52 Lists: the things you should be proud of

52 Lists

Week Three// List the Things You Should be Proud Of

I'm going to start by saying that I find this to be a really hard list to make.  I appreciate that it says the word "should".  I believe that there are probably a lot of things that I should be proud of but I find it really challenging to say those things out loud.  I find it even more challenging to not accompanying every single item on this list with a caveat or explanation.  Here goes my attempt to admit the things that I should be proud of without explanation, excuses, embarrassment, or caveats.

•  Attending and finishing Dartmouth in 4 years
• Asking the question "how are you" and standing still long enough to hear the answer
• Helping a friend when they need it
• Working with SLTP and making a difference in the lives of students
• Not settling or lowering my expectations
• Practicing kindness, especially when it is hard
• Writing thank you notes
• Getting out of debt and rebuilding my credit
• Taking control of my health and exercising and eating better
• Losing 80 pounds last year
• Believing in Santa Claus
• Building the FYSEP program and seeing its impact on students
• Finding my career in student affairs and excelling at it
• Being able to synthesize ideas
• Helping my family
• Moving away from home
• Making it through some terrible situations without losing hope
• Putting people before product

52 Lists: Your Greatest Comforts

52 Lists

Week two// List your greatest comforts

• time with my best friend
• hugs 
• the amazing staff of the student leadership program
• laughter
• a giant mug of hot coffee
• books
• being in the water
• the smell of ocean air
• my mother's cooking
• old photo albums
• my collection of cards, letters, and magic notes 
• lists
• a deep belief in the ultimate goodness of people, even when it doesn't feel like I have a reason to believe
• my niece's laughter and love
• playing board games
• a text message or call from the one person you needed to hear from at exactly the right time
• writing letters
• an organized desk
• color coding
• my gigantic bed with its pillowtop mattress
• soup in a bread bowl
• my dog Sally
• driving with the windows rolled down and the music on high

Flock of Alpacas

I came across this website somewhere...Not sure where...I clicked on it and it made me laugh.  These alpacas all have their own sense of style.  I'm impressed at the wide range of hair styles available to alpacas.  I had no idea.  Below are my 3 favorite.  Looking at them, I clearly appreciate an alpaca that rocks an 80s Flock of Seagulls type hairdo.

52 Lists: Words that touch your soul

My friend MLS posted this idea she found on her blog, so of course I had to check it out.  I love making lists, so the idea of 52 lists completely peaked my interest.  She found the idea on the blog of Moorea Seal.

So, if I can remember...BIG IF... then I am going to participate in this excellent project.  I'm already a week behind but here goes nothing. I'll keep these short and sweet.

52 Lists

Week One// List the Words That Touch Your Soul

Friendship          Ocean         Annalisse          BFF          Difference-maker

Laughter          Love           Learning          SLTP          Thank you          Jaja

Cuddles          LY=          Ogunquit          Books          Resilience          Joy

Faith          Hope         Heart-work          Mommy          Family          Compassion

Care          Kindness          Candy          Water          Moonlight          Depth

Reflection          Karaoke          Passion          Intimacy          Kisses

Snowflakes          Responsibility          Christmas          Students          Angels

2014 - new year, new goals

I started out making a list of 14 goals for 2014 - that list became a list of 20.  I'm really looking forward to the new year.  I'm not sure why I feel full of joy and hope about this year, but I do feel that way, so I'm going to go with the flow.

My list of 14, errrrh 20, goals is as follows:

See firewater in Providence.  I really want to see this event.  I have for a long time and I've never made the time to see it.  This year is the year.

Continue improving my healthy habits: Last year I lost 80 pounds but more importantly I learned to eat healthier and I exercised more.  I feel better about myself, I have more energy, and I am more engaged.  The goal is to keep it up.  I had a specific weight loss goal on my original list but I don't think that is smart and not really the point.

Apply to graduate school.  It is time for me to finish procrastinating on this and actually finish the applications!

Spend more time in Ogunquit this summer.  I love it.  My BFF has a cottage there.  Why not?

Take better care of my teeth. I hate flossing.  I need to floss.

Read a book every 2 weeks.  Doesn't matter what the book is, I just want to read more.  I used to read all the time, I couldn't get enough of it but I have been very remiss in my reading.  I probably should  make sure I have a current library card.  :)

Research and work towards becoming a Zumba instructor. Specifically, I want to become an Aqua Zumba instructor but that requires me to do the main certification first.

Hang stuff on walls. I have pictures and stuff sitting in a corner and for 7 years they have moved with me from apartment to apartment.  It is time for me to hang them up.

Increase my investment and ownership in SLTP.  This is a program that I love and I want to become more fully involved and find new ways to give to the program and help grow the program.

Go apple and berry picking.  Not necessarily on the same day. I've never been apple picking.

Take a baking class at King Arthur Flour.  I love to bake.  I love to learn.  Why not do both?

Ride a roller coaster.  I haven't been on one since I was in high school.

Go to the Big E.  Anyone from Massachusetts or Connecticut likely knows what this is.  It is a giant country fair - I guess is the best way to describe it.  I used to love it as a kid and I want to go back.

Take a trip to NYC.  I want to meet baby Nico and see my dear friend JF.

Take myself on a date once a month.  Dinner and a movie for one?  yes, please!

Paint the wood furniture.  I have a ton of unfinished wood furniture and I am going to paint or stain it this year.

Buy a bike.  I also hope to ride it but the main goal for 2014 is to simply purchase a bike.

Increase student contact at work.  I like my job but I want more student contact.  I can find ways to do it, I just need to be proactive and intentional.

Read the New York Times on Sundays and attempt the crossword puzzle.  This used to be one of my favorite activities when I lived in NYC.  Generally, the news makes me VERY depressed and so I stopped reading regularly. I want to get back to it so that I can be better informed but also because I like it.  I've never completed a Sunday crossword puzzle but I've got 52 weeks to try.  :)

Practice Kindness.  I generally try to be a very kind person.  I am usually kindest to other people.  So I want to practice being kind to myself.  I want to continue to practice kindness towards others.  I want to be more intentional about the ways that I should my care and compassion to others.  I want to practice random acts of kindness. 

So that's it.  That's the list.  2014 - here I come.


*** Whoops!  I missed one.  There are 21!  The last one is Run in the Electric Run 5K in Boston in October.  My friend AC and I are going to do it together using the Couch to 5K method.  :)

TDOT: My BFF

In case you were wondering what TDOT stands for, allow me to translate.  TDOT = Thirty Days of Thankful.

Day 2: I am thankful for my BFF

I have the best friend imaginable.  I've written about him before here and here.   He makes me laugh.  He calls me out on my bullshit and helps pull me out of the darkness.  The two of us can communicate across a room without talking.  We have an entire jar full of jokes and one word can make us fall on the floor laughing.  It feels like we have known each other our entire lives.

I am extraordinarily lucky to have a friend like him.  Which reminds me of this song from Aladdin.

November is for being Thankful

Those that know me know that I try to be thankful everyday and to share gratitude regularly.  It isn't always easy but I think it is important.  I believe in thank you notes and thankful lists and that life is better when we are able to pause and take in the amazing things in our lives.

So November 1st, not only marks the beginning of the Holiday season and holiday decorations and holiday music (I love Christmas Carols!!), but marks the beginning of my 30 days of thankful posts.

Day 1: I am thankful for  
The Student Leadership Training Program (SLTP).

SLTP has been a part of my life since the summer of 1994.  This summer will mark the 20th year that I have been involved with and impacted by this incredible program.  SLTP was started 25 years ago.  Jim's dream of empowering student leadership continues to thrive today and every day is more and more important.  When I was 13, participating in SLTP was vital to my self-esteem and my development.  This program helped me to realize that I could do more than I ever thought I was capable of doing.  SLTP taught me skills that I use every single day in my life to this day.

My continued involvement in SLTP is an anchor in my life.  It brings me deep satisfaction and I am able to make a difference.  I have been surrounded by people that care deeply about the world and about make this place a better one.  We believe deeply in the power of students to change the world.





I am so thankful for having SLTP in my life.