He was hurt when I found him. A man from the store was bent down, seeing if there were some way to help the little bird. The man told me I looked like an animal lover, and asked me if I knew anything about birds. I didn't. But that didn't stop me from taking him home with me in a small cardboard box to see if there was something I could do.
Read MoreDuring my sophomore year of college, I took a creative writing course that helped me grow on various levels. Throughout my schooling, I had always felt confident in the subject area of writing, but the professor I had shattered that confidence the first month of the semester... in a great and perhaps necessary way.
Read MoreI love this thought provoking piece from Corey. My last blog also fell under the topic of receiving feedback and I enjoyed the process of reflecting on what I learned from one specific professor I had and what I did with her critiques. But I think Corey brings to light yet another compelling outlook to consider when receiving an evaluation from someone, no matter how big or small. I've slowly learned that constructive criticism doesn't have to be personal 1, because someone is simply believing in me to grow and be better. But 2, because the feedback helps in thriving as "part of the whole." Specifically, after reading Corey's writing I consider more deeply how my own growth can benefit the cohesiveness of the entire unit or mission I play a role in, as each part needs to be doing their best to flourish as one unit. Thank you Corey. Your sharing of your experiences and lessons from different points in your life help to broaden perspective in my own and to try to keep in mind the bigger picture as I walk through it.
- Amanda
Read MoreDuring my sophomore year of college, I took a creative writing course that helped me grow on various levels. Throughout my schooling, I had always felt confident in the subject area of writing, but the professor I had shattered that confidence the first month of the semester... in a great and perhaps necessary way.
Read MoreIt's easy to feel obsessed with convenience and quickness. Doing things faster. More efficient. There's a desire for the quick high of the left lane. We grow the “most food for the most people”. And I know I can buy anything from anywhere and have it tomorrow. But what if going slow was sexy?
Read MoreI’ve been off of work, and with my kids this whole summer. It’s been a blur filled with equal parts daddy school, activities and chilling out. Last week, while breaking down our days before getting to sleep, my wife asked me a really good question that I haven’t been asked in a long time. “You’ve been with the kids for 2 months now… what have you learned so far?”
Read MoreI've written many blogs and journal entries about my dad. A lot of these have been a form of grieving, or perhaps an effort to keep his energy alive, or simply to serve as memoirs of who he was.
It struck me one night that losing my dad has given me reasons to write about him - reasons I don’t have for my mom, because she is still here. And in that same thought I felt compelled by different reasons to write about my mom - a person who has very much influenced my life and the person I’ve become. To take time to reflect, to express gratitude, and to serve as an acknowledgement of who she is while I have the opportunity to do so.
Read MoreMy 2-year-old dog, Birdie, needs to walk at least five miles a day to be calm, relaxed and happy.
My wife and I have concluded that the best way to make this work is with lots of walking first thing in the morning. I’ve been taking her 3 miles right when I wake up, and my wife takes her another mile or so when she walks our youngest daughter to school.
I’ve chosen to walk the same route nearly every day. This makes the timing predictable, and it also helps for training purposes (especially if I let her off leash).
Read MoreMy boyfriend Oscar and I joined a soccer team a year ago with a group of about 25 other guys, and now we play pick-up every Sunday morning. Over time, I became close with a few players on the team. I was grateful for these new friendships. Not only did we share many talks and laughs throughout the games, but sharing conversation over cold beers at the local brewery in town post-game became part of our Sunday routine.
Read MoreI was recently let go from my job. It brought up a lot of things for me. The usual, concerns about finances and healthcare, and also a few things out of the ordinary. I wouldn’t have thought losing a job would mean losing part of my identity, but it certainly feels that way.
Read MoreDry Humor:
“…deliberate display of emotional neutrality or no emotion, commonly as a form of comedic delivery to contrast with the ridiculousness or absurdity of the subject matter. The delivery is meant to be blunt, ironic, laconic, or apparently unintentional…”… WIkipedia
In a moment I will focus on dry humor specifically. But this note is really about hurting humor.
Read MoreMore often than not, I realize I'm comfortable with “a lot,” and I'm comfortable with “nothing.”
It’s easy to make a big push for something when I'm feeling inspired: a New Year’s resolution; after reading a great article on the benefits (or drawbacks) of coffee; while on vacation.
Often, that big push either overshoots (I overdo it and get tired), or inspiration wanes.
Which is why “a little bit every day” is tougher, and more valuable, than it appears.
Read MoreTo laugh everyday.
To ride big-wheels at 70 years old.
To not "give a s$*t" about what others think.
To take walks into town. To hold hands at any age.
Read MoreI've learned that the pursuit of happiness actually leads to unhappiness.
Why? Because it's an unrealistic expectation. Happiness is a fleeting emotion. And therefore it's actually impossible to live in a state of perpetual happiness. Yet sometimes it feels there is pressure to. But I know I can't constantly be smiling, laughing, or always thinking positive thoughts.
Read MoreAs many probably already know, I Iove to reach out to a few community members at the start of every season and ask if they would like to contribute an anti pet peeve about it - something small that brings them joy during that particular time of year. So the spring responses are compiled below, and they are all wonderfully different. I also discovered that Reed loves the anti pet peeve ask so much that he was compelled to write an entire little list, as you'll also see at the bottom!
Read MoreToday is a landmark for the CFC Writing Circle which started about five years ago.
I would like to express that with each passing year, I've felt it become a more prominent part of my life - It has truly brought me so much joy and inspiration reading others' writing pieces throughout the years. And it has also given me this creative platform to share my own words in an intimate and safe space where I can also commit to deeper reflection on the events that take place in my life, both big and small.
Read MoreHe could have just said I’d be away. But he didn’t and I guess this is why it stuck with me:
I was sitting at a picnic table at Soul, the local brewery we go to sometimes after pickup soccer on Sundays. A group of eight or so of us lingered around the table, salty elbows and hands between cold glasses of beer, kissed-warm by the sun. We were discussing the idea of a team barbecue, and as I mentally ran through my calendar to check dates that were being tossed around, one of the guys said:
“We can’t that weekend, Christina will be in Utah.”
Read MoreI was fortunate to spend the month of March in the beautiful island country of Sri Lanka. As I finished up packing and closed out work for the week, I kept hearing similar things from those I shared my travel plans with.
“Always carry either a pocket knife or mace.” "Pack a flashlight and shine it in their eyes if someone tries to approach you.” “Make sure your money is always stored in different areas.”
Read MoreAt bedtime the other night, my son Teddy told me, “Dad, I love you… even though you’re boring.”
I kissed him on the forehead, and couldn’t disagree. I kept thinking about how I can find a better balance between being the coach and the referee; in my relationships with my kids, and in my life. And then it leapt out at me, all of a sudden. A position I’d totally missed thinking about. I’d forgotten how to be the player.
When did I stop playing pretend?
Read More“What do you do to preserve your sense of wellness?”
I was recently asked this question as the prompt to a breakout I was a part of, and I gave an answer that I found surprising:
“Ignore my short-term brain.”
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