So many times in politics, candidates, and advertisements about a candidate, complain that a politician has changed her/his mind on an issue. Isn’t that a good thing? They had an opinion, were presented with an alternative view or reality, and, after doing some thoughtful research & thinking about it, changed their mind for the good of humanity.
According to Brene Brown, that is the definition of a daring leader vs an armored leader. The big shift here is from wanting to โbe rightโ to wanting to โget it right.โ
Don’t we want leaders that want to “get it right” and not always “be right?!”
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
One day this is going to be over – can you imagine that day? How we’ll come out into the sun and laugh and hug and sing and dance and hold hands? I’m living for that day. It’ll be like nothing we’ve experienced before.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
It’s taken me a little time to gather my thoughts on the unbelievable events that have taken place the past few weeks in our country. I’m usually pretty impatient and just wanna go, go, go…get mad, speak my mind and react. My heart has been breaking, along with much of the country. How did we get here, where do we go?
In this instance, I decided to take the advice of some very intelligent, activist, voices … Ibram X Kendi and Ava DuVernay are a couple of the many… and step back, listen, read and learn.
My personal ethos, as shown at the bottom of every email and on this blog, is “you cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails.” Well, maybe that’s not always true! It is time that we write to the atty. generals, mayors, police chiefs and those in power in each city where injustice has been done at the hands of the police and let them know … You DO have the power to direct the wind at this pivotal point in history.
Knowledge is power! Here are some links to information that I found helpful in understanding the Black Lives Matter movement, in hopes that I can make a difference in some way…
โฌรFollow Ibram X. Kendi @ibramxk on instagram or twitter and listen to his thoughts on “Feelings Advocacy.” Feelings Advocacy is not enough. Once you feel better through your advocacy, donating, etc. (which are all great!), don’t stop…move past your feelings, keep your foot on the gas and keep going to enact real policy change. I’d also recommend following BigMommaOfficial on Instagram for some in-your-face truths that black people experience … you have no idea!!
Go hereand educate yourself about what Juneteenth (which is today!) really commemorates. It should be a national holiday.
Go here for a list of books to educate yourself about history and become an advocate.
โฌรIf you only watch one movie on the subject, Please watch 13th on Netflix by Ava Duvernay (free through June) Netflix has an entire section of BLM suggestions they are streaming free this month. You might also want to add Selma and/or Just Mercy to your list.
โฌรIf you or someone you know is not registered to vote PLEASE do it here … whenweallvote.org
I’ve heard it said a few times in the past few weeks … this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and we need to keep running until there is equality for all. It will take a long time…it took a long time to get us here…but, as Margaret Meade is quoted as saying, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.“
Until the killing of a black mother’s son is considered as important as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest. … Ella Baker
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
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!
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 โbehind”, 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!
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.
blue and white striped mezzelunethis one is even prettier!
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!!
blue pasta is so much fun!
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 …
… midway through the processtwo different kinds of striped pastaHow do you photograph brown sauce enticingly? Oh well, you just have to trust me that it was AMAZING!!
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!
