All the band-aids and tea you could ask for (without having to ask).
Free salves from the Herb Crew.
xoxox,
Michelle
A Moveable Feast |
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Never having to apologize for broken hearts or boos boos. All the band-aids and tea you could ask for (without having to ask). Free salves from the Herb Crew. Friendship is good.
xoxox, Michelle
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Don't do your laundry on a Sunday. Ever. It would be more energy efficient to just go out and purchase a whole new wardrobe. Trust me. We're in day two of five; my weapons of choice to survive the week include more coffee and pizza flavored gold fish...or maybe just pizza.
xoxoxx Michy Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Here's to a great year that takes us all higher than the glass ceiling.
Michelle xoxoxx Cara la mia mamma, I love you. With you I can indulge in local delicacies like Rita's gelati and Philly pretzels. You always support my wild spirit and know how to graciously let me fly away when I need to. This summer thank you for letting me nest at home, and loving me even at my worst southern accent.
Dear Twinner, this summer I have watched you transform into a truly incredible young man. Thanks for making time to hang out with me this summer. Our conversations and jam seshs always leave me feeling loved and known. Dear Aunt Patti, I have not shared more hummus platters with any other human on earth but you. Thank you for all of the great conversations we have shared over equally as great food. Dear Rob, over the years you've gone by many nicknames: oncle-papa, zio, and faux father. Regardless of your status in my life I am grateful you're in it and for all the movies, rants over electronics, and motorcycle rides that we have shared together. Dear Matthew, I haven't spent much time with you this summer, but in one week you will be back home again after six years of service in the Navy! I am so proud of everything you've accomplished and the exciting adventures you have lined up in the coming months. Dear Elkton, over the years I have failed to garner any level of affection for you, but over time I have come to understand that affection and appreciation do not always have to coexist. Thank you for consistently being a reminder to always work to triumph over my former self. Dear Summer 2014, you have not been many things I had hoped you would, but you have provided me many opportunities to rest and recharge before entering into another big semester. Thank you for reminding that I am on the right path, even while helping me realize that I still have a long way to go. Dear Fall Semester 2014, stay where you are and let me approach with caution. Even though you are still a few weeks away you have already called me into many areas of expanded responsibility and leadership. I hope I don't let you down. I leave home to go back to the valley tomorrow and I am STOKED! Much love, Michy As I prepare to leave home I am reminded of the things I will miss: The leaves changing colors at Fair Hill
My mom Driving around with the Twinner S'mores indoors Dinners with Aunt Patti and Rob and 2-ply toilet paper What do you miss when you leave home? Michelle Good morning, y'all! This morning I woke up with one goal in mind: friggin' pack. But, then I found this article: Being Special Isn't So Special and I want to talk about it with you.
The article covers, mainly, why we as individuals aren't always as special as we think we are. When I first started reading the article I was like "No, I am special. I swear. My mom says so!!" but I kept reading and started to agree with him. He bases his assertion on the observation that in a world of a million blogs, worldwide Facebook users, and the opportunity at any moment to compare our lives to that of others leaves us feeling devalued and failures at not being able to achieve the life we want--or at least the life we are consistently told we should strive for. He argues that as a society we strive for earning more and more and more (the next Iphone, job promotion, or next opportunity to network), but we continue to feel like we are less and less and less valuable. And then I was like YES. His argument resonated with me for a few reasons: 1. I am growing up in a world of Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. My life is online in almost every way possible and that leads to constant comparison. 2. I'm a twin. This may seem like an odd reason, but even before I joined the world of social media my experiences, development, successes, and failures were cast against that of my brother. I became used to hearing from teachers, coaches, and friends "Wow you're nothing like your brother!" or "If he can do it why can't you?" 3. I often feel confused about how to obtain value in a world that demands value is achieved through appearance, money, and material substance. If you've ever met me I probably didn't have make-up on and you might have questioned if I even brushed my hair that morning, and for transparency's sake money is rarely a tool I can wield for gain in my day to day life. So I have to work on feeling valuable in my way, and by own standards. 3b. Let me cast a comparison against by family and high school friends (but certainly not everyone): I have carved out my own path towards higher education, and generally, in my own life. I was afforded the opportunity to travel and work for a year before going to a college that many do not even consider to be a real college. For the sake of this argument, in many ways I am not on the standard track for "success", and I try to not care what others think of the choices I've made to create my own happiness. I have to believe that I will be happy in the end—even during the times I’m told that I’ve already failed. My appreciation for this article stems from Manson's assertion that we all don't have to be CEOs, or world famous at anything, but we can all be important to our communities and valuable in smaller contexts—the contexts that matter. He recognizes that there is an innate human need to be seen and known and appreciated, but overtime we've misconstrued being known with how many "likes" we get on Facebook, and being seen if someone comments on our outfit, and being appreciated with how many universities offer us enrollment because obviously what we can offer an institution who doesn’t even know our name means we have value. Of course, I’m caught up in these modern trappings myself. I pay attention to how many hits this little blog gets, and get really self-conscious when my crooked teeth make it onto Facebook. And I’m definitely not happy with all of my experiences all of the time. When my friends who go to larger universities tell me of their larger experiences I get jealous. I wonder if I’m defective because I don’t want the latest Free People clothes or even care what brand my clothes are. Truthfully, a lot of my decisions can be traced back to the anxiousness of comparison and expectation that Manson talks about. I wish I knew a solution to breaking down a whole society worth of disillusioned success, but I don’t, and I’m hesitant to hastily subscribe to the solution Manson offers: not worrying about what others think, and embracing the simplicity of a mundane life. I think his resolution is flawed. Accountability within a community is so important. When I don’t have people in my life to remind me and nudge me in the right direction (even if that direction is just staying true to myself) I fall hard. And if a simple life was so satisfying why do droves of people literally hunger for more (Hello there, two trips to Italy). His resolutions provide options, but I refuse to accept that’s all there is. Value, I feel, is found when recognized. A warm hug from a close friend, or a silly award with your name on it—through those actions that recognize us we are told, and feel, that we are known by others and not just anyone, but by those who matter to us to. Also, know that you are great in your own right. I know that there are many times in life that we aren’t told and never hear we are valuable when we so desperately want to hear a simple “Thank you!” or “Wow what a great job!” or “I love you”. My opinions are but one of billions, but I am firm believer that you and I matter because we exist. We make a splash in this world simply by breathing. Whether you chose to agree with me or not is up to you, but I believe you were born with skills, talents, and a myriad of ways to contribute to the world around you even if that world is only ever your hometown or backyard. You are here and valuable. Do not ever forget that you matter and keep your chin up! Now, I really have to go pack. Happy Friday! Michelle xoxoxx I leave for school in a week folks and all I've accomplished is taking several selfies, making too much iced coffee, and singing along to The Avett Brothers.
Wish me luck! Michy xoxoxx (P.S. for presidential packing tips from yours truly read this post from February 2013 regarding my preparation for a trip to bella Italia) Ciao, ciao tutti!
Where did July go? Really, where did this summer go? I have ten more days left of my break before heading back down to Wilson and it feels like summer vacation started yesterday. I began this summer with a list of goals. Many of which I did not achieve. I did not take one trip, buy a pair (or two) of jeans, I did not knit my little heart out, I did not blog more, I did not stay connected with everyone that I wanted to, I have lacked gratitude, and I'm still not a millionaire. But, I'm not as disappointed as I could be. I hope when I look back on this summer in the years to come I won't see it as a summer of missed opportunities or one that gave me exactly what I wasn't looking for, but a summer that (once again) trumped my earthly wishes by replacing what I wanted with what I needed. I, desperately, needed to reconnect with my wombmate. I needed to begin to learn how to discern my needs in situations and relationships that often leave me empty. (And also realize that's necessary to fill myself back up again). I needed to learn that no one knows what's inside you unless you actually say it. I needed to be reminded that communication is great, but actions speak louder than words. I needed to come to love student loans and what experiences they help me afford. I needed to understand that work without integrity is work that helps no one. I needed to rely on calling friends far away and learning that it's okay to share your heart with the people who love you. And above all, I needed to learn to trust in God's faithfulness during my most desperate moments. I am a stubborn human and will likely need to be reminded of these lessons several times over, but I am grateful that I can begin this coming school year with a little more knowledge of myself that what I ended last semester with. In an unexpected way I feel prepared for the road ahead which is amazing given how many new adventures I have ahead of me. This semester will bring: two new work crews, a new dorm with my third college roommate, learning a fourth language, training in discernment, helping to lead First Years through their first semester at Wilson, and many unforeseen opportunities in between it all. But I don't feel scared or anxious (which, if you ask my mom, is unheard of in the world of Michelle at the beginning of new school years). Despite what this summer has turned it to I still have a lot of room for growth and learning, but I'm comforted in the knowledge that I am fortunate enough to once again be in the right place to both learn and grow. I hope that the end of this summer ends well for everyone and that this coming year brings everyone what they need, many adventures, and more chances to love. I really didn't expect to be this vulnerable in this post, but that's what it turned into so maybe it is what needed to be said. What has this summer been for you? All my love and, per usual, much mid-Atlantic humidity, Michelle Raining days and baking seem to go hand in hand. So in the spirit of this rainy week I made vegan-chocolate-chip-zucchini-banana-bread which is, admittedly, a mouth full of a title, but this cake-like-bread turned out so deliciously I wouldn't have changed a single ingredient. The zucchini that I used in the bread came from the garden and I must admit it's one of the better products from this year's haul. (But we still have tomatoes and spaghetti squash to come so I'll keep you posted!)
Praying for sunshine in the mid-Atlantic, Michelle |
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