Couch Commencement

Last week was a busy week, and by Friday, I was feeling a bit depleted.  I had checked out Mary Karr's Now Go Out There (and get curious) several weeks ago and knew it was due the next day.  I opened it up, hoping for a shot of inspiration.  This slim volume is Karr's commencement speech at Syracuse (where she has been a professor for many years) on one side and a cool sunburst flip book on the other.  I read most of it on my couch before leaving to work at a kindergarten picnic.  I finished the rest in my minivan.

If you have fifteen minutes and the desire to be inspired, I suggest you read it.

Some of my favorite insights:

"But don't make the mistake of comparing your twisted-up insides to other people's blow-dried outsides."  

Perfect advice in these days of curated life moments on Facebook, Instagram, and the other scary social media spots I don't even understand.

"'This hard spell might be the start of something truly great I can't foresee right now because I'm scared shitless.'"

Mary Karr wants you to tell yourself the above when times are tough.  This lesson is definitely one that you understand more fully as you age, but it's also one that is so easy to forget when you're in the midst of a hard, scary time.

"Being smart and rich are lucky, but being curious and compassionate will save your ass.  Being curious and compassionate can take you out of your ego and edge your soul towards wonder."

Who can argue against curiosity or compassion?

Please don't think that I've cited all the good stuff here and that you don't need to read Now Go Out There (and get curious).  There are a couple great anecdotes, plus honesty, humor, and a message you can take with you.  And, again, it's only fifteen minutes.

Get it at your library or buy it as a graduation gift (though great advice is often wasted on the young) and read it first.

Last year around this time, I read J.K. Rowling's commencement speech book, Very Good Lives:  The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of the Imagination.  I think commencement speech reading will be a new May tradition for me.  Why not listen to what great thinkers have to say to newly-minted grown-ups?  It's never too late to change course or to at least see your journey or mission in a new light.  Sometimes we all need a little help to light our fires.


P.S. -- Another May pick-me-up has been wearing the floral-printed Pumas in the photo above.  Found them at Kohl's on one of the only days of the year an extra discount was not on offer, but bought them anyway because I heart them so.

Saving My Life This Winter

What's saving my life right now?  I survived January in pretty good shape, but I'd still like to link up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and friends to share what's saving my life this winter ...

Sunshine and warm(ish) temps -- It's been a mild winter in Chicago (so far and KNOCK ON WOOD).  We've had a handful of brutally cold days, just enough to make us appreciate these days in the 30s.  I actually think we hit 40s today, and the sun was shining.  I spent five minutes pleasurably watching, for the first time ever, actual birds flying in and out of the birdhouse my parents gave me last year for my 40th birthday.  I don't do stuff like that, but I did today.

Tennis -- This sport is my fun, my escape, and my only exercise.  The tennis court is where I leave all the crap on my to-do list and all my worries, both petty and real, behind.  I am ridiculously protective of this time (i.e., I do not skip unless a kid is sick and sometimes not even then) because it is a key component of my (relative) mental health.  The added bonus is the chance to laugh with, learn from, and be encouraged by awesome, strong women at all stages of life.

Audiobooks -- These enrich my life in every season of every year.  I'm currently listening to Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.  Jury is still out as to how strongly I shall recommend it.

Neighbors -- One of my dear friends moved in across the street at the end of the summer.  Our kids had a half day from school on Friday, and we did a swap-a-roo.  She picked up all the kiddos at school and fed them lunch so that I could play in my tennis match (see above).  When I got back, I brought them all across the street to my house so she could go to Costco and run an errand or two in peace.  Just another reminder: ask for help, and you'll usually get it.

Crock Pot -- Peel and slice a bunch of potatoes and one onion and put in bottom of crock.  Cover with broth.  Stir in packet of ranch dressing mix.  Heat on high until potatoes are soft.  Stick your immersion blender in there and blend it all up (or blend in batches in regular blender?).  Serve your potato soup with sour cream, bacon, and cheddar cheese.  I'd say my kids love it, but that would be lying.  I love it though.

Refrigerator in the Laundry Room -- We used to have a second refrigerator in the garage.  In a semi-unconscious, self-punishing act, I stored my Diet Cokes in there and thus had to brave the cold, dirty garage every morning as I started my day.  Sometimes the items in the garage fridge would all freeze and explode.  It is not super fun to clean up frozen chunks of root beer and the glass from an exploded milk bottle.  We did a home project this Fall that resulted in a new laundry room with space for the back-up fridge.  What a treat to have this refrigerator inside the house.  I am grateful each morning when I retrieve my DC and the lunchbox-only items that would be vulnerable to being pilfered if in the main fridge.

All of the above strike me as plenty to be grateful for this winter.  I think I'm going to make it.  How about you?