#4 Travel and Friendship

Seeing new and different things is really important to me because it allows me to expand my horizons and get away from my routine. 

I have also been very fortunate because travel has given me the opportunity to deepen the friendships I have.  At times I have been able to travel to visit old friends to a new area and learn about the area where that person is living or gain new acquaintances/friendships by meeting their circle of friends. I've been known to gather a group of women to take a trip somewhere new and different. Sometimes it takes effort, compromise and good communication to be roommates and travel together. But I've realized when this does work out, it's almost like I've created a friend for life! As I have been able to travel and gain a new perspective and world view with these cool friends, it is awesome to know we are creating memories that we can share together. 

I've been very blessed to become closer to many friends because of traveling.  

#3 Putting travel into motion

When I was little my parents took us on some pretty standard vacations. When I was in high school something inside of me woke up.......traveling and getting away from the parental/daughter dynamics was pretty much the most amazing feeling I'd ever had! This fire inside of me must be re-lit, quite often. Probably more than I can currently afford. But that's no reason to ignore this spark/desire.

There are so many things about travel that make me happy! So, why not just do it? Until there's financially no way to do it, I need to go!

I'm not sure why but it's easy to question and hesitate.......going. Where should I go? When should I go? These are easily solved. Anywhere. And when I'm not working, because in this regard I'm blessed.

What to spend my money on? Who do I go with? These are a little bit harder questions to answer, for me anyways. I spend lots of time pondering these questions and brainstorming. I say when I have more money or when this person is available, I'll go.

But I'm kinda StayCationed out.  I'm kinda over pondering or waiting for a better time.

This morning I woke up asking the same questions I've been asking myself for a couple of years but I had a couple of answers. Suddenly, my desire burst and within an hour and a half a trip was booked! 

I couldn't be more excited for me 2 week break. I'm feeling a sense of pride I stopped pondering.

New York City and East Coast here I come!!

#2 - One of the components of travel

There are so many moments during a trip that make me feel happy. This is a very global feeling I get when I go somewhere new.

I love to travel and see new places. One of the happiest moments of traveling is realizing how big the world really is.

Each time I have gone to Chicago I have been able to sit on a tour bus or train and watch out the window and see all of the neighborhoods and big buildings. I have always wondered what life is like for people in these new places I am seeing. I also do this when I am able to get a window seat on a plane.

I think it makes me feel happy that I am only a small piece of this really big world and there are millions of other people living their lives. Everything seems to be moving and going forward like a well oiled machine even though my routine has been disrupted for a few days. In these few moments I am okay with not having a sense of control. I feel curious but yet I am able to appreciate the routine I will go back to at home. When I am not home it is fun to realize airports, tourist traps, restaurants and places I have been are still operating.

#1

The Piss Pond

Whitehall.

Everyone needs a home away from home. On Friday afternoons when I am driving northwest on interstate 96, I get the happiest feeling of anticipation for the weekends that are about to occur.

It's a place where I don't have to go to work, pay bills or run other errands.

It's a place where there is constant relaxation, laughter and love from people you really care about.

It's a place that is beautiful and fulfills the hype of a Pure Michigan commercial.

It's a place to sneak away and recharge. I discovered this was going to be my place the summer I turned 12 years old even though I have been going to Whitehall since I was born.

 I've learned how to calmly sit on a front porch to eat and talk all day long without accomplishing a damn thing.

I've learned what true friendship is in Whitehall.

I am very lucky to have repeated all of these happy feelings over and over for the past 24 years!

I am excited there are more of these memories coming!

The Big Bad Thing.

I was born a "blue baby" because of the lack of oxygen I received at birth.
I didn't sit up unsupported until I was a year old and used a walker much longer than most babies entering into toddler hood.
I wasn't running to keep up with the other toddlers around 1.5-2 years.
The orthopedic doctor told my parents I would never walk long distances in malls or amusement parks.
I'm certain my parents and other family members wondered if I would be smart, do good in school and play like other children.
I was teased and felt singled out growing up.
I didn't always fit in with kids who were disabled either.
I'm not good at roller skating or ice skating.

I had double the homework other kids did. To stay caught up and on grade level and also because regular assignments took longer.
Even though I'm active my symptoms increase when I am tired (I trip more often and my speech is more slurred, etc.).
At the age of 13, I told myself since I had cerebral palsy perfection in all other areas of life was important.
I questioned whether I could drive, work, become a parent or go to college due to my physical limitations.
I'm a poor test taker.
And actually, I'm a poor note taker.
Filling an online dating profile was a huge fear to conquer.
Talking to guys in a busy bar was an even bigger fear.
Employers have looked at me as I've entered an interview and stated I shouldn't be interviewing at their place of employment.
I have been "let go" by an employer due to my disability.
Since the age of 18 I have experienced chronic pain during different phases of my life.
I also get spasms at night while falling asleep if I am experiencing stress.
Growing up I thought all of the annoying stuff about my disability would disappear or get easier.
It hasn't gotten easier or disappeared.
On a daily basis kids ask why I talk and walk funny.

Who Cares? One of the biggest life lessons to learn is we all have our baggage. What each of us choose to do with it is our own personal decision. I was given a personality and soul to teach and set an example for others to take the shitty hand we are dealt and turn it into something great. Here's my shit......and my further posts are how I've interpreted it and made the absolute most out of my journey, so far.

Reasons to be Happy!

I am going to work on writing down my 100 happiest moments that I can recall. I don't know yet if I could reach 100 - but I am definitely going to try! Could you reach 100 (+) happy moments that you have reached thus far?

Today was a warm day for November and it was sunny. Usually it is so dark! I was driving west a little after 5pm and witnessed one of my favorite things - a beautiful sunset! They don't last long but at least sunsets are repeated over and over (no - no everyday in Michigan).

November in Michigan 

It Takes a Village

This month I have been trying to think of the deepest levels of gratitude. Don't get me wrong, since I am a white middle class woman in her mid-thirties it is easy to think of 30 (+) reasons to be grateful. My family, my friends, my cats, my house, my career. I have more material things than I need and a full life. I've just wanted to dig deeper.

I thought of things that help me get through rough moments or days such as yoga and writing. And I have remembered the unique opportunities I have been given. Which has allowed me to realize I have a bright future full of even more opportunities.

The way my life path has gone thus far, makes me feel very unique and also very, very fortunate. As a young child with cerebral palsy the chances were slim my educational career would be positive and pursue an education that led me to a graduate degree. There's inaccurate test scores, assumptions, discrimination, over worked educators, bureaucracies, loop holes, laws or even parents who lack knowledge or courage to push for their kids. I think about this several times a week. When I'm feeling like I have misfortune, I think of the things that went right and this allows me to keep moving forward with a smile.

Every so often there is a circumstance beyond the daily service times, Medicaid billing, emails and meetings where this reminder of where I came from was a well played song and dance of laws and loop holes and what was right for me as an individual student. There were some close calls as to where my journey could have looked very different. It took a village of adults passionately brainstorming with a level head to lead me to where I currently am. One or 2 mishaps, my journey would have been different. I'm grateful it turned out the way it did.

I'm also reminded since the end result turned out so well that I have professional expertise to understand the laws, bureaucracies and loop holes with an extra shot of personal stuff to be the sound level headed advocate for kids who also are fighting to show their strengths and abilities beyond what the paperwork can show.

Today and everyday, I am grateful for my village. I am also grateful I've had the opportunity to be apart of so many villages!