If you can imagine the worst thing, you can imagine the best thing. Both things are imaginary. Say out loud the positive outcome and repeat until it feels real.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday … Imagine
WHAT IF Wednesday
The “physical” school year was cancelled , in lieu of online learning. Students will miss approx 13 weeks of school activities and being with their friends. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education…but fall behind whom?
BUT WHAT IF ….
-What if instead of falling “behind”, this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this? Hear me out (discloser…I didn’t write this … sent to me by my friend, Gina)…
-What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing.
-What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own garden and sitting near a window in the quiet.
-What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
-What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home?
-What is they learn to ride a bike, play a board game, do simple crafts, learn to bake, climb a tree, PLAY, without a screen?
-What if they learn to understand the value of money, what’s important and to live with less?
-What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home.
-What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday?
-What if they learn to just be, to be more resilient, to be content ?
-What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?
-What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
What if they are AHEAD?
I believe emphatically in the power of positive thinking and self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m going to hope that the world will come together, collectively, and make at least some of this a reality by the time this is over … and that the next generation will get it right.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday … Sun
Even when the sky is filled with clouds, the sun still shines above!
HOPE
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Foodie Friday…Magnificent Mezzelune
I’ve been following Salty Seattle, aka Linda Miller Nicholson, on Instagram for a few years now. The pasta she makes is gorgeous, creative and fun! I pre-ordered her book back in 2018 and was so excited when it arrived. I’ve never really had any desire to make my own pasta, but this book changed that! I dug in, borrowed an electric pasta maker and made polka dot farfalle … check this out… which was fun, but it did take quite awhile because I was so new to the whole process.
Fast forward to 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic. I, obviously, had some time on my hands! As I said, I had borrowed an electric pasta maker when I made it back in 2018, so I got online and bought a simple manual one during week two of the stay-at-home order.
I also ordered butterfly pea flower because I had visions of deep blue and white striped pasta.
My first pretty pasta attempt with the new machine was a blue and white striped pesto stuffed mezzelune, which was beautiful, but because I’m new to it, the making of the dough took me longer than I think it probably should and I’m not sure my consistency & thickness were spot on.
I used the leftover blue pasta to make some really good, thinner, fettuccine noodles … if I do say so myself. I paired the fettucinne with a brown butter sauce … my mouth waters just thinking about it. How much weight do you think I might gain during this pandemic? Yikes!!
At the same time I was thinking about my pasta consistency, Linda, who was also at home and not running her usual pasta workshops, decided to make the whole rainbow of pasta doughs and sell it to local Seattleites, with no-contact safe pick up. I love the gutsiness and ingenuity of the entrepreneurial spirit! I asked her if it was available to be shipped to California. The first few weeks it wasn’t …and then last week she put it on her instagram for overnight orders within the US. It sold out quickly and I was one of the lucky buyers!
It arrived yesterday morning in all it’s beautiful splendor (see pic above)! I couldn’t wait to get started on some fun, whimsical creations … what colors to choose? what patterns? what filling? I decided to make the mezzelune again, because I think it’s a bit less time consuming than ravioli. I also decided on a tried and true favorite filling/sauce… chicken goat cheese with a butter vermouth sauce. Here are the beautiful results …
If you’re at all interested in making pasta you have to buy Linda’s book, Pasta Pretty Please! Some of her commentary is so irreverent and so much fun to read … in addition to making you want to start making your own pasta!
Sidenote: It’s quite a lot of dough, so, as Linda suggested, I divided the dough into smaller portions and froze the rest to use for future fabulous pastas!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday … Be YOU
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday … no shame
Don’t be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and need a comrade to pull you up? So what? … Marcus Aurelius
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Whimsical Wednesday … for a laugh!
Announcing the publication of a small humor book.
Perfect for teacher appreciation week May 4-8.
We could all use a good laugh right now!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday…Ordinary
Appreciate the ordinariness of our days, because that’s what makes life extraordinary…Oprah Winfrey
Okay, none of what is happening today is normal, but I like the message. People don’t wake up thinking “my world will explode today … my world will change”. The people who were impacted by the horrors of 9/11, Vegas, Pump nightclub, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas … and now Covid-19 … all started their days in an ordinary way.
Honor them by appreciating the ordinary …
(even if sometimes boring these days.)
If you’re feeling stressed, I encourage you to do this 20 minute meditation with Jay Shetty on Instagram.
… and if you have little ones at home they’re sure to love Mrs. Casey’s Greetings on youtube and instagram. She’s an awesome preschool teacher!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Wednesday Wish … Covid Calm
I didn’t do a Motivational Monday this week … then I read this article in the NY Times about the need for uplifting headlines. While we’re being deluged daily by the sad, overwhelming news, I thought it might be helpful to offer some uplifting suggestions during this crazy pandemic.
- I encourage you to watch this March 29th episode of CBS News Sunday morning.
- Check out this list of free concerts on NPR music (updated daily)
- Tons of YouTube videos to learn something new (bandana mask anyone?) or just be entertained
- Read! I know this is an obvious one, but I’ve found so much joy traveling to new places from the comfort of my own couch. My current pick is Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward. Although this new book announcement (coming Sunday) is good for a few laughs too!
- I’ve really loved binge watching travel shows. I can’t physically be there, but it’s the next best thing!
- Re-read this post on meditation
- Zoom/FaceTime/Google hangouts … If you haven’t already, get together, virtually, with friends and family.
- Start journaling…and get that anxiety out of your mind and onto paper.
- Let’s all start calling it “physical distancing” because we can still be social, albeit 6 ft. apart or virtually.
- Instagram is awesome….I’ve danced with Sir_Twitch_alot (M/W/F @ 10am); meditated with Jay Shetty (Jay did it for 20 days so it’s over now on Instagram, but you can still watch/listen to all of them on youtube here); and followed new uplifting (SGN) and inspiring (Upworthy) profiles.
- Staying in your jammies all day is fine for some days, but it does help to keep some sort of routine …. make the bed, go for a walk, take a shower, and maybe wear something other than jammies (although, to be fair, even before this, I wear leggings a lot so it’s practically like jammies)
- Be kind to yourself! It’s okay if you don’t take up a new hobby or change the world while we have this extra time (as some suggest). Leave that to the overachievers. I’m just passing the day doing the same mundane things I’ve always enjoyed … they are distracting & pass the time!
- Lastly, let’s hope when we get back to “normal”, whatever it’s going to look like, that we appreciate the gift of family and friends … and physical touch. I, for one, am really looking SO forward to hugging people again!!
- … and let’s not forget that this would normally be tax deadline day and now you have an extra 3 months to file!
There is a glimmer of light & hope on the horizon as the curve seems to be flattening. Thank nurses, doctors, social workers, grocery clerks,delivery drivers and all those showing up to work, so we can stay at home and stay safe!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Motivational Monday…Hope
Be strong now, because things will get better.
It might be stormy now,
…but it can’t rain forever.
Sometimes things won’t go away
until it teaches us what we need to know.
Hope is seeing light in spite of being surrounded by darkness.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!