I have decided to say NO to a woman who asked me to commit to working every Saturday and Sunday. Ostensibly forever. I nearly said yes, but realized I don't want to have to work Every. Single. Day.
I've worked 7-day weeks in the past, and it was both exhausting and depressing. I am 75 now, andI want to retain at least some of my life for myself and my cats.
Cheering for you Cheryl. I want to embroider a wall hanging quoting you: “Saying No is hard, but necessary.” I’m an 82 year old grandmother and legal guardian for my 17 year old trans grandson. I focus on our survival and say no to everything else.
My volunteer gig as a crossing guard in front of our neighborhood elementary school in DC. I can't fix this country, it turns out. But maybe I can keep kids and parents from getting hit by cars?
How wonderful! I just retired from a school with a 4-way intersection in the middle of campus and have not been very successful in making a difference… yet.
I’ve just shared this link with current staff members, and with this source of hopeful encouragement, will nevertheless persist!
Three parties have to come together to make it work: school personnel, the local transportation department (if you want to close off part of the street), and a pool of volunteers who can make a schedule and keep to it. In our case, it was our neighborhood "village" organization.
I’ve been spending more time in my public library, which has a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere and is an oasis of sanity. I try to support the work of the library by checking out print books and ebooks and attending various programs there, both in person and on zoom. Shelter from the storm.
Public libraries are a treasure. Growing up as a latch-key kid, I would often spend afternoons there until my mom could pick me up after work. When I became a mother, I walked with my children to story time and then we checked out piles of books for the week. Now I’m an (almost) empty nester and it’s like Christmas each time I go up to the desk to retrieve what I requested from the network online.❤️📚
Kayaking on the James river...The bald eagles, great blue heron, cormorants, geese, mallard, turtles, hawks, vultures...they are all part of the flow...unconcerned with the trauma and drama we seem to be consumed by...nature is the healing, it invites us to join in the dance of life.
I’m a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Best unpaid job ever. Being in the museum is a balm for my soul. Talking to visitors about the pieces of art in the collection has me interacting with locals and global travelers who come from every walk of life. They’re united in their enthusiasm for the experience, their willingness to think/talk about their own interpretations of art, finding personal meaning in the creativity of others, and the love of learning. While I’m on the job the worries about what is to come take a hike. I’m so grateful for my involvement there. BTW - if you’ve never visited Detroit you should put it on your list. You’ll find friendly folks, great food, vibrant city life, and the DIA’s Diego Rivera murals of industry. They’re often referred to as Detroit’s Sistine Chapel. I’ll give you a tour! Onward and upward, everyone.
My work in addiction treatment keeps my eyes on helping people change one life at a time and I find that meaningful and providing purpose. My dog is also free of any dread we humans might have and I find her ability to live in the moment with joy and curiosity what I love being around.
Thank you Kevin! As a recovering alcoholic, I find mentoring newly sober women in the AA program is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Thanks so much for your service to the addicted!
I have been *thinking* about doing some creative writing. On christmas morning I wrote a poem and read it to the group (my wife and two daughters and the partner of the older daughter) at lunch.
Counter-intuitive maybe but I'd have to say that DEATH is giving me life right now. I awoke on New Year's Day to news that my eldest sister had died in her sleep. The timing was OK. She was older and suffering from Alzheimer's. But it still knocked me for six. I felt gut punched. Death is just - so - final.
So - while I'm alive I mean to BE alive! To breathe deeply; sniff those roses; drink that glass; climb that hill; hug that person; take that risk; count my blessings; and give gratitude to communities such as this! Thanks Anand and all of you here this day!
Connecting with Nature is always good. I find embracing the winter and finding new ways to enjoy it to be very empowering. Cross country skiing, paddle tennis, winter hikes etc. Don't be afraid of the winter!!!
Except for 25 years of raising hell in NYC, I have lived most of my 82 years right here in the sometimes still seasonal New England winter cold. I love it and embrace it, but need to very carefully use 2 canes on the ice, which now terrifies me who can NEVER fall, because then it would be all over.
I don't have any more juice or time for outrage. I stopped watching the news, which gave me three extra hours a day. I use this time to read, make quilts, sing with a group, enjoy my work, and seek joy. I am supporting local journalism, climate action, and local hurricane recovery efforts. I don't have my head in the sand, but I limit the incoming information.
Baking bread, music, long walks, books, podcasts and reflecting on the past while accepting the future. Choosing acceptance over anguish about things I cannot change.
As an artist, the making of art has consistently been the one thing that brought me life. After the election, however, it became near impossible to overcome the dread and foreboding, leading to a state of near creative paralysis. A fellow artist friend alerted me to this series created by one of my favorite contemporary artists, William Kentridge. One is tempted to play it on a loop to help re-again a modicum of creative momentum. It is not only inspiring, but enormously soothing. What a beautiful ode to making art in the face of the never-ending human challenge. One of the very few, very best things of 2024, imho.
I founded a nonprofit to support revitalizing my community's downtown. Being involved in the communities I have lived in has always given me a sense of purpose and belonging. As I step into 2025, I am energized to be a part of active civic participation in our community.
I have decided to say NO to a woman who asked me to commit to working every Saturday and Sunday. Ostensibly forever. I nearly said yes, but realized I don't want to have to work Every. Single. Day.
I've worked 7-day weeks in the past, and it was both exhausting and depressing. I am 75 now, andI want to retain at least some of my life for myself and my cats.
Saying No is hard, but necessary.
Cheering for you Cheryl. I want to embroider a wall hanging quoting you: “Saying No is hard, but necessary.” I’m an 82 year old grandmother and legal guardian for my 17 year old trans grandson. I focus on our survival and say no to everything else.
Kudos to you
Practice makes perfect!
I applaud your courage! Taking care of yourself is essential to a positive attitude!
My volunteer gig as a crossing guard in front of our neighborhood elementary school in DC. I can't fix this country, it turns out. But maybe I can keep kids and parents from getting hit by cars?
https://ggwash.org/view/92078/how-dc-neighbors-got-a-dangerous-street-closed-in-front-of-bancroft-elementary
My vows for this year: Don't despair. Show up, do the work. Emphasize in-person organizing over virtual. Start local, then scale up.
How wonderful! I just retired from a school with a 4-way intersection in the middle of campus and have not been very successful in making a difference… yet.
I’ve just shared this link with current staff members, and with this source of hopeful encouragement, will nevertheless persist!
Thanks! See also my own post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/thirdage/p/crossing-guard?r=fve48&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Three parties have to come together to make it work: school personnel, the local transportation department (if you want to close off part of the street), and a pool of volunteers who can make a schedule and keep to it. In our case, it was our neighborhood "village" organization.
I’ve been spending more time in my public library, which has a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere and is an oasis of sanity. I try to support the work of the library by checking out print books and ebooks and attending various programs there, both in person and on zoom. Shelter from the storm.
Public libraries are a treasure. Growing up as a latch-key kid, I would often spend afternoons there until my mom could pick me up after work. When I became a mother, I walked with my children to story time and then we checked out piles of books for the week. Now I’m an (almost) empty nester and it’s like Christmas each time I go up to the desk to retrieve what I requested from the network online.❤️📚
Kayaking on the James river...The bald eagles, great blue heron, cormorants, geese, mallard, turtles, hawks, vultures...they are all part of the flow...unconcerned with the trauma and drama we seem to be consumed by...nature is the healing, it invites us to join in the dance of life.
❤️
I’m a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Best unpaid job ever. Being in the museum is a balm for my soul. Talking to visitors about the pieces of art in the collection has me interacting with locals and global travelers who come from every walk of life. They’re united in their enthusiasm for the experience, their willingness to think/talk about their own interpretations of art, finding personal meaning in the creativity of others, and the love of learning. While I’m on the job the worries about what is to come take a hike. I’m so grateful for my involvement there. BTW - if you’ve never visited Detroit you should put it on your list. You’ll find friendly folks, great food, vibrant city life, and the DIA’s Diego Rivera murals of industry. They’re often referred to as Detroit’s Sistine Chapel. I’ll give you a tour! Onward and upward, everyone.
Going outside and walking! Totally restorative. Happy New Year.
My work in addiction treatment keeps my eyes on helping people change one life at a time and I find that meaningful and providing purpose. My dog is also free of any dread we humans might have and I find her ability to live in the moment with joy and curiosity what I love being around.
❤️
Thank you Kevin! As a recovering alcoholic, I find mentoring newly sober women in the AA program is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Thanks so much for your service to the addicted!
I have been *thinking* about doing some creative writing. On christmas morning I wrote a poem and read it to the group (my wife and two daughters and the partner of the older daughter) at lunch.
BITING THE ASS OF LIFE: making art of all kinds. working on a new documentary about black history. not paying attention to the news.
❤️
Counter-intuitive maybe but I'd have to say that DEATH is giving me life right now. I awoke on New Year's Day to news that my eldest sister had died in her sleep. The timing was OK. She was older and suffering from Alzheimer's. But it still knocked me for six. I felt gut punched. Death is just - so - final.
So - while I'm alive I mean to BE alive! To breathe deeply; sniff those roses; drink that glass; climb that hill; hug that person; take that risk; count my blessings; and give gratitude to communities such as this! Thanks Anand and all of you here this day!
Connecting with Nature is always good. I find embracing the winter and finding new ways to enjoy it to be very empowering. Cross country skiing, paddle tennis, winter hikes etc. Don't be afraid of the winter!!!
Except for 25 years of raising hell in NYC, I have lived most of my 82 years right here in the sometimes still seasonal New England winter cold. I love it and embrace it, but need to very carefully use 2 canes on the ice, which now terrifies me who can NEVER fall, because then it would be all over.
Go, DOG! GO!
I don't have any more juice or time for outrage. I stopped watching the news, which gave me three extra hours a day. I use this time to read, make quilts, sing with a group, enjoy my work, and seek joy. I am supporting local journalism, climate action, and local hurricane recovery efforts. I don't have my head in the sand, but I limit the incoming information.
Baking bread, music, long walks, books, podcasts and reflecting on the past while accepting the future. Choosing acceptance over anguish about things I cannot change.
Conversations with a variety of people, including some, like this, where I am on the periphery listening in.
https://mubi.com/en/us/collections/self-portrait-as-coffee-pot
As an artist, the making of art has consistently been the one thing that brought me life. After the election, however, it became near impossible to overcome the dread and foreboding, leading to a state of near creative paralysis. A fellow artist friend alerted me to this series created by one of my favorite contemporary artists, William Kentridge. One is tempted to play it on a loop to help re-again a modicum of creative momentum. It is not only inspiring, but enormously soothing. What a beautiful ode to making art in the face of the never-ending human challenge. One of the very few, very best things of 2024, imho.
I founded a nonprofit to support revitalizing my community's downtown. Being involved in the communities I have lived in has always given me a sense of purpose and belonging. As I step into 2025, I am energized to be a part of active civic participation in our community.
Here’s a link to our website https://friendsofstatestreet.org/