god-knows-where. She’s…
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Shades of Grey (Gray?)
I would be lying if I said that my inner life was idyllic before my cancer diagnosis. There were big questions lurking in the corners; I was just really really good at being super busy so I didn’t have to think about those big questions. The more noise and chaos the better when you’re trying…
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How Full is Your Plate?
I once had a therapist tell me that I was “a high-capacity person”. She said it her therapist tone – so neutral that I had no idea if this was a good thing or a bad thing. I could have asked her, but of course I chose to overthink it instead. I like to be…
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Bravery
Tyler almost drowned at the wave pool. I looked up from my book * to see Tyler prancing up with a lifeguard close behind. He stood in front of me, my 9-year-old shivering skinny little boy with soggy trunks clinging to his thighs. You wouldn’t know to look at him now that he was the fattest little…
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Dreams
My friend Maria * was vibrant. Full of life. Passionate about her husband, children, friends, and career. She loved on my kids as if they were her own. She made the best salsa. And she passed away after a short illness just 6 months shy of her 40th birthday. As we collectively reeled in the aftermath,…
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Priorities and Reflection
I like to think of myself as one who has her priorities straight, but leave it to a teenager to poke a giant hole in that bubble. Zach is taking a class at the local community college this semester. Because he’s still in high school the district is covering the tuition, and we just need…
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10 Things to Know About Me
When I come across a new content creator, I’m always intrigued by what makes them tick. What’s their story? What motivates them? What inspires them? Here are 10 things I want you to know about me before we dive in any further. Well there you have it. There’s more to me but I promised you…