Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about sobriety, and as I’ve watched someone close to me hit their year mark, I’ve realized there’s something that isn’t talked about enough... Feelings. Sobriety comes with a plethora of experiences. Everything feels like it’s happening for the first time. And honestly, a lot of them are happening for … Continue reading All the feels…
My Commencement Speech…
Over the course of my teaching career, there were a couple times that I was in the running to be the graduation speaker. Every time I was told that my name was in the hat, I immediately panicked: “What if they choose me? Omg I’d have to speak in front of people!” (Which I know … Continue reading My Commencement Speech…
Life-aversary
The day has come and gone, but it's never too late to celebrate a life. Valentine's Day is always a special day for me, but not for the reasons some might think. Each Valentine's Day marks another year that I have survived and grown since my stroke. This year is my 10th year stroke-free. A … Continue reading Life-aversary
Fine-Tuning the Details…
Every year for the past few years, I’ve come up with a word- my nudge word- for the upcoming year. It’s a word designed to drive my focus and intentions. Last year, it was "Surrender". And surrender I did. I listened fully to every pull my heart made. I listened when it told me it … Continue reading Fine-Tuning the Details…
The End of an Era
What can I say except I was wrong? And when I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong. I was so certain that I could do it- have a life AND be a teacher. I was mistaken. I am the master of tweaking things. When I don’t like the way things are going, I continue to change … Continue reading The End of an Era
Taming a Wild Spirit…
When people talk about insanity, they say something like "doing the same thing over and over expecting different results," and I would say next to that definition is a picture of me. I am now in the process of moving into my 43rd home, and it has been met with grief and hope. I went … Continue reading Taming a Wild Spirit…
Letting Go of the Dream and Embracing What is…
I should preface this by making it clear that I’m not suggesting letting go of having dreams and aspirations, but rather the idea that there is A dream that needs to come true. For the better part of the last 20 years, I have been fighting for my dream of being a teacher. I’ve been … Continue reading Letting Go of the Dream and Embracing What is…
Celebrating Being Alive…
Today is the anniversary of my stroke. That's possibly a weird thing to “celebrate,” but each year that’s what Valentine’s Day reminds me of- a day that changed my life forever and continues to with its residual aftermath. Every year, I celebrate that I'm alive and have made it through another year healthy and moving … Continue reading Celebrating Being Alive…
Surrender…
A couple years ago, The Washington Post published an article that talked about picking nudge words for each new year rather than resolutions. A word to encompass your intention and focus for the year ahead. This really resonated with me as I’ve never been one to get into the whole resolution thing. I prefer to … Continue reading Surrender…
Keeping Promises…
Three days after my last post, my cousin went into the hospital. A week later she passed away losing a battle with congenital heart failure, a disease that runs in my dad's side of the family, perpetuating a vicious cycle of people in our family dying much too young. This disease claimed my uncle at … Continue reading Keeping Promises…