It is almost tradition

Christmas Day.

It is almost tradition.

The Christmas morning cinnamon rolls have been eaten. Sticky. Smooth sauce is left smeared across our plates, and we have moved on to the second portion of the day...reading. Reading is our family, each enthralled in the newest adventure. A memoir, a historical novel, biography and cookbooks strewn about the living room. It would not be Christmas without this nerdy but intellectual tradition of our family, each in their own spot, ready to curl up for the day.

It is with this, that I am thankful. Thankful, that although Christmas means different things to each in my family, we are joined in this tradition...conscious or not of it's significant place in our holiday. By the end of the day, at least one book will be almost finished, one placed on a shelf for another day, and another left strategically on the coffee table... ready for the next reader to peruse.

Papi

Can you see me?
flecked by blue, orange, red
feelings of sadness, hurt and anger

Can you see me?
I am both ragged and strong
torn and healed

Can you see me?
New as the day I was born
torn down by my home
revived by my environment

Can you see me?
I am beautiful and loved
blood once again rushing through
my body oxygenated by hope

Can you see me?
Once crying bewildered in the corner
I stand
tall
proud
unique in my experience

Can you see me?
It is the Woman that built this man
each day fighting
struggling
sustaining
through tears - black
fears and blue

Can you see me?
I am, today
oh yes
I am
Change in the making
sorrow turned joy
hurt turned love

Can you see me?


By: Emily Woodall - April 30, 2010

Inspired by a piece of art created by a teen at a domestic violence shelter. 

Looking up!

This month has been up and down and all over the place. I started the year with goals galore, and each day I continue to work on them and meet them.

Goal one was health. I joined a great group of women in a challenge to lose weight and get healthy, and so far it is working. Lower calories and more exercise is great! I feel lighter, happier and able to focus more on some of the truly important things in life.

Goal two was career. I got a new job this week! I will soon be employed as an Intervention Specialist. I will get to work with kids of all ages and do groups and individual counseling to meet their needs and help them succeed in school and beyond. I can't wait to get started doing what makes me happy. Each day will be a new adventure, and it all begins on Monday! With the new job came the need for a new place to live, and low and behold the world works in marvelous and mysterious ways and I will be living with a great family in Chico. I am excited to be in a place that is stable and where I will be able to focus.

Goal three: do well in school. I am so excited about this quarter's classes. I am taking a class on consultation and my research class. Both are challenging in their own right, but I am learning so much already. I have decided to research substance abuse and violence prevention programs in schools, and with my new job it is a perfect topic. I can't wait to learn more and apply it to the work I will get to do each day. Research papers may not be the easiest projects, but they make you take time to learn something in detail, and I really appreciate the process.

Each day is such an adventure lately, and very exciting. As I am visiting my family this weekend I am reminded at how blessed I am to be part of such a loving a supportive group of people. It is humbling to be surrounded by such passionate, beautiful and hardworking people who truly care about who I am and what I am doing with my life. I am thankful to be a part of this community. I am also thankful for such great friends who have offered such support during my transition. I am a big fan of "what goes around comes around" and in this case, it will be coming full circle whenever my friends need my support.

Today I am joyous, excited and anticipatory of what lies ahead in the next few weeks, but I know what ever it is, it will be an adventure full of surprises and excitement.

The Mandarin

2010 is the year of taking action! Taking action on health; taking action on profession; taking action on friendships and romance; taking action on life paths. It will prove to be an exciting year: a year of risk, of love and of many reasons to celebrate. Each day will be a new adventure, each moment one to cherish. I can choose to take control, or to relinquish control. To abide by the rules or break them. To accept where I am at, or change where I am at.

Action begins now.

Step one - action over health... Counting calories is never something I thought of myself doing. That was only for the weak, the downhearted, the extremely overweight. I have come to believe however, that it is for the powerful, the strong, and the healthy! I move to shape my life into health. To consider what enters my sacred body, and be in charge of my well being. I move to take more steps, to inch by inch lift more weight and shift into the body I believe I have.

The mandarin is my symbol of health. Each bite is juicy and sweet, but it is small, round and well portioned. Easy to access, good to the last drop.

Action over health is not difficult per-se, but about diligence and confidence. Adjustment and alignment to a new way of looking at each day.