How do you measure a year? - My 365, day 5 -

Day 5:
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Day 5... it's getting cold.  I'm so not ready for this!  Kind of a blurry pic, kind of a problem with the camera and settings, kind of wasn't motivated to fix it, blah blah blah...

It says 43 degrees people!  Brrrrrrr!

How do you measure a year? - My 365, day 4 -

Day 4:

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Part of the challenge of a 365 project is to look at things differently... to see something extraordinary in the ordinary.  I think it takes practice and commitment and time.  How many of us actually make a conscious effort to look at things in a new way?  Maybe this practice will help me to do just that.  And maybe it will help me to find hidden inspiration, that was right in front of me all along.

Here's hoping.

To new perspectives...

  

How do you measure a year? - My 365, day 3 -

Day 3:

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Sure, I'm a day behind posting my pics...  Right now that is the best I can do.  And my best is always going to be good enough for me.  I will always be proud of myself if I just give things in life my best effort.  

It really feels like fall now.  As much as I go on about not liking cold weather, I love fall.  I love the colors and the texture of nature during this time of the year.  More about fall later... this is about the 365.

How do you measure a year? - My 365, day two -

Day Two:
Monday, October 17, 2011

I couldn't resist.  It's the Pacey cat making his 365 debut.

How do you measure a year? - My 365, day one -

I've been wanting to do a '365 project' for some time now.  You can find them all over the blog world... documenting a year in photos, one a day.

In thinking about starting this project, two things always come to mind. The first is the question of when to start.  That is always the hardest part it seems.  When do you start and how do you start?  The other is the 'Seasons of Love' song from Rent.  I love that song.  This project makes me think of that song.

-----
'Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear...
How do you measure a year?

in daylights, in sunsets
in midnights, in cups of coffee
in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
in five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure a year in the life?

In truths that she learned
or in times that he cried
in bridges he burned
or the way that she died

It's time now, to sing out
though the story never ends
let's celebrate
remember a year in the life of friends'
-----

I want to do this project and think about the year of my life that I am documenting.  The good and the bad, the days as they turn into weeks, and the individual moments that you can get lost in.  

And so I'm starting my 365.  Day one has come and gone...

Day one was Sunday, October 16, 2011.

And while this may not be the most exciting picture to start with, this is my day one.  This is something that inspires me.  And we could all use a little inspiration in this life!

Perspective

September 12, 2011.  Just another Monday, right?  Kind of.  As far as days go, it was not the best I have ever had.  I spent nearly three hours in a parking lot with a super strange car issue… involving a dead remote, an endless car alarm, and lots of people staring.  Oy.  I have to admit that it definitely put me in a foul mood. 

Yesterday – September 11, 2011.  The ten-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.  Of course I thought about it and I reflected on it.  That doesn’t make me unique.  At the same time, it was a normal Sunday in my life.  I drove home from my little mini-visit to Chicago, worked on my lectures and went out to dinner with a couple of friends.  But it was on my mind.

I had planned to go to a September 11 memorial after work today.  Considering how my day didn’t go how I wanted and my foul mood, I thought about just skipping it.  And yet, I went.  And it was amazing – a single American flag on an open hillside for each individual that lost life on that day ten years ago.  And attached to each flag was a card describing the people.  In some cases it was detailed information, telling the story of these people.  It could have been my story or your story.  Some of them were striking – like the story of an immigrant woman chasing her American dream on her first day at a new job, in one of the towers.  Another was the story of a small child on an airplane.  It was kind of a surreal experience to walk through the memorial and it definitely made me emotional. 

I left the memorial with new perspective.  When I arrived, I was feeling down because of such inconsequential things that happen to all of us in this adventure of life.  But the memorial reminded me of humanity and of what matters.  We are all so similar, aren’t we?  We all suffer the same inconveniences in life.  We all have hopes and dreams.  We all have fears. 

As I think about that dreadful act and all that has changed since then, I dream of a more open world.  I think about the lyrics from ‘The Mumford & Sons’ -- ‘how can you say that your truth is better than mine?’ (since I can’t stop listening to them!). 

I stopped to pick up some food on my way home after the memorial and encountered such a kind man.  He offered to let me get in line in front of him, although I didn't.  As I was leaving, he turned to me and told me that he really hoped I had a great night and enjoyed my dinner.  It may sound strange, but it was the most sincerely kind interaction.  And it was between total strangers.  It really strengthened the way I was feeling leaving the memorial.  

After all is said and done, I think I ended up having a pretty good day today.  I'm alive and well, so blessed.  I've got an amazing group of people in my life.  I'm trying to be aware and trying to grow and be open.  

And so I ask myself… have I done an act of sincere kindness today?  Have I been kind to strangers?

Today, was I the kind of friend you could call when you are stranded in a parking lot because your own car thinks you are stealing it and the car alarm won’t stop going off?  I want to be that friend.  Today, someone did that for me.

It's good to reflect.  And it's good to remember.  So today, I honor those who lost their life in the 9/11 attacks.  I honor those who protect our country and fight for our freedom.  And as I live my fairly ordinary life and try to continue to grow, I will work on practicing kindness and gratitude - for my friends, family, community and country. 

I am grateful to be a part of this American Life.  

Girl time in the 'City of Brotherly Love'

I spent Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love.  My good friend Emily just moved to the Philly area and we were in real need for girl time!  It's been a long time since Emily and I spent that long together.  We have been friends forever.  We try to get together over holidays, at Christmas time, but it's gotten harder as we have gotten older.  That's how life is, isn't it?  The great thing about our friendship though, is that we pick up exactly where we left off.  Time goes by and our friendship remains.  It even grows and strengthens.  We don't have to talk every day or on any particular schedule but when we do talk, I know that it is a conversation with a true friend.  I'm lucky to have such good friends in my life!  I'm very grateful.  

This is us as kids, with Leah.  It's one of my most favorite pictures ever!  Childhood friendships are truly amazing...

So we decided that we needed a get together.  We needed to catch up - to have girl time.  And we made our plans.  Kind of.  We actually made no concrete plans.  We decided to figure it out as we go.  Slow paced, relaxed, fun.  Late night talks and early morning coffee.  Girl movies, wine and fireworks.  HGTV.  We were calling it a girls retreat weekend.  It was great!

Lots of laughter... TONS of constant talking... a little shopping, of course.  It was good for the soul, good for the mind.  Good for my heart.  Just good.

We started the weekend with the BEST apple cider donuts ever!  Apparently we aren't the only ones that think so.  We walked around a cute downtown area with some fun shops and restaurants, and an upcoming mushroom festival....hmm.

Yes, there is Chick-Fil-A in PA!!  Who would have ever thought?  YUMMM...

We visited Emily's garden, of course!  And the one Neal works at but I didn't take any pics there.  Both of them were amazing.  There are tons of gardens everywhere in PA.  The whole area is beautiful actually.  Gardens everywhere, farm stands, huge trees... green everywhere you look.  And beautiful old houses.

Em and her educational vegetable garden!  All her veggies were looking good!  They harvest every Thursday and take all the produce to the food bank.  Isn't that great?  In the meantime, she has signs posted throughout so that kids and families can learn about growing their own veggies.  I love how the garden can serve multiple purposes.

Lots of farm stands around too!  I love that!

Part of Em's deck!  Of course she had great potted plants EVERYWHERE!

It's true, I had never had the Sweet Leaf Sweet Tea.  Now I'm obsessed!  It is so yummy and every cap has a great 'grannyism' inside.  Love.  Good thing I found them in the store here at home.

Grannyisms....

Ah, Philadelphia.  The City of Brotherly Love.  But a city where I bonded more with one of my greatest friends.  A city where we relaxed and had some much needed girl time....