And once she learned to kick and scream, the monsters quieted down.
When she knew she was safe to stop kicking and screaming, the monsters left
forever.
She was left with some permanent scars that she saw as rich and beautiful, because they were perfect to her and not because they had to be, but because they just were.
The little girl healed and the woman flourished.
The little girl and the woman agreed to coexist as the caretakers of each other and providers of the ointment that would protect and honor her scars
forever.
Feelings… wo wo wo… Feelings
I spend a great deal of time and energy thinking, writing about, examining, preaching, ripping apart and putting back together, all things about “FEELINGS.” I have no doubt that this is time and energy well spent. (This is your cue to roll your eyes.)
Time and time again, embracing feelings and the depth of feelings that I feel or have felt, almost immediately turns me to examining facts – I am an ardent supporter and believer in evaluating and trusting facts over feelings, but processing feelings is a MUST. Continue reading “Feelings… wo wo wo… Feelings”
The Expert Neophyte
In my professional life, I take comfort AND yield countless benefits, from approaching things as a hungry collaborator who doesn’t know more than you do, no matter what the organizational chart says. I internally (and sometimes externally) overtly identify as a neophyte (with extensive experience in leadership behind me), on a wide variety of subjects. I find this tactic not only propels my openness to learning and growth, but helps me perform with my ego checked at the door long before a project actually begins. (The more egos that can be checked at the door, obviously, produce fun and successful teamwork.) This often creates a level playing field, and an empowered ensemble that implements great work. Continue reading “The Expert Neophyte”
Writing Right, Righting the Wrong
Once I am right, I will really write.
Maybe I am writing now.
I am ill with a lie told as truth
and a truth that I wish was a lie.
And me, a woman who rarely asks, “Why?”
is asking, “Why?” Continue reading “Writing Right, Righting the Wrong”
TERRORIST.
This morning, some media outlets reported, “No known connection to terrorism or terror groups…”
Stop it. Name it. Today, it’s likely WHITE, MALE, CHRISTIAN, NRA/GUN LOVING TERRORIST with a “President” and accompanying government that is failing its people with such enormity, I don’t yet know a word appropriate for their action, inaction and crimes against humankind. Continue reading “TERRORIST.”
Slamming on the Brakes, Taking a Break, Breaking the Fast & Breaking It Off
I slept right through the breaking of the fast. I had hoped that after breaking the fast this evening, I would have the answer as to whether or not I need to take a break from a man I’ve been seeing for about one month. While I mentioned “breaking it off” in the title of this post, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m considering “breaking up.” We’ve only been dating a month for crying out loud. We are still in the “getting to know you” stage. While I like this man very much, and for reasons I will not include in this post, I have decided to abruptly slam on the brakes and move forward in a different direction than where I was heading. Continue reading “Slamming on the Brakes, Taking a Break, Breaking the Fast & Breaking It Off”
Atoning for Too Much Tikkun Olam
This morning, I devoted a brief amount of time to catch up on “the news.” I put “the news” in quotes, because while natural disasters and locating avenues to help human beings recover and thrive, are newsworthy, much of “the news” I skimmed through, left me disgusted and incredibly sad.
For as long as I can remember, I worried about my family, my community and pretty much any injustice and atrocity I perceived in the world. As an adult, I learned that my worrying had to be transposed into action. Naturally, I still worry, but have implemented a rule that I’m not permitted to worry for very long, unless I am actively working on helping to repair or heal whatever it is that keeps me awake at night. Continue reading “Atoning for Too Much Tikkun Olam”
Project Target: One, 50 Year Old, Knocked Up, Perimenopausal, Meat- Juice Lovin’ Grandma, Finds & Shares Love & Joy
I have grown to acknowledge, embrace and celebrate, that some of the best, most beautiful experiences of my life, happen at Target and Jewel-Osco. To be more accurate, I find endless pleasure in people, places and things. I also happen to spend a great deal of time at Target and Jewel.
One year ago, I embarked on a photo series on Facebook – called, “My Beloved Jewel.” It’s a melange of musings… basically, all of the random, peculiarly hilarious items and situations I can find at Jewel. What began in my head as just something that tickled me, ended up being one of the things people ask me most about in my day to day life: Continue reading “Project Target: One, 50 Year Old, Knocked Up, Perimenopausal, Meat- Juice Lovin’ Grandma, Finds & Shares Love & Joy”
The Endless Abundance of Wealth
For Danny O’Connor. murdered 29 years ago, but like yesterday. You are missed and cherished.
L’dor Va’dOR(T): ORT Through Generations
One of the most inspiring things about involvement in ORT is that it is so often passed down through families – my own included. I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with two members of another “ORT family” – Dyna Wise and her grandson, Larry Burley. Here’s a recap of our conversation: Continue reading “L’dor Va’dOR(T): ORT Through Generations”
Pamela Klier-Weidner (PKW) 