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A Sea of Purple for Lizzie

What does the infinite power of love look like to you? Lizzie Gold, was born April 18, 2011. Shortly after she was diagnosed with Pallister-Killian mosaic syndrome (PKS). The road in front of her parents, Emily and Dave would not be an easy one. The illness interfered with Lizzie's sight, hearing, body, and mind. But that didn't stop her! Defying the odds Lizzie thrived in the ways that she knew how, she lived her live fully and wholeheartedly. Emily and Dave took the lemons and made some damn good lemonade. Lizzie was loved fully by so many. It's not an easy task being a parent to a child with limitations. The Gold family lived each day fully and lovingly. They went on adventures all over, making sure that all of their children, but especially Lizzie were able to experience what life has to offer. May 9, 2019 Lizzie passed away after a few days in the hospital. She was surrounded by her family. She was born encircled with love and died encircled with love. Sh...
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Meraki (may-rah-kee)

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Derived from the Turkish “Merak” (Labor of love, to do something with pleasure), came a Greek word Meraki which is when you leave a piece of yourself (your soul, creativity, or love) in your work. When you love doing something, so much that you put something of yourself into it. I love this definition. I think that this is inevitable for anyone who is any type of creator. How could you not? This is probably why I am really good at arguing for something I believe in and less so for something I don't. I'm ok with not being a good debater. If you've known me for a while I would say that I'm not a "creative arts" person. If you asked me to draw a picture, I could draw a stereotypical apple tree, the kind you learned in elementary art class. And I can draw stick figures, although they're usually disproportionate so who knows really đŸ˜‚.  But in trying to find ways to fill up my cup, feed my soul, and distress, surprisingly I've found that I really like ...
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Location: Falcon Heights, MN, USA
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Braving Vulnerability

Vulnerability, it's the epitome of an authentic beloved relationship. Dr. BrenĂ© Brown says this great quote in her book Daring Greatly. She says, “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.” Recently, I've been thinking a lot about this and what it means to share our most intimate stories. Stories of sadness, pain, trauma, guilt, and shame. These are difficult stories to share. Why is it so easy to tell someone about something joyful and successful rather than a sorrow or failure? I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But I do think that in this society it happens less. We judge and assume before knowing the whole story. The only times where I have seen courageous people being vulnerable with one another is when there has been an intention set in place. Why do we have to say that we're not going to judge you for what you tell us? Can't this be something that is...
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#MeToo

*I want to start off with saying that this is going to be somewhat intimate... My purpose is to bring awareness and to dismantle the stigmatism associated with blame and shame. Bren Ă© Brown says, “Empathy’s the antidote to shame. The two most powerful words when we’re in struggle: me too .” This is why I am sharing this... to say I'm with you. I also don't want you to feel like your story is diminished by mine or take away from your experiences. I think that society has placed some assumptions about dating and "hooking up." If you are on the app, you are there to get action. But I also know that I've gotten a fair amount of unsolicited inappropriate pictures. I don't know if it's ego or what but really I don't need to see the nether regions to decide if I like you enough to go on a date with you. I guess you could say I like what's in the brain more than looks. But I digress. Anyway, I really wasn't seriously looking but more just monkeyi...
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Faith Feeds Wholeness

I was listening to music on Spotify when I came across this song. JJ Heller's Braver Still  Lately I've found that music has been feeding my soul, whether it's my connection to God or whatever is beyond us, I do not know. I encourage you to listen to the whole song because it is beautiful. The first verse really struck something inside me, so I'm sharing it. "I never saw it coming There was no way to prepare The world kept spinning 'round me And left me standing there And it's okay to grieve A life that could not be I'm trying to believe In something better" This. This is everything. This is life. You can only control so much. You can only plan so much. Now don't get me wrong, I still get bogged down with these notions because I'm only human. I have anxiety, I am a creature of habit. But it's the last two lines that remind me that belief or faith is critically important as well as action. There is a lot that I can't...
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Downside of Love

I’m feeling sad tonight. I stupidly decided to clean out my photos to free up some space. Inevitably, I saw photos of people who are no longer in my life, have died, and are just gone for an extended period of time in the case of my mother. It’s weird, there can be days where I don’t think about anyone who I miss and then there are days where it’s insurmountable. I wish I could talk to them and get a response back. To hear their voice.  I’m pretty sure no one is going to see this because I’m not posting on my Facebook. But that’s okay.
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Reinvest in Your Salt and Light

If you are at all religious or know religious people then you know that today is Ash Wednesday. It's the precursor to Easter Sunday and the beginning of the liturgical season, Lent. The idea behind it is that you remember that your life will end one day. So what's this salt and light business? It comes from the Bible, which I know isn't something that people gravitate towards, especially us young adults but the meaning is transcendent in my opinion. I'm going to paraphrase Matthew 5:13-16 (click on it to read the actual passage). There are two main ideas, be salt and be light. Obviously it's not literal but rather metaphorical. Let's talk about what salt is and what it could mean. Salt is a chemical compound that is added to add flavor, preserve, melt ice, etc. We are called to serve, to lead, to love, and to be stewards of God's unconditional love. Light is the absence of darkness. It's visible and warm. When you are accessing your inner light, you c...
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