1. Goddess

If I have an intention for this year, then may it be to get outside of myself and my head and “stretch” my “soul toward others”.

1. Goddess
2. Tears
3. Catharsis
4. What I wish I’d asked
5. What I wish I knew

“The last time of anything has the poignancy of death itself. This that I see now, she thought, to see no more this way. Oh, the last time how clearly you see everything; as though a magnifying light had been turned on it. And you grieve because you hadn’t held it tighter when you had it every day.” Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

1. Goddess
2. Again the sun
3. Mayra wrote a poem for me ❤️
4. Spending time with my mother, the moment she reflected on the difficulties in life – “we misunderstand one another so.” We also talked about my dad and there are these moments she thinks to herself “All right, you can come out now, this has gone far enough.” At nights she thinks she hears his footsteps, having gotten accustomed to waking in response to them or anticipating the sound. I miss my father more each day, it’s been nearly five weeks since he died.
5. My legs take me where I want to go and to new discoveries.
6. Wonderful to read all your expressions of gratitude from the new and old years. I wish everyone the best in the new, let’s make it a good one. ❤️

1. Goddess
2. Humbling rains
3. Jane accepted my apology
4. Maybe the joke was on me
5. Jean said that I seem so much happier since coming out, and that by being myself I was giving so much and showing an example to the community. That touched my heart. I’d cry a few tears but I don’t know how.

“It’s often said that life is strange, oh yes –
But compared to what”
– Steve Forbert

1. Goddess
2. Tori sharing meditation videos with me
3. Johanna’s energy and good humor
4. Seeing colleagues I haven’t seen for a while and reintroducing myself
5. Inclusion and acceptance
6. Rolling with it even if

“The best piety is to enjoy – when you can. You are doing the most then to save the earth’s character as an agreeable planet. And enjoyment radiates.” George Eliot, Middlemarch

1. Goddess
2. who takes care of me even as I forget to ask and say thank you
3. I can count on messages from Dorrie to shake me out of my complacency
4. A kind woman at the bank, marveling at her composure, since she may often encounter people who are nervous or worried about their money, and some times may be more or less routine.
5. The woman serving me lunch and smiling at me.
6. I’m awake at an early hour.
7. Elaine sharing a poem with me and staying connected with me all these years.

1. Goddess
2. Tori and how much she teaches me about gratitude and perseverance
3. Ashley and her baby
4. Cooler weather (and hopefully heads)
5. Seeing the new students
6. The bonsai collection at the Arboretum
7. discoveries
8. Criticism from Kim

1. Goddess
2. At least my body wanting to move
and wanting to get into it
nature in the city
in spite of the loneliness
and disorganization
and avoidance
nothing insurmountable just tiresome
Madonna watching over the ice cream shop
“Are you a boy or a girl?”
“I’m a girl, honey – just like you”

1. Goddess
2. Eileen urging me to take self care. A radical act, Brian said later.
3. Cassie released from the hospital 4. 4. Kate and Josh standing by
5. Open hearted co-workers
6. Varieties of maple
7. Magnolia family
8. Walking with Lucy
9. Humbling
10.Finding my floral travel mug which I keep leaving in silly places. Hydration is essential.
11. In search of the present moment, and consonants, and vowels
12. Letting the story go and feeling grounded in some places, and allowing acceptance and enjoyment

“Some discouragement, some faintness of heart at the new real future which replaces the imaginary, is not unusual, and we do not expect people to be deeply moved by what is not unusual. That element of tragedy which lies in the very fact of frequency, has not yet wrought itself into the coarse emotion of mankind; and perhaps our frames could hardly bear much of it. If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walk about well wadded with stupidity.” George Eliot, Middlemarch

1. Goddess
2. Seeing Benjamin with his baby in the park
3. Naps
4. Texting with Mary Kate
5. Helping each other
6. The yellow finch on its way past
7. Fellowship
8. Dorrie has to go to the hospital but was glad she brought her knitting to pass the time. She wants to knit some socks for me. I am moved by her generosity.
9. Prayer
10. Breathing