tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34880422494928896062024-03-16T19:49:01.343-04:00A Modern GracePattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-79376196351066762262022-07-02T11:00:00.003-04:002022-07-02T11:00:24.265-04:00Practical Ways to Maximize Your After-Work Time<center style="text-align: left;">A little intentionality can go a long way.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For the modern woman, sometimes it can feel like there are never quite enough hours in a day. Whether one is working from home, in an office, in school, or at home taking care of kids, the after-work hours become sometimes a blend of trying to relax but then play catch up with tasks you often can't done during a work day. Still, we all have choices on how to spend our down time, and most of us want to do so in a way that feels life-giving instead of <i>gone before you know it.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="text-align: left;">Whether you have an endless to-do list or just trying to better effectively maximize your time after work, here are some practical ways to help you be more intentional and thoughtful with that time.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://verilymag.com/2022/06/maximize-after-work-hours-school-down-time-routine-time-management-2022" target="_blank">Head over to Verily to read more</a> . . .</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-85520499086056438482022-06-04T18:56:00.004-04:002022-06-04T18:56:49.109-04:00How to be a Friend to Your Heart <center style="text-align: left;">I acknowledge how the above title might sound a little bit hokey.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">But in all honesty, this is life-changing principle I have been learning over the last 8 - 10 months.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">When I started my new healthcare job in January, I did something special for myself. I joined a female coaching and mastermind group. It has been a supportive community for women working on career goals, dating, and doing their own healing work.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One of the many insightful things I have learned, is in the title - how to be a friend to my own heart.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have come to realize how sometimes in relationships and dating that sometimes I over give, serve, and love on the other person at the expense of myself - my feelings and emotions. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It might not sound like that big of a deal to you, but I am learning (especially in dating) be a friend to my heart first - listen and pay attention to her, loving tend to her when she has needs. I am the first person to meet the needs of my heart and mind. I do not put that responsibility on anyone else but myself first.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In new ways as a 36 year old woman, I am learning how to meet the needs of my heart - to re-parent my "little Patty" from a place of wholeness and healing; not neediness or insecurity.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Let me offer an example of how I recently applied this in my life. About a month ago, I went to the wedding of a dear friend. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Watching the father-daughter dance was painful for me, a bit triggering even. In that moment, I could only feel the loss of never having that moment with my dad someday when I get remarried.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I left the reception earlier than usual, and came home to fall asleep watching Golden Girl's.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I woke up the next morning, I felt "off."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I was bumping into my wounded self, little Patty. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I spent some time journaling and getting in touch with what was really going on inside of me. After some tears and more journaling I decided to read the daily Mass readings.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The Gospel was from John, and in it Jesus is talking about the vine and the branches - how we must stay connected to Him, the true vine.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And then, this: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you" (John 15:9).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>So, I also love you.</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Jesus loves even my little Patty parts. He loves even those spaces in my heart that feel needy, fearful, anxious, or insecure.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I felt like Jesus was saying those words to me, my five year old little girl who is aching to be loved, taken care of, and safe.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I sat in those words, I let Jesus hug my little Patty. I let Jesus hug my grown-up Patty self.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">That is how to be a friend to your own heart. That is how I am learning to do it in my life right now.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">May we love all our parts, just as Jesus loves those parts.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-39072190136310128532022-05-08T16:37:00.003-04:002022-05-08T16:37:41.855-04:00Be a Shero<center style="text-align: left;">Happy Mother's Day, friend!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Shero - a woman who inspires you. A woman who has poured into your life, helping you become the woman God created you to be.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Though an unofficial definition perhaps not found in the Webster Dictionary, today is a day we celebrate each and every Shero in our lives: mothers, birth and adoptive mothers, foster mom's, godmothers, spiritual mentors, aunts and grandma's, sisters and friends. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This Mother's Day is for all women, because each of us is a Shero; rare, unique, and irreplaceable.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The Shero's in my life are varied and many. My Aunt Carolyn, a Catholic school teacher turned prosecutor. She was bold and unafraid to share her opinion and rock the boat. Married later in life and unable to have children of her own, she became a second mom to my siblings and I.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My own mom Sheila (though we call her SheShe). A prayer warrior and hospice nurse, she is still one of my best friends and biggest cheerleaders in my life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My spiritual director, Dr. Cooney. My academic advisor and professor in graduate school, she has walked with me through the pain of a divorce, dating/relationships, and the loss of my dad. Her voice is a loving but firm tone that brings me peace and clarity.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">A band of beautiful friendships that I thank God everyday for: Christina, Helena, Sarah, Beth, Mary Catherine, MC, Alanna, and so many more (not even including the many friendships born out of social media connections).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This weekend our country celebrates Mother's Day.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While a day filled with love and celebration, this day can also be filled with pain and sorrow for many of us. Perhaps your mom has left this earth or you have an estranged relationship with your mom. Maybe your heart is breaking because of the infertility you experience or the desire for marriage and babies has not yet happened in your life. Maybe as a woman you feel hurt or abandoned by the church or your spiritual community.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Read the rest over at <a href="https://www.wisdomsdwelling.com/post/you-are-my-shero" target="_blank">Wisdom's Dwelling</a> ...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">(Learn more about Wisdom's Dwelling and sign up to receive their email devotions <a href="https://www.wisdomsdwelling.com/" target="_blank">here</a>).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-11683375290103741672022-04-28T06:27:00.003-04:002022-04-28T06:27:52.014-04:00Just Like Me.<center style="text-align: left;">Take some deep breaths.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Notice the inhalation exhalation of your breath.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As you are able, bring someone into our mind that you have difficulty relating to.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Maybe they have opposing ideas or philosophies.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Maybe they are simple unkind.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Using all the wisdom you have acquired through your experiences, imagine gazing into this person's eyes with an open heart and an open mind.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Without trying to change them in any way, say to yourself...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person is incarnated in a body. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person was once a child. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has known joy in their life. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has known sorrow. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has loved someone. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has had their heart broken. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has experienced confusion and uncertainty. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person has tried and failed. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person needs forgiveness. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person wants to be loved. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This person wants to be happy. <i>Just like me.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">See them now as part of your experience as a human being and say to them,</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">May you be happy and free. I wish for you strength, peace, and liberation in your human life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Notice how this changes how you hold this person...and how you hold yourself.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Try this practice with different people. We can even use this practice when we become impatient or annoyed by a complete stranger...<i>Just like me.</i></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">(This meditation was written by Brian W, a co-worker from another ministry market. Our team used it in a recent retreat, and since then I have been thinking a lot about it. I hope it blesses you as it has blessed me.)</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Peace, friends!</center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-17439936646449210352022-04-26T21:22:00.002-04:002022-04-26T21:22:20.358-04:00Gone but Healed.<center style="text-align: left;">It was a cool October night I was driving home from an evening work meeting.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I was feeling excited because that Saturday I would be going on a double date with my older cousin Mike and his wife Lisa, along with the man I was dating at the time.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I remember the exact red light where my car was stopped when the thought hit me.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i>Even though Dad is gone, our relationship is more whole and healed than it ever was when he was alive. He is physically gone from life but I feel closer to him now more than ever.</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Xz8pxCjH_f4u7vtgWd-zrZZ_16a3wdM6Mq9B5RdiKQ1aJZ-jjg0iqcK6ucGkRONkJR_j0BZ_kr_xwu_eQj_37xYmFA9TeK0h2BqqtOyrTgh_G9u8gC39csKnT71glgdhT7Ppynz5H9Sl7vCET0HBLVBR5QCqKv9I9-5mMLRRtnmQ9xBybK2zFaTxA/s2048/IMG_8794.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47Xz8pxCjH_f4u7vtgWd-zrZZ_16a3wdM6Mq9B5RdiKQ1aJZ-jjg0iqcK6ucGkRONkJR_j0BZ_kr_xwu_eQj_37xYmFA9TeK0h2BqqtOyrTgh_G9u8gC39csKnT71glgdhT7Ppynz5H9Sl7vCET0HBLVBR5QCqKv9I9-5mMLRRtnmQ9xBybK2zFaTxA/w567-h377/IMG_8794.JPEG" width="567" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I burst into tears, feeling overwhelmed by a deep sense of something that I would continue to lean into in the coming weeks.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I was very blessed to have an overall very healthy and loving family of origin. My parents, while imperfect, did their very best and gave my two siblings and I a stable home and loving childhood.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I grew up, and began my own healing journey, I saw one of the area's that suffered was my emotional relationship with my dad. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As a sensitive, tender little girl, I often felt my dad was not emotionally available to me or minimized my emotions and feelings. The father wound in my little Patty heart was probably one of the area's I most needed inner healing and growth.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Looking back it affected many things: how I saw myself, my own codependency, and even my choice in men - in a particular way the man I married. What I really needed from my dad was not often emotionally available to me, and that affected me more than I realized as I got older.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am grateful and proud of the inner work I have done over the last six years to acknowledge and heal that wound. However, I was not expecting such a profound insight into this healing journey with my dad almost a year after he died. And yet, the more I sat in that realization, the more I prayed about it or discussed it with my spiritual director, I began to see God was at work here.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Watching my dad physically suffer while we helped care for him and into his final days was one of the hardest yet most sacred experiences of my life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It was as if all the healing work I had faced in my father wound Jesus came and said to me, "My sweet Patty girl, all this has been restored and made whole. Your dad is gone but all this is healed as much as it can be this side of Heaven."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Dad's physical presence is gone. And yet, I feel closer to him in several ways. Our relationship is more whole and healed.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Perhaps it sounds a bit odd, it certainly feels weird to say it this way. But it is true. To the deep part of my soul, it is true.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I know not everyone perhaps has this experience with a parent who passed away. So Jesus, find me very grateful and humble for that beautiful insight. It makes me more hopeful and excited for the day when I see my dad again and am able to give him a big bear hug.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Dad may be gone, but it has all been healed.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Jesus, find me grateful for that.</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-58204773697259903112022-04-04T18:50:00.002-04:002022-04-04T18:50:17.543-04:00Three Things Andrew Garfield Teaches Us About Grief<center style="text-align: left;">As I experience the milestones of the first year after my dad's passing, I find myself curious about how grief can manifest in one's life. Whether it's in response to the loss of a parent, child, spouse, or significant other, grief is universally messy, painful, and raw. There is no one way to navigate it.</center><center style="text-align: left;">Loss will inevitably touch each of our lives; it's necessarily part of the human experience.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Recently, I came across an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u_TswLQ4ws" target="_blank">interview</a> with actor Andrew Garfield (you may know him better as Spider-Man) on <i>The Late Show with Stephen Colbert</i>. I have been following Garfield's work with interest and curiosity, so to hear him talk about the recent loss of his own mother touched me in a particular way.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What Garfield had to say about grief is bound to resonate with anyone who's experienced loss, recently or otherwise.</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYjgpijxYtR97fPmQku_O02I0cJSQHcSXtKZKIClOY2AhuRWc6X1jhmdHDnS3Ip0jTrQhNVFyMMHuFBzZFxSwqAS49JqmJiUU7X6se3X_k3sob1e0huzjQ_ZFpvnPYAUIp7g2NIAvhRfco6a6FDQ4KhOo5ATmdk_QJjRxiQX8NpEZgexgCRaf7iPGAg/s2048/MV5BMjE2MjI2OTk1OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTY1NzM4MDI@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYjgpijxYtR97fPmQku_O02I0cJSQHcSXtKZKIClOY2AhuRWc6X1jhmdHDnS3Ip0jTrQhNVFyMMHuFBzZFxSwqAS49JqmJiUU7X6se3X_k3sob1e0huzjQ_ZFpvnPYAUIp7g2NIAvhRfco6a6FDQ4KhOo5ATmdk_QJjRxiQX8NpEZgexgCRaf7iPGAg/s320/MV5BMjE2MjI2OTk1OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTY1NzM4MDI@._V1_.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Grief is unexpressed love</h3><div>Garfield beautifully referred to the grief he feels for the loss of his mother as "unexpressed love." When we grieve the loss of a loved one, a big portion of what we miss is never being able to hug or hold that person again, to laugh and smile and be silly together, to hear the sound of his or her voice.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is all those moments we won't get to express our love, affection, and warmth and the end of being able to experience receiving those things from the person whose presence we are grieving.</div><div><br /></div><div>In his heartfelt interview with Colbert, Garfield says, "I hope this grief stays with me because it's all the unexpressed love that I didn't get to tell her. And I told her every day."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://verilymag.com/2022/03/andrew-garfield-grief-lessons-colbert-tick-tick-boom-spiderman-man-cry-2022" target="_blank">You can read the rest over at Verily.</a></div><div><center><br /><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center></div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-52859155962860677872022-02-03T08:30:00.001-05:002022-02-03T08:30:00.172-05:00ten years<center style="text-align: left;">Ten years ago this month, I started a blog.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">(Okay, technically it was January...so I am off one day!)</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I remember another friend had started a blog sharing about her work in ministry and her new life as a wife and mom. I looked up to this person; in some ways, I wanted to be like her when I grew up. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I read her blog, I thought to myself, "This looks like fun. Gosh, I could do that!"</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And so I started.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I started it about six months before my wedding. After getting married, I used it as a little spot to talk and reflect on marriage, my faith, and working in ministry.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Over the last ten years, this space has changed and evolved. In many ways, just like me.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have went through divorce, annulment, dating and being single, career changes...pretty much a lot of the "big" adult things.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have went through big changes here; healed, grown, and shifted.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">From the time I was a little girl, I loved writing. When I began this space, I saw it as a creative outlet I could practice the art of writing. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And you know what happened?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBSZLmdUsLraFtJ6_g32BlPz-YRv2ogBDuVksaIdostqVgR11Wf1D9IOuXM4EMg1_RqUXY294cYAsmBfc2H1BSARTYG-92gHXNKSqlxkzMrUWZzKo3UfwOy7Hc-TyVDQDwbvVJWER6zIpddx8tSa1Hi6piyeIZf-zhHW4SaiDHwzbitwv9uBjEoi8Q9Q=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="a 2012 Patty..." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1370" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBSZLmdUsLraFtJ6_g32BlPz-YRv2ogBDuVksaIdostqVgR11Wf1D9IOuXM4EMg1_RqUXY294cYAsmBfc2H1BSARTYG-92gHXNKSqlxkzMrUWZzKo3UfwOy7Hc-TyVDQDwbvVJWER6zIpddx8tSa1Hi6piyeIZf-zhHW4SaiDHwzbitwv9uBjEoi8Q9Q=w429-h640" title="a 2012 Patty..." width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a 2012 Patty...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I discovered something in this little space - my soul came alive in new ways writing. It helped me find myself in deeper ways and became a way to process and navigate hard things in my life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I did it just for me, for Patty. Not knowing where it would take me. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Yes, blogging has led me to opportunities to write more professionally online and speak from time to time. Those experiences enriched me as a woman and I am grateful for opportunities to be paid for my work.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">However, those experiences alone do not keep me writing. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I keep writing because I love it. I keep writing because it is a fire in my soul, my blue flame if you will. I keep writing because it helps me feel more connected to my own heart, my spirit, and to God.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e12X5Vr9ePbyGUDGo8Hp3ixAThVuSKFBV_1zU7Ib3m1qhhGUURKpW_tB39iL24alXnT3VUHy2Lv0lLAH7WqCzPHSTOBUvsD4THW4oQ7bY_J4OdjO0rlsM7taPLJKlezGM8QH5Pcz6t30gcIk-f1cNlL3pVk8Ca1gGLMhE3np8qE2BzdSvMWe8wajVQ=s7951" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7951" data-original-width="5303" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4e12X5Vr9ePbyGUDGo8Hp3ixAThVuSKFBV_1zU7Ib3m1qhhGUURKpW_tB39iL24alXnT3VUHy2Lv0lLAH7WqCzPHSTOBUvsD4THW4oQ7bY_J4OdjO0rlsM7taPLJKlezGM8QH5Pcz6t30gcIk-f1cNlL3pVk8Ca1gGLMhE3np8qE2BzdSvMWe8wajVQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a 2022 Patty</td></tr></tbody></table><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This humble little space has done more good for me than I anticipated. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Happy anniversary, little blog. Happy anniversary, writing life. Happy anniversary, sweet dream I never let die.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">You brought me more than I ever expected: a deeper sense of being connected to myself and the heart of Divine love.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-9669834599389175032022-02-01T16:12:00.001-05:002022-02-01T16:12:18.063-05:00What Does It (Really) Mean to Be a Feminine Woman?<center style="text-align: left;">When you heard the word femininity, what comes to mind?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There was a period in my life if you had asked me that question I would have answered something like: being quiet, reflective, wearing dresses, etc. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Growing up, one of the harmful messages I hd to let go and undo over time was unhelpful messaging about what it meant to be a little girl, to be feminine. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There are very particular memories I have where my mom would repeatedly remind me to be a good girl, a quiet girl and act ladylike. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">"Remember," mom would say to me, "Nobody like a loud girl."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While her intention was not to hurt me, my sensitive Patty heart absorbed unhelpful (and unhealthy) messages about what it meant to be a girl.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I have gotten older, I can see how this instance was one of the most hurtful messages I absorbed as a little girl and carried with me into my early twenties.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What I heard in those words was, "Be different from who you are. Act a certain way or people will not accept or like you."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">"Being loud equals being bad."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Why share such a personal story with you?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Because sometimes I feel in Catholic circles there is a false perception of what it means to be feminine, to be a woman.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">To be feminine is never a one-size fits all prescription. It looks different for every woman because we are all unique and none of us are the same.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Head over to <a href="https://plus.catholicmatch.com/articles/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-a-feminine-woman" target="_blank">Catholic Match</a> to read the rest ...</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-29976806589227257562022-01-26T06:50:00.001-05:002022-01-26T06:50:49.825-05:00369 Days Later.<center style="text-align: left;">It has been just over one year.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One year since the last time I saw my dad. One year since he took his last breath on this earth.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I was feeling a little restless and anxious as January 22 drew near.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There was a part of me that wanted the day to hurry up and pass by as quickly as possible. As if the death of my dad wasn't hard enough, there are other losses in life I am navigating and working through; those things made the loss of dad's presence feel even more profound.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While Saturday was a difficult day, I was so grateful to feel the love and support of many people in my life.</center><center><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflVygDGthciFvf4oDLiY0kDOeIHzdNVCUu28toblM-aFll4HlSKmVpSpSscIaNpMQJOkDKnqYajhGnsUYO-fFQZKclDYR_pw5-May8S0Q9YdUTsG7rqPAqZhRJd20WTkjWBPYk2IZQZFZ-BGlvUDMPNbDYiMpWXSOuCBGCljYbvsmAK5d53Q3K3xrKQ=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflVygDGthciFvf4oDLiY0kDOeIHzdNVCUu28toblM-aFll4HlSKmVpSpSscIaNpMQJOkDKnqYajhGnsUYO-fFQZKclDYR_pw5-May8S0Q9YdUTsG7rqPAqZhRJd20WTkjWBPYk2IZQZFZ-BGlvUDMPNbDYiMpWXSOuCBGCljYbvsmAK5d53Q3K3xrKQ=w352-h469" width="352" /></a></div><br /><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The day before, several women from my Bible study had sundae fixings delivered to my apartment so I could have a sweet treat to celebrate my dads feast day. Saturday morning my pastor offered the 9am Mass intention for the soul of my dad. As I drove home afterwards, he called me to check on me and see how I was doing. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I had many friends text me throughout the day; checking on me, letting me know there were praying for me, or sharing ways in their own life they were celebrating dads feast day. I even had an Instagram friend from Ireland offer Mass for my dad at her local cathedral in Ireland. She sent me a video clip of the priest praying for the soul of Deacon Kevin Breen on the first anniversary of his death.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My prayer buddy and soul sister Mave, texted me throughout the day and called on me to see how I was feeling. She was ever present to me on a hard day.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It was a real comfort to feel such love and support from so many people.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My siblings and I went to my moms house (it still feels weird to say that sometimes) for lunch and then went to the 5pm Mass at the parish we grew up at, where dad also served as the deacon. </center><center style="text-align: left;">Do you ever have those times where going to Mass is the absolute last ting you want to do? This day was one of those for me.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I felt sad and disconnected from my heart; in some ways, just numb with grief. I cried through most of Mass, and left as quickly as I could afterwards. Driving home, I had a very frank and direct conversation with Jesus - in which I used a fair amount of four lettered words.</center><center style="text-align: left;">Feeling sad and lonely, I was honest with Jesus about the day and other things on my mind.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I ended the day with a little too much ice cream (thanks Bible Babes!) and several hours of hanging out in Stars Hollow with the Gilmore girls.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have great hope and confidence of where my dad is. I know he is more alive now than ever, and I am grateful he is not in physical pain or suffering. But I just wish I could have one more hug. I wish he would call me on the phone. I wish I could hear his laugh.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One of the most beautiful things I heard leading up to dads feast day, was something my girlfriend's mom shared with her growing up: the day a person is born and the day they die are the most powerful days to ask their intercession and prayers. If we have the hope and trust a person is with God in their eternal reward, it is their new job to advocate for us in Heaven.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So, Kate reminded me, it is my dads job to ADVOCATE on my behalf before the throne of God. Isn't that absolutely beautiful?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I took that to heart and especially on dads feast day, asked his prayers for some very particular intentions.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Life continues to move forward even when it is forever changed by something like death. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Dad -</center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13VmuflRYJY" target="_blank">Wherever I am, you'll always be.</a></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13VmuflRYJY" target="_blank">More than just a memory...</a></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-39627536016274198002022-01-09T22:16:00.002-05:002022-01-09T22:16:20.156-05:00The New, Exciting, and Surprising (AKA Where I Have Been)<center style="text-align: left;">So what has been going on this past year? Where I have been?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Well for starters, not really on here writing much.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Each year of the pandemic has been different. With it, has brought in new experiences; some wonderful and some harder than others.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">January 22 is the first anniversary of dad's death. It is crazy to think a year has passed where I haven't been able to hear his voice or hug him. I believe and trust he is in the Joy of Heaven, but as the Christmas season drew closer, I felt the ache of missing him all the more.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Christmas was particularly hard for me this year. Namely, one of them dad being gone. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This year on January 22, I will attend Mass at my little parish where the priest will offer the Mass for dad's soul. Later in the afternoon, my siblings and I will go to my mom's house for lunch and then the 5pm Mass at the parish we grew up at, where dad served as the deacon for many years.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">If could remember the soul of Deacon Kevin and my family on January 22, I would be so grateful.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I shared the exciting news about my <a href="http://amoderngrace.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-new-year-new-adventure.html" target="_blank">new job</a>. My little office is nicely set up in my bedroom, and I am really enjoying wearing my cozy Ugg slippers to work each day. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I started going to CrossFit last March and am still sticking with it. I love it so much more than I would and it feels amazing to see my body get stronger and what it is capable of doing. One of my goals for 2022 is to spend a month or two working one-on-one with a personal trainer.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In October I ran my third Detroit marathon. It wasn't my best race, but the weather was perfect and I had lots of people cheering me on.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One of the best surprises was beginning to date Joe last December. However, shortly after our one year anniversary and Christmas, we decided to stop dating each other. Honestly, I think I possibly saw it coming since the middle of the summer. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There was a lot of clarity and peace in the decision but I am sad things did not work out as I hoped. I loved both him and his three kids a lot. In the end, we both are in very different spaces. My heart is grieving right now, but I am proud of myself for not settling and trusting my heart through it all.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I signed up to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with one of my best friends in September. I am so excited to go, I still cannot believe it is actually happening.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I started an LLC for my writing and speaking. I am excited to have some out of state speaking engagements over the next few months, and am hopeful this will lead to more opportunities.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As part of my LLC, I want to re-design this space here with a more professional website. As part of that, I am having a professional photo shoot this Saturday for new headshots. Who am I kidding, I am also absolutely doing it for new photos to use in online dating.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">2021 was full of all kinds of things I didn't expect, some wonderful and some more difficult.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am intrigued to see what 2022 holds for me. The word I picked for the year is STRENGTH, which I think will be teach me something in more ways than one.</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I feel like the world is at my finger tips.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am starting 2022 with some sadness and hurt, but am also brimming with hope and expectant faith.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I look forward to seeing you more around here these parts. :)</center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-36096055904307606822022-01-08T21:51:00.000-05:002022-01-08T21:51:22.616-05:00A New Year. A New Adventure.<center style="text-align: left;">Do people even read blogs anymore?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">(Patty awkwardly dusts this thing off).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It has been a very long time since I have shown up around these parts other than an occasional post of sharing some writing.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have missed blogging, more than I thought. Even if a ton of people don't come here, I do really love having a creative space to write. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">A lot has happened in the last year - more on that in an upcoming post.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One of the biggest changes most recently is I have started a new job. Actually, a brand new career in a direction I never imagined for myself.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">After working in lay ministry for the Catholic Church for over a decade, I have made a transition into Catholic healthcare.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPobYdtRLoaM12T3mgH3Zy-ptk3LSPDP0D2pH7MvUX43HIqcgaZiM8as-NjNi9dni-ZSSmG9CJXDf2-Pn0WTs3wJe8gm48ChwcsBPhbcaPIyWHiF913mDl3gPv7noeOmG8FBSX2HgsSDyanvB3zWBVVoUzLfeqo1ef4aF65yZd-mkGZtfjITSAdm2hzA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="482" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPobYdtRLoaM12T3mgH3Zy-ptk3LSPDP0D2pH7MvUX43HIqcgaZiM8as-NjNi9dni-ZSSmG9CJXDf2-Pn0WTs3wJe8gm48ChwcsBPhbcaPIyWHiF913mDl3gPv7noeOmG8FBSX2HgsSDyanvB3zWBVVoUzLfeqo1ef4aF65yZd-mkGZtfjITSAdm2hzA=w374-h496" width="374" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For the last two or three years, I have been restless in parish ministry and desiring a change. Since March, I have been actively looking, working on my resume, and going through interviews. The week before Thanksgiving I was offered a position at Ascension Health as a Ministry Formation Manager in the Michigan market.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">To say I was excited is an understatement. When the woman in HR called to tell me I was chosen, I told her that someone needs to show me how to do a cartwheel - because I was that happy about it!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My role is connected to Mission Integration in growing and strengthening Catholic identity through offering meaningful and relevant spiritual formation to all associates within Ascension. I will also help develop and lead different formational retreats and work with volunteer mission teams at different hospitals within Ascension.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In more ways than one, this is the career move and job I have been waiting for. Everyone I have met has been so welcoming and I love the team I am on. I started on January 3 and my first week went really well. While it feels like I am drinking from a firehose, I know this is exactly where I supposed to be. It truly feels like God placed me in this new career, and I am so grateful for it.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Due to the pandemic, I am working remotely from home which is a transition but I know I will get my extrovert needs met in other ways. I have a cozy little work space set up in my bedroom.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am looking forward to being "here" more this year. I am planning to finally transition to a permanent domain name and have my sister help me re-work my blog into a professional website.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There are lots of other things I want to share and write about here, but I will leave some of that for later.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What exciting things are starting off your new year so far?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I hope your 2022 is off to a bright and beautiful beginning!</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-42706554031750201202021-06-17T12:55:00.005-04:002021-06-17T12:55:47.346-04:00Learning Boundaries: The Building Block of Healthy Relationships<center style="text-align: left;">The first time I ever heard the term boundaries was about five years ago when I was going back to therapy. What initially brought me back was a toxic marriage with addiction, and I proudly walked in to see what could be done to "fix" my husband's issues.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">(I know mature, right?)</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">However, I quickly began to see that I had my own rug of undealt-with-issues I was dragging behind me. One idea I came to realize and understand more, was that of boundaries.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><h3></h3><h3></h3><h2><center style="text-align: left;"><b>What are boundaries?</b></center></h2><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Boundaries are essential for every healthy relationship. Think of boundaries as property lines that define where you begin and end, where another person begins and ends. Boundaries help keep ourselves emotionally safe and within the limits of our own integrity. They help us take responsibility for ourselves without trying to control, fix, or take responsibility for other people.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Having non-negotiable boundaries become a part of your life will truly transform your world. While it might take time to understand and apply them to your unique situations, these practices will benefit all different types of relationships in your life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><h3></h3><h2><center style="text-align: left;"><b>What might boundaries look like in different relationships?</b></center></h2><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Here are some ways boundaries might look different in your romantic relationships, work relationships, and in your own life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In romantic relationships, healthy boundaries produce:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Clear, open, and respectful communication</li><li>Honesty and accountability</li><li>Respect of personal needs without controlling behaviors</li><li>Ability to express one's needs and wants within the relationship</li></ul><div>In healthy work environments, boundaries can look like:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Ensuring that communication is open, appropriate, and clear - without the fear of "being fired" for speaking honestly to a superior or co-worker</li><li>Keeping the workplace free of gossip, petty meanness, and invasion of personal privacy</li><li>Leaving work at work so people can rest and recharge when away from work</li></ul><div>It can be easy to see where some areas may need boundary work and focus, but where do we begin?</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some helpful things to keep in mind as you establish new routines with non-negotiable boundaries. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://verilymag.com/2021/06/learning-boundaries-healthy-relationships-romantic-and-work-2021" target="_blank">Read the rest at Verily for building new boundary routines and how to handle when a boundary is violated.</a></div></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-71959608405384575082021-05-21T08:00:00.002-04:002021-05-21T08:00:00.247-04:005 Great Podcasts for Book Lovers<center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For as long as I can remember I have loved to read. Some of my happiest memories as a little girl were when my mom and I would read together every night before bed. Everything from Laura Ingalls to Nancy Drew, a love for books and reading has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I consider good books a close friend, rich with memories and meaning.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For bibliophiles like myself, reading is more of a lifestyle than an activity. It seems I am always in one of three stages: reading a book, deciding what book to read next. or calling the library with a list of books I am hoping to find on the shelves. Do you find yourself somewhere in that description.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-eo3BQqRob0af9n3wxw-Az-4PMekDd64x6YDW5DTjjcZ86Ch6Bc2wikCBbTvS7TiV8HgmJkvJ7Bq7nLpl-6kDgeti4RVSjNnfYoWuenCcmmuDxYheGFusb5hG8r2mz-WTjqRTJR5JaZM/s2048/pexels-c%25C3%25A9line-7325999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1151" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-eo3BQqRob0af9n3wxw-Az-4PMekDd64x6YDW5DTjjcZ86Ch6Bc2wikCBbTvS7TiV8HgmJkvJ7Bq7nLpl-6kDgeti4RVSjNnfYoWuenCcmmuDxYheGFusb5hG8r2mz-WTjqRTJR5JaZM/w277-h492/pexels-c%25C3%25A9line-7325999.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;">If you are looking for new ways to freshen up your to-read book pile, one of these podcasts may be what you need to grow deeper as a reader.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Get some new ideas by heading over to <a href="https://verilymag.com/2021/05/5-great-podcasts-for-the-book-lovers" target="_blank">Verily</a> to read the rest . . . </center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-77815433397958805472021-05-19T11:29:00.001-04:002021-05-19T11:29:25.006-04:00Common Horizon: A New Print Publication on Catholic Social Teaching<center style="text-align: left;">Are magazine subscriptions still a thing?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Well if you are looking for something new to challenge yourself and grow, I want to share with you a new print publication called <a href="https://www.fromheremedia.org/store/p/commonhorizon" target="_blank">Common Horizon</a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjHLv_yzz-kXm98gxPn9m5nq_CNi7s07Edm43imfQmqwTh_vOEPqyKAo-FdllGiH3g4WOUNKxeCSCjTwBsvF0TiR3ViJgR_IwYSmEx11iGt2pVGpt2a7Q-aYg-lXCULma8SEEkFb_kqcV/s1080/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjHLv_yzz-kXm98gxPn9m5nq_CNi7s07Edm43imfQmqwTh_vOEPqyKAo-FdllGiH3g4WOUNKxeCSCjTwBsvF0TiR3ViJgR_IwYSmEx11iGt2pVGpt2a7Q-aYg-lXCULma8SEEkFb_kqcV/w418-h418/1.png" width="418" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IgqF79sH24JkHKBQHOz8XHOQXXbQjKIgrERHs_1-oXAiw_TCQ93NizmRR_Pt49ZTEcSsGVb8zQJIaWShvmm5d51Hf0AszwEjKDRky2BtffA0kJbhSecJpWhwU7KzR8Nb-Nd7ZIrTUfbr/s1080/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IgqF79sH24JkHKBQHOz8XHOQXXbQjKIgrERHs_1-oXAiw_TCQ93NizmRR_Pt49ZTEcSsGVb8zQJIaWShvmm5d51Hf0AszwEjKDRky2BtffA0kJbhSecJpWhwU7KzR8Nb-Nd7ZIrTUfbr/w418-h418/2.png" width="418" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;">I am honored, and truthfully, still pinching myself I get to help contribute something among so many women I admire and am learning from.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Common Horizon is focused on exploring the 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. Contributors explore the seven themes through various creative means from art, poetry, prayers, interviews, and honest reflections. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The first issue (which is now on sale - <a href="https://www.fromheremedia.org/store/p/commonhorizon" target="_blank">limited restock on Friday, May 21 at 9am CST!!!</a>)</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I sincerely hope you will consider supporting <a href="https://www.fromheremedia.org/about" target="_blank">From Here Media</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alissarmolina/" target="_blank">Alissa</a> is a fierce woman of God; one whom I am constantly learning from. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.fromheremedia.org/store/p/commonhorizon" target="_blank">Order your copy</a> of the first seven issues today! </center><center style="text-align: left;">Well on Friday morning, when the <a href="https://www.fromheremedia.org/store/p/commonhorizon" target="_blank">limited re-stock drops in the shop</a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Thank you for your support of this amazing project! :)</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-22971865982064610142021-04-30T14:40:00.000-04:002021-04-30T14:40:37.229-04:00The Time Jesus Came to CrossFit<center><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">While I played CYO basketball and volleyball growing up, I have never really considered myself an athlete. It wasn't until my first marathon that I thought to myself, "My gosh, my body is capable of doing hard, amazing things."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">For some time, I have wanted to try out <a href="https://www.crossfit.com/what-is-crossfit/" target="_blank">CrossFit</a>. I have thought about it on and off for the last year or so. The easiest way to describe it is high intensity workouts with basic movements using your own body strength. In any given workout, there are different levels of fitness of folks in the class.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the things about Joe, is that he notices and sees things about me that other people or men I have dated have not seen about me before. He challenges me and reminds me of things like, "You are much more capable than you give yourself credit." or "You are much stronger than you realize."<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">About a month and a half ago, Joe offered to pay for me to try out CrossFit for a month to see if I like it and try it out. I Started and March and finished my trial right before Easter. I was going to 3 classes a week.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">While it initially felt a little bit intimidating, I was surprised how quickly I began to love it. I began to notice my arms and legs feeling stronger. I started to set some new goals, believing I could do things I used to think I couldn't, like do a full body pull up or climb up a rope.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I began to realize in a new way, how good and capable my physical body is; the real difference it is to feel more physically strong. I am not working to become an Olympic weight lifter. However, I do want to become stronger and feel more at home and peaceful in my physical body.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There was one particular morning about five weeks ago and I had just finished doing leg up's on a high bar. I looked down at the callouses starting to form on my hands. I had this insight into how amazingly awesome it is what my physical body is able to do. In some way, it felt like Jesus was standing off to the side watching his Pattykins learn and absorb something new about herself.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I started thinking long and how hard about the sacramentality of our bodies, how good it is that God gave us our physical bodies to experience, taste, touch, feel, and see the world and people around us. It struck me that it matters to God that we take care of our physical bodies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have not always taken care of my physical body, caring for it with good food or exercise. It is interesting to me as I continue to attend CrossFit, the deeper reasons I am sticking with it. I am not sticking with it to lose 20 pounds or be able to wear a bikini. I am sticking with this intense, sometimes culty workout plan because I want to get stronger and feel even more at peace/at home in my body.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Just as I take care of my emotional and spiritual health, taking care of the physical body that God gave me matters. One is not more important than the other, and I think sometimes I used to believe that it was better to always prioritize my spiritual health first.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">That 5am class I looked down and saw those worn hands from barbells and high bars were such a spiritual insight for me. It matters to take care of my body for the mere reason that God gave it to me because it is good, very good.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am continuing to go to 3 classes a week. Sometimes I bring my Patty flair and wear my real pearl earrings (Joe likes to point that out) because they make me feel happy and confident. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am working on goals of adding more heavy weights, climbing a rope, and doing a full body pullup. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Jesus will come and find you anywhere, even at a 5am CrossFit class.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">PS I preached a fiery word on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17901166006768708/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> about these things rolling around in my mind if you want an audio version of this post. :)</p><p> </p></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-16814807590253639252021-04-15T11:21:00.001-04:002021-04-15T11:21:19.907-04:00Finding Your Way Back to Normal Habits in 2021<center style="text-align: left;">In 2020, I went from a vibrant social life life with family and friends and working outside my home, to working at home for months while having very limited physical contact with the people I loved most in the world. I had to learn new healthy coping tools while relying on my tired-and-true ones to help me navigate through difficult things. Some things had to look different for a time in my life, and I am sure that happened in your life as well.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As life begins to feel more normal than it has this past year, it might be a good time to look at some habits that have been neglected in the pandemic. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What needs some adjusting or tweaking? What simple practices do we need to "begin again" in living our daily lives as life settles down a bit more?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Here are some of the practices we can re-discover in new ways: eating at the table, cleaning your room or making the bed, prioritizing your to-do list, and being friendly out and about in the world.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Read the rest over at <a href="https://verilymag.com/2021/04/readjusting-post-covid-2020-2021-back-to-normal" target="_blank">Verily</a> . . .</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What habits are you re-discovering as life begins to settle and feel a bit more normal these days?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-11941393792015494342021-03-25T12:47:00.003-04:002021-03-25T12:47:32.142-04:00A Simple Self-Care Question for Hard Times<center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I didn't always know how to take good care of myself. For a number of years, I prided myself on being the woman who "gets stuff done," and somehow absorbed the lie that productivity mattered over a healthy relationship to my mind and body. I did not know how to listen to my spirit to find out what I needed to take care of myself in a given moment. I was too busy, well, too busy.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvyV_ZAGgRVsOTFKQJF49_3rM-rDM4IDeH45sXuIrmLWW8ynNaNmekiDr-kPIIkMpeKuT8wYsOk6TEyng6CZw5-w4wIXeE9A1k7WFt27JwVV31PzkTmZCSq_jHY0AxUmy3A2n9wS-uQWu/s2048/freenaturestock-1065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvyV_ZAGgRVsOTFKQJF49_3rM-rDM4IDeH45sXuIrmLWW8ynNaNmekiDr-kPIIkMpeKuT8wYsOk6TEyng6CZw5-w4wIXeE9A1k7WFt27JwVV31PzkTmZCSq_jHY0AxUmy3A2n9wS-uQWu/w449-h297/freenaturestock-1065.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As I have grown as a person, I've learned to ask myself a simple question when I am stressed at work or by life scenarios. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, or life feels heavy, hard, lonely, or confusing, I ask, "What do I need right now?" It feels both empowering and freeing, and in many ways helps me trust myself and my intuition.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Looking at your own life, how can this question help you take better care of yourself, especially during a hard time?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Read the rest over at <a href="https://verilymag.com/2021/03/self-care-hard-times-what-do-i-need-right-now" target="_blank">Verily</a> to help apply this question to your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What types of questions help you take care of yourself better?</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-45819667024612322382021-03-19T12:14:00.004-04:002021-03-19T12:14:46.188-04:00Why We Need Merton (More than Ever)<center style="text-align: left;">One of the things I most loved about graduate school at our local seminary were all the new spiritual writers and thinkers I encountered.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I had several professors that opened my eyes to new ideas and gave me me deeper understanding and reflection of my beliefs.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It was in my history of Christian spirituality class I first heard of a man named Thomas Merton. I had never heard of this Oxford studied writer turned Trappist monk. We spent one class on getting to know Merton. My professor gave us his basic biography and we read some passages of his work. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It was several years later that I eagerly dove into the writings of Thomas Merton and quickly went on a journey of spiritual friendship, learning much from this gifted soul.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIm6ZTKxgzqtPShatnblqFQXJFPSqVEO0BR07ASgGrHYxypcQDpUQEkGOoKD50FgOYSDFKALX2NdTzJOSRYXSnP_RmoqtMxuivFt47QhExUla-nEr2TpRIPo4VYWJp9ndXFRG-wWqwAwzM/s820/thomas-merton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="820" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIm6ZTKxgzqtPShatnblqFQXJFPSqVEO0BR07ASgGrHYxypcQDpUQEkGOoKD50FgOYSDFKALX2NdTzJOSRYXSnP_RmoqtMxuivFt47QhExUla-nEr2TpRIPo4VYWJp9ndXFRG-wWqwAwzM/w447-h318/thomas-merton.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;">I do not know what propelled me to take a second look at Merton. I do remember flying home from somewhere and reading <a href="https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/2590/thomas-merton" target="_blank">this book</a> which is what drew me in. What I liked about this book is that it was a sampling of his writing from many different published works. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">From there I devoured everything I could that Merton had written. To this day, my favorite books of his are <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1145854.New_Seeds_of_Contemplation" target="_blank">New Seeds of Contemplation</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99690.No_Man_Is_an_Island" target="_blank">No Man Is an Island</a>. I think those are one of two great places to start.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Since that plane ride several years ago, Thomas Merton has become one of the most influential spiritual writers and teachers to me in my own personal faith journey.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Now, you might be reading and thinking, "That's great Patty! Good for you girlfriend."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I promise to get off my Merton soapbox, but the reason I share this with you is because now more than ever our culture and the world need the words, teaching, and perspective of Thomas Merton.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Why?</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have noticed a growing trend among my friends, acquaintances, and people I follow on social media, many Christians and Catholics are going through a personal deconstruction of their long-held religious tradition of Christianity or Catholicism. A more recent well-known example is that of Audrey Assad. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For many varied and often good reasons, people choose to let go of the spiritual and religious beliefs they grew up with. I share some of the similar frustrations of things I see in the Church these days. I can understand and hold space in my heart for the pain, hurt, and frustration people feel towards the Church. I find myself fascinated with learning about and understanding a person's perspective on what would lead them to leave and choose a new spiritual path for themselves.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As the world becomes more secular and the population of <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/08/why-americas-nones-dont-identify-with-a-religion/" target="_blank">"nones"</a> rapidly grows, we see that people in the culture are spiritually seeking in many ways. From what I can see and understand, they desire truth, peace, life-giving spiritual practices, a community to call home and find support. They seek the good and beautiful and work for justice.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I think spiritual teachers like Thomas Merton can speak to the heart of a seeker in an authentic way that allows a person to wrestle with God while come to draw closer. Even if a person never converts or returns to the faith they have always known, the example of Thomas Merton is one of pastoral care, compassion, listening, and vulnerability.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Regardless of whether a person belongs to a spiritual or religious tradition, we all are on a spiritual journey. It is the journey of a lifetime to come to know more fully who we are and experience the Divine living and breathing in us.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Merton speaks to the tired, weary, and burnt out heart. His own religious wandering and restlessness brought him to the doors of a Trappist monastery; which for him, became a home for his own searching heart.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhoDILvQ5X0kXD6F1FfI6pIIZnsesmn0fL-n7GcOfSX7Me3wYD01ZHcdX21WetI6cvHEq_v6CpBjm1xx6oHMdPMgfvbiTPuiHL6jE5Xd0qc7VlOQ6_qwupXXB2F1KfIiwkp8oY7KD5MaL/s807/Screen-Shot-2019-01-25-at-7.59.25-AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="807" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhoDILvQ5X0kXD6F1FfI6pIIZnsesmn0fL-n7GcOfSX7Me3wYD01ZHcdX21WetI6cvHEq_v6CpBjm1xx6oHMdPMgfvbiTPuiHL6jE5Xd0qc7VlOQ6_qwupXXB2F1KfIiwkp8oY7KD5MaL/w554-h270/Screen-Shot-2019-01-25-at-7.59.25-AM.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In 2021, Merton is the spiritual teacher we need to rediscover and learn from.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Merton teaches us ...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">How to listen well and accompany people where life finds them.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">To ask deep questions about ourselves, God, spirituality, and religion.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">To dialogue and learn from people of other faiths.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">How to wrestle with God while letting ourselves be found by God.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">God is much bigger and deeper than what we construct or imagine.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">God can be known and personally experienced.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There is room for questions.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">How to be a life-long spiritual learner.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As a Catholic, if the Church hopes to be relevant and speak to the depths of people's longing, we need to return to voices that can help meet hearts right where they are.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">For me, Thomas Merton is and remains one of those voices.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">+</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Thomas Merton, pray for the nones. Pray for the hearts of all spiritual seekers looking for God.</center><center style="text-align: left;">May we be the people to meet them love them right where life finds them.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">+</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-39176016486532147792021-03-14T13:47:00.004-04:002021-03-14T13:47:51.978-04:005 Good Podcasts, Reads, & Follows<center style="text-align: left;">It is crazy to think where we all were a year ago and what has changed so much about the life we knew since then.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have been spending some time reflecting in my journal with <a href="https://www.10thingstotellyou.com/podcast/106" target="_blank">some questions</a> from one of my favorite podcasts. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have been reading, listening and following some new voices, so I thought it might be fun to share what I have been enjoying the last few months.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Podcasts:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4FZdsspCzWIe-fLVXiRqzQ18HZFoEa6Shp_5RQcJXoxJV1cWseUXoWkkDboBQ4dvpTFfaHZwENhILpUphpJee0lNgbjADsQKxBnqsDA3Wiy4CLuh2yWbgEMjYv4uRECUKSDszMP4i5Me/s2048/dwaf-logo-scaled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4FZdsspCzWIe-fLVXiRqzQ18HZFoEa6Shp_5RQcJXoxJV1cWseUXoWkkDboBQ4dvpTFfaHZwENhILpUphpJee0lNgbjADsQKxBnqsDA3Wiy4CLuh2yWbgEMjYv4uRECUKSDszMP4i5Me/s320/dwaf-logo-scaled.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-drink-with-a-friend/id1493228410" target="_blank">A Drink With a Friend</a> - This is a new show I discovered when <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tshoxenreider/" target="_blank">Tsh's</a> old podcast turned into this one with her friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sethhaines/" target="_blank">Seth Haines.</a> Thought-provoking conversations that leave me thinking on the topic. My favorite episode so far is this one all about exercise, CrossFit, and the sacramentality of our bodies.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7vF5gIa1XVC64y2OdqYAlWX4_tI3z57y7kQCVmZi6rP_JfPaSAw9i5BX-ym3ZfQslJewa6kYqw3soTtS0me_7rWSqmSr_zuWHcCOAKM0cSUZXUaS_NiQuVDdUk0SCkCF4l9f27TqZ0bR/s550/1249486443%25402x.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7vF5gIa1XVC64y2OdqYAlWX4_tI3z57y7kQCVmZi6rP_JfPaSAw9i5BX-ym3ZfQslJewa6kYqw3soTtS0me_7rWSqmSr_zuWHcCOAKM0cSUZXUaS_NiQuVDdUk0SCkCF4l9f27TqZ0bR/s320/1249486443%25402x.png" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-hope-with-carlos-whittaker/id1249486443" target="_blank">Human Hope</a> - I have been following <a href="https://www.instagram.com/loswhit/" target="_blank">Carlos Whittaker</a> for awhile on Instagram. I have learned a lot from this man. He talks about many topics on his page; the uncomfortable ones that maybe we don't want to look at sometimes. Everything from what empathy is (and is not), how to apologize well, and racism. Oh and his love for birds too.</center><center style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed his <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-001-how-to-be-governerd-sharon-mcmahon-sharonsaysso/id1249486443?i=1000511561850" target="_blank">first episode</a> with Sharon McMahon from @sharonsaysso, a Minnesota mom who has taught government for years and offers a really clear, yet nuanced way to talk about government, policy, and politics.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4SbasZc6Qeh0cAAvNIWKT3urdzQx-CjnX8MxXEgUj9yhR9libKQELhIiDIUXXwaXxLmNvsPj9N85PI1aYeh2I37KHve5oHSVarftkTGHFPnl7s67nN0QAPr2GsujffIDxdGQ7v7wcvPa/s225/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4SbasZc6Qeh0cAAvNIWKT3urdzQx-CjnX8MxXEgUj9yhR9libKQELhIiDIUXXwaXxLmNvsPj9N85PI1aYeh2I37KHve5oHSVarftkTGHFPnl7s67nN0QAPr2GsujffIDxdGQ7v7wcvPa/s0/download.jpeg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://katebowler.com/podcasts/" target="_blank">Everything Happens</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/" target="_blank">Kate Bowler</a> is a bit of brightness and truth-telling both in my Instagram feed and in my earbuds each week. A teacher at Duke Divinity, she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at the age of 35. Her podcast is all about telling stories of survival and thriving through the hard, unexpected things of life. If you need some encouragement, hit subscribe to this one.</center><center style="text-align: left;">She also does <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUSskcs7Bs/" target="_blank">daily reflections on Instagram</a> for Advent and Lent, and I love them to pieces. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Her <a href="https://katebowler.com/podcasts/" target="_blank">most recent episode</a> with Matthew McConaughey is sweet and delightful...how do you not love that guy and his adorable Texas accent?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyQv5rYzFneuvv3L9GlPRcKkWIRDfrHpQJx9_QzgPskO5w0WcdIVSM5QvHs-OrXug3k-d9qWcs20sW0FWz7D-zCNM-dZ4gGQSa77JFDRBW32uN34Z7k62mSIrmyUJ502tm0ZbGp7a2wNS/s1400/more-than-politics-Ab95Rceuq-j-TvBDPEu0of6.1400x1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyQv5rYzFneuvv3L9GlPRcKkWIRDfrHpQJx9_QzgPskO5w0WcdIVSM5QvHs-OrXug3k-d9qWcs20sW0FWz7D-zCNM-dZ4gGQSa77JFDRBW32uN34Z7k62mSIrmyUJ502tm0ZbGp7a2wNS/s320/more-than-politics-Ab95Rceuq-j-TvBDPEu0of6.1400x1400.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://morethanpolitics.buzzsprout.com/" target="_blank">More than Politics</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/julievwalsh/" target="_blank">Julie</a> is one of those people I follow online and hope someday I get the chance to hug her in person. A former lobbyist she now stays home with her five kiddos in a beautiful old house. Over the last few years, I have become much more interested in politics. While I personally identify in the middle/an independent, I love a good political discussion.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What I love about Julie's podcast is how nuanced it is, something sadly, that seems to be less and less these days. I am always learning something new, especially like in t<a href="https://morethanpolitics.buzzsprout.com/1210460/7383013-mtp-19-reconstruction-and-voting-discussing-the-era-and-its-continued-impact-with-dede-miller" target="_blank">his episode on the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.</a> </center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://morethanpolitics.buzzsprout.com/1210460/7178818-mtp-18-unreal-insurrection-at-the-capitol-and-an-unconceded-election" target="_blank">Also the episode on the insurrection at the Capitol</a>. That captured a lot of what I thought about.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiNfSSVksAroCRPDnWdPROfG-qbePDLiWNpNZVmCWkuQrbxBbNxGouV9cVg7QqR7m7Ycl6V9JAnl3GUJW8smYnM1Cf0VUA6jeMXItOgB_pce4OgnKJQNk_gsIUZboc8auimG8sc0rMrKs/s1400/where-do-we-go-from-here-devi-abraham-UBozG8m7DLC-_hIvYaCiDVN.1400x1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiNfSSVksAroCRPDnWdPROfG-qbePDLiWNpNZVmCWkuQrbxBbNxGouV9cVg7QqR7m7Ycl6V9JAnl3GUJW8smYnM1Cf0VUA6jeMXItOgB_pce4OgnKJQNk_gsIUZboc8auimG8sc0rMrKs/s320/where-do-we-go-from-here-devi-abraham-UBozG8m7DLC-_hIvYaCiDVN.1400x1400.jpg" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-do-we-go-from-here/id1488872725" target="_blank">Where Do We Go From Here</a> - I do not even remember how I first found this podcast. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wheredowegopod/" target="_blank">The tagline on their Instagram page</a> reads, "untangling sexual ethics for a new generation of Christians." These ladies talk about it all: purity culture, dating, singleness, marriage, porn, lust, and much more. They give me a lot to think about and reflect from my own experience and growing up.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/46-theres-more-to-sex-than-purity-virginity/id1488872725?i=1000501124867" target="_blank">This </a>and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/53-what-makes-sex-good-with-dr-celeste-holbrook/id1488872725?i=1000505890001" target="_blank">that</a> episode I found particularly interesting.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">If you are looking for a both theological and psychological discussion on this and related topics, I would recommend this one. While not the religious perspective I grew up with, I have found it insightful and helpful.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Reads:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecqBEtCswFnY3LL5b3XUHk7tNKqq6xRI1SR7q511PpCiryyBa17DwqXkmbggSz3mF4c2Ik_rRvr5Ia30mDyKoPp3gx8jddNlfw0e30CHaYYBOg710ctm30RJr5YjKNELIykqFAACoWYgR/s2048/91RxEtX7BeL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecqBEtCswFnY3LL5b3XUHk7tNKqq6xRI1SR7q511PpCiryyBa17DwqXkmbggSz3mF4c2Ik_rRvr5Ia30mDyKoPp3gx8jddNlfw0e30CHaYYBOg710ctm30RJr5YjKNELIykqFAACoWYgR/s320/91RxEtX7BeL.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Simple Green Smoothies - Joe and I are doing a green smoothie challenge during Lent. It has been a helpful way to get more raw fruits and veggies into my body. I am starting to love adding a green smoothie into my daily morning routine.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiLcUCB1IBkzKZjZFNTwHF-MmCIzRQb0qqXj5J1kA9hRCQBATg6cqPhgcQrvHxGq8HZc3DYeK_exX89ZLJH-LJbJ3Jil3fP-F68WW20rhi3DFlxu28Wa9bIUGlZBI1VlgwoVLGkZjGo47/s210/51xhXU-TcTL._SL210_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiLcUCB1IBkzKZjZFNTwHF-MmCIzRQb0qqXj5J1kA9hRCQBATg6cqPhgcQrvHxGq8HZc3DYeK_exX89ZLJH-LJbJ3Jil3fP-F68WW20rhi3DFlxu28Wa9bIUGlZBI1VlgwoVLGkZjGo47/s0/51xhXU-TcTL._SL210_.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching: The Church's Best Kept Secret - Recently one of my RCIA topics to teach was on Catholic Social Teaching. Several years ago, I would have assumed that CST was something "liberal" or "progressive" Catholics clutched onto. However, that is a rather unfair critique. It is most deeply connected to the teaching of Jesus on the greatest commandment; love of God and love of neighbor.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNm_o4jpsUIC6D928liclqOV-sGsQ5T6pAa5GGvAu4dINhZRl5zRz9ZZovou7hl_44rFX474VAErHWjuSv0xp4f2ibsuyiDk40fZYPBEmjT1gsFnTs18ptVjDnqPHg35zpXQXSzL_d18I/s475/39893613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNm_o4jpsUIC6D928liclqOV-sGsQ5T6pAa5GGvAu4dINhZRl5zRz9ZZovou7hl_44rFX474VAErHWjuSv0xp4f2ibsuyiDk40fZYPBEmjT1gsFnTs18ptVjDnqPHg35zpXQXSzL_d18I/s320/39893613.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding - I love a good historical fiction novel, and this proved to be as good as I hoped it would be. The story is a fictional, yet personal account of the women who worked on designing and making the wedding dress for Queen Elizabeth II. The book goes back and forth between the past and present, which is something I love.</center><center style="text-align: left;">An easy read, but very interesting and enjoyable. If you need a light but thoughtful fiction read right now, I would recommend picking this one up.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Follows:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/blackcatholicmessenger/" target="_blank">Black Catholic Messenger</a> - This account is a newer one for me. The editor and creator is a young black, Catholic man studying the Josephite order whose goal is to help amplify black voice and experiences in the Church. I am grateful for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/natemup/" target="_blank">Nate's</a> work and am grateful for what it is teaching me and what I am learning.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/maddsienicole/" target="_blank">Madison Chastian @maddsienicole</a> - Madison is actually a woman I have been following on the ol' Gram for awhile. Every time I have been to Chicago in the last few years, we bemoan after the fact how great it would be to meet up IRL sometime sooner rather later. Maddie writes at several Catholic sites online and is very passionate about <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHoIAqojyf9/" target="_blank">writing about and for non-Catholics, women, disabilities, and more</a>. </center><center style="text-align: left;">She is a thoughtful writer and is not afraid of a difficult conversation when it comes to being a Catholic woman in 2021.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alissarmolina/" target="_blank">Alissa Molina @alissarmolina</a> - Alissa is another fire cracker I have been following for a long time. This is a woman constantly seeking to bring the fire of the Spirit into everything she does. If you are not following her, change that stat.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Alissa is one of the cohosts on the Upside Down Podcast and the creator of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/from_here_sessions/" target="_blank">From Here Sessions</a> and the newly launched <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL7JfWUD1rF/" target="_blank">From Here Media.</a> I have been honored to be a part of several creative projects with Alissa and am constantly learning something new from this spicy, Texan sister in Christ.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/okcatholics/" target="_blank">Terrible, Sinful Catholics @okcatholics</a> - I started following this account shortly after the election this past November. This account is not afraid to have hard conversations about any and all things related to being a Catholic today. There are equal parts nuance with feeling uncomfortable. Recent conversations on things like purity culture and that Joe Biden still is Catholic have given me a lot of things to think about.</center><center style="text-align: left;">It might not be your cup of tea, but I am really enjoying the content that comes out of this account.</center><center style="text-align: left;">Check them out and see what you think.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Who are you reading, listening to, or following these days? </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-4503112482913907432021-03-02T15:05:00.002-05:002021-03-04T14:36:50.763-05:00The Advent Jesus & I Stopped Talking ( + what's new)<center style="text-align: left;">Why yes I am talking about Advent right smack in the middle of Lent.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Life has changed a lot over the last two months, most especially with my dad's rapid decline, entering hospice, and passing just over a month. Life has been finding <a href="http://amoderngrace.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-weird-but-peaceful-new-normal.html" target="_blank">a new, yet weird normal.</a></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So anyway, let's back up a bit shall we?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The start to Advent was a bumpy one to say the least. A weeks prior I had broken up with a boyfriend. A good man, but in the end I realized it wasn't going anywhere. On top of that, I was wrapping my mind around the reality this Christmas holiday would be the last with our dad.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While Advent is usually my favorite liturgical season, this year I just felt sad, angry, and frustrated. Life felt like it was not in a place I wanted. I did not want to be single again and my dad was dying. I started grieving deeply for him even while he was still alive and with us.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">To say I had a heart full of Advent hope and promise felt like a giant pile of poop, to say it mildly. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Somewhere within the first week of Advent, I had a very direct and frank conversation with Jesus over my morning coffee. I was pretty honked off. Let's be honest, I was plain pissed off.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In so many (choice!) words, I told Jesus very honestly how I felt. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I yelled and cried really hard. I told Jesus how sad and helpless I felt watching my dad die; how unfair it felt to know he would not be there with me physically to see me get married or baptize my babies.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I told Jesus I felt so sick and tired of watching life happen to others sometimes, how I hate finding myself in these difficult decisions where I discern it is best to end a relationship with a man. Almost yelling, I hollered at Jesus, "I just want to meet my person, my life partner. I want it to be three times the charm! I want this next time to be the time I meet my person."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I told Jesus how I felt, and honestly for the rest of Advent, we didn't talk much...like at all.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I kept praying daily on some level and was making my way through helpful spiritual reading my spiritual director had suggested for me. Yet, Jesus and I just stopped talking over Advent.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And yet, Advent felt very peaceful, almost freeing. I sat in a lot of silence. I did not really "do" much of anything extra. Somehow Advent felt sacred even if Jesus and I were in the middle of a Taylor Swift break-up song.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I spent Advent taking care myself, helping care for dad, and dipping my toes back into online dating.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The second week of Advent I got a message back from a handsome ginger on CatholicMatch. Hmmm, he was one of the cuties I dropped a note. Within the week we were texting and had a successful first FaceTime date. Another 5 hour FaceTime date and lots of texts later, he drove down from the west side of Michigan for our first date on 12/23.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And yes, we did Christmas presents for someone we had never met.</center><center style="text-align: left;">The rest they say, is history. :) </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While it has only been three months, I can quite confidently say this is something quite different and special. I have both never laughed so hard or been treated with such love and attentiveness before. I think I found my lobster.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">My sister has long said she always saw me ending up with someone more like myself in temperament and such. After the first time my mom meet Joe (which he met both my parents once before my dad died, which was so special), she shared she always wanted a ginger in our family someday. While its not anything official yet, I can say we're already seriously talking about those things.</center><center style="text-align: left;">I mean he tells me quite often, "You know I am keeping you, right?"</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So Advent brought on a new beau, and Jesus and I stopped talking.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Opportunities to do more writing online feel as though they have hit a brick wall in some ways. Some connections have fizzled out, though I have been helpful for some new ones on the horizon.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I did a podcast interview for my friend <a href="http://awelcomegrace.com/category/podcast/" target="_blank">Beth's podcast</a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Last night I signed up for the Detroit Marathon. This will be my third time running it, and this time Joe will be running it with me. His first!</center><center style="text-align: left;">I am "toying" with the idea of trying CrossFit.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In March, I will be leading an RCIA retreat for a local parish. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This Friday I will get my second Fauci Ouchie 2.0 (aka dose 2 of the Moderna vaccine).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As things have opened up more here in Michigan, I have been out to dinner with different friends.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have been spending time with my mom, helping her find her new pace and way to life on her own.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So Advent brings us to Lent...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am really not into treating Lent like a personal, spiritual improvement plan, which I have done in the past.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">With so much changing for me in the last few months, this Lent I am asking and allowing the Father to love me in new ways, especially with the loss of my earthly dad.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am sitting with that prayer/intention each morning and that has been just what my spirit needs right now.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What is new with you these days?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">How is Lent treating you this year?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Sending you air high-fives and hugs during this season!</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-70538287125487692852021-02-23T12:42:00.000-05:002021-02-23T12:42:24.074-05:00A Weird, (but Peaceful) New Normal<center style="text-align: left;">A month ago yesterday at 9:25am my dad's earthly life ended.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In the end, I am thankful our whole family was together when dad passed away. We had finished praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy all together and fifteen minutes later, he simply stopped breathing.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy5UGOunEdkMe-aJMOm4cZc3l2pd7DLB4xDYQkJEbKUswwDq-lWJAkQ7-eegaAPACdtJB-98M30VBaS8Pd_fS3FByQz1h3IXkUbl65RRIU3khbX9EQUBuR7CRMKuVw1E8ZMqfTBBsmdyC/s960/1001920_10153066329595459_610709450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="437" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy5UGOunEdkMe-aJMOm4cZc3l2pd7DLB4xDYQkJEbKUswwDq-lWJAkQ7-eegaAPACdtJB-98M30VBaS8Pd_fS3FByQz1h3IXkUbl65RRIU3khbX9EQUBuR7CRMKuVw1E8ZMqfTBBsmdyC/w327-h437/1001920_10153066329595459_610709450_n.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7kN6bKn8Ps_7lFHTiuMtLVm6bHqdKe_b5XcqKo_-PxPcF6snnSGhizPSWtFSlULKJGoLUyNqoZz0Auqe881zLOXtn5Um9EUfDz7vtyi1_NmGOoxdjk1K4LmNlWtboj-4vYeZORaAiD2x/s960/998035_10153066345120459_47072808_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7kN6bKn8Ps_7lFHTiuMtLVm6bHqdKe_b5XcqKo_-PxPcF6snnSGhizPSWtFSlULKJGoLUyNqoZz0Auqe881zLOXtn5Um9EUfDz7vtyi1_NmGOoxdjk1K4LmNlWtboj-4vYeZORaAiD2x/w441-h331/998035_10153066345120459_47072808_n.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNLu-dnT6HjNY_XY-fTuNCzgozDZ9zOgngGw7SsqRjf-bFLQAr4L1RWasImqDHugjSfGFclPH6TIBdONMXGIc74AlpSdwn1MlqOrEk1jmUqxwx-yf7MBgvAD27shL7GIW5NBVhtQOjtP6/s960/944598_10153066325670459_797973732_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNLu-dnT6HjNY_XY-fTuNCzgozDZ9zOgngGw7SsqRjf-bFLQAr4L1RWasImqDHugjSfGFclPH6TIBdONMXGIc74AlpSdwn1MlqOrEk1jmUqxwx-yf7MBgvAD27shL7GIW5NBVhtQOjtP6/w488-h366/944598_10153066325670459_797973732_n.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvYRKGaQD06FfsaheExpuzrjKJaqkGBs-u784zxXoho72i4_qrJ1pkR_ZRjg6c1wH_7WnEojbl8SauCL1WJBqh6JkvhUFiAaFZlmhaPOBXUYbWmqXPZb0K5nTEIV27zywjWVHP-e_Z79K/s960/1004894_10153066313215459_161304269_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvYRKGaQD06FfsaheExpuzrjKJaqkGBs-u784zxXoho72i4_qrJ1pkR_ZRjg6c1wH_7WnEojbl8SauCL1WJBqh6JkvhUFiAaFZlmhaPOBXUYbWmqXPZb0K5nTEIV27zywjWVHP-e_Z79K/w381-h508/1004894_10153066313215459_161304269_n.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><center style="text-align: left;">It is crazy to think it has already been a month, and yet it feels like so much has happened since then.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The immediate days after his passing were a scurry of planning funeral arrangements, picking flowers, and seeing that last minute details were taken care of - just as my dad desired.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">While my dad worked in our archdiocese overseeing all the formation for permanent deacons, he also served as the deacon for many years at the parish we grew up and where my siblings and I went to school.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Going back for his wake and funeral was almost like a homecoming in many ways. The pastor and many, many volunteers came together to not only make those days for our family sacred and special, but they worked diligently to serve the needs our family. We will be forever grateful for all that they did for us.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">They had greeters and people at the door to take temperatures. They created a room full of food and drinks so we could relax and get a break throughout the day. In the end, the people of the parish donated almost $34,000 to help cover medical expenses towards the very end so my mom could afford full-time hospice care and cover funeral expenses.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">So many parishioners I had not seen in many years came to pay their respects to my dad. They told us kids how much they always loved Deacon Breen's homilies and shared their unique stories and memories of him. These are people whose kids I babysat, went to Youth Group with their kids, or trained their grandkids how to be an altar server. </center><center style="text-align: left;">Even now it is difficult to comprehend the loving care and compassion my childhood parish showed to my family. What a gift it has been to see how many people loved, admired, and honored my dad.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUawdwIRwwnz358SzMm2cGHIzXTMqDdYQ940bBzWFq8I0fydSMvwx2n5yEIIlrfu1OjfRvBQlKMyMCH21W6HqYH_kx1r9IpKdfq0FfgDrafG-SbncDz-TS-Bnj66abJEH38cqRzhN4PME/s960/26731204_1499305066849955_3654281607392888374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUawdwIRwwnz358SzMm2cGHIzXTMqDdYQ940bBzWFq8I0fydSMvwx2n5yEIIlrfu1OjfRvBQlKMyMCH21W6HqYH_kx1r9IpKdfq0FfgDrafG-SbncDz-TS-Bnj66abJEH38cqRzhN4PME/w493-h370/26731204_1499305066849955_3654281607392888374_n.jpg" width="493" /></a></div><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNxF7WRTQvA">The rosary service</a> was the most beautiful wake that included song, Scripture, reflections, and different parishioners each leading a different decade of the Rosary. Towards the end of the wake, Fr. Tom invited people to come share words about my dad. I had spent a lot time thinking and praying what I would say, and I am so glad I shared some things with everyone present.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpyBDLts3Xs">The funeral Mass</a> for dad was beautiful and so much much more than any of us expected. Everything was as dad wanted it to be. He had planned his funeral from the music to the readings months ago. It was special knowing this was how he wanted things.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Archbishop Vigernon presided at the funeral Mass, along with two other of our regional bishops. Over 30 deacons came and another 10 priests. Seeing the tenderness with which they touched my dad's casket as they processed out of the church was such a sight to behold.</center><center style="text-align: left;">A very close family friend preached the homily. He both equally made us all laugh while convicting us of the power to have hope even in our sadness.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As walked out with my mom and sister of the church after the funeral, we were surrounded by all the clergy who lined the sidewalk as we walked dad to the funeral car. I whispered to my mom, "This is SO much more than Dad ever would have expected. This is the best send-off we could have possibly given him."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">A week after the funeral we went to the cemetery for the internment of dad's remains. It was a cold, snowy Michigan day. After the prayers of committal, my nephew, brother's girlfriend, and I made snow angels for Papa right by his grave. It seemed like the most fitting way to end these days of celebrating the life and legacy of my dad.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0CPfTFKORPeZVb7XMvWz8Ldw2JDJe4O_6QG-JmUG1UWE-aHfWwksRTit9LeWOrXBQA_TkxAMsatkMlGWaWmVZ8SDZ1S6is0YuTZDXvLMR2azkMOYrKzQcA2VwDWJ3j6ChbDFI6IfdWfu/s960/30124123_10160130629925459_1074122336627589120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0CPfTFKORPeZVb7XMvWz8Ldw2JDJe4O_6QG-JmUG1UWE-aHfWwksRTit9LeWOrXBQA_TkxAMsatkMlGWaWmVZ8SDZ1S6is0YuTZDXvLMR2azkMOYrKzQcA2VwDWJ3j6ChbDFI6IfdWfu/w372-h496/30124123_10160130629925459_1074122336627589120_n.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Since then, life has begun to return to a new, yet weird type of normal.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am back to work. My mom has gone back to her job as a hospice nurse. I think a lot about my dad, yet I do not cry a lot. I have had some sad, hard days. Things in my daily life remind me of him and I get little reminders of his presence.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I have dad's old sacrament books for Baptism and Matrimony. Someday when I experience those sacraments again, I plan to use them on those days so dad will still be with me. I have called his phone a few times and texted him, even though I know I will not get a response back. I have spent time reading his old WYD journals and have several pictures of him around my apartment.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I most feel my dad's presence at Mass (especially right before and after Holy Communion) or when I am in a church. At those times, the veil feels so thin, like he is peeking around a corner looking at me in a playful way as if to say, "Hey! I am still here with you. I am closer than you realize or imagine."</center><center style="text-align: left;">Over the last week or so, that has become a very comforting and reassuring thought to sit with.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_10sOt9kkkgbeWCi_-Qd4dkzMJ0aKadDGm_crccJKGtV8j9XSGxHpT1AZ-CxxzVOo8ue0xuKidXEzQicMzA8mVJBX9XsFDizAb5weccY6ySPfRFbnbztTElwb_WJwMT9j5zioc-6EWAKz/s960/12472506_10157149494590459_4607369685614927112_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_10sOt9kkkgbeWCi_-Qd4dkzMJ0aKadDGm_crccJKGtV8j9XSGxHpT1AZ-CxxzVOo8ue0xuKidXEzQicMzA8mVJBX9XsFDizAb5weccY6ySPfRFbnbztTElwb_WJwMT9j5zioc-6EWAKz/w425-h567/12472506_10157149494590459_4607369685614927112_n+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">A new, yet weird normal is starting to shape in my life and the life of our family. There are some good, exciting things happening in our family (more on that later).</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Part of my morning routine driving to work each day is talking with Jesus and reciting a few prayers that are very dear to me. I have recently added talking to my dad as part of that, and asking him to pray for particular intentions.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The most comforting line to me in the whole rite for funerals is this: Life has changed not ended.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What hope there is in that, to cling to that and remember it in my heart.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Life has changed in a huge way for me and my family. But it has not ended. New life is coming and in certain ways has come.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I am taking one day at a time, paying attention to being kind to myself especially when I have a day with a lot of big, heavy feelings. Even when I feel sad and cry wishing I could hear his voice, I find a lot of comfort in the hope of what I believe and the life/legacy my dad left us.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Keep showing up, Dad. </center><center style="text-align: left;">Keep showing up with reminders that you are with us.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-72734015376967974842021-02-11T11:17:00.002-05:002021-02-11T11:17:05.773-05:00The Ten Commandments of Catholic Dating<center style="text-align: left;">Can I tell you something that may sound a bit weird?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite movies as a little girl was The Ten Commandments. You know, the version with Charlton Heston?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">As much as I loved that movie (which I absolutely did!), I also had a die hard crush on the man. AKA Moses.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I actually remember telling my mom, "Wow, that is one handsome Moses!" Mom's reaction?</center><center style="text-align: left;">She just looked at me and rolled her eyes.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">But I mean seriously, am I right?! I think so.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Okay, I am done raving on my crush with Charlton Heston.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I was reminded of this silly quirk of mine a few months ago when I wrote an article talking about <a href="https://www.catholicmatch.com/institute/2020/12/the-ten-commandments-of-catholic-dating/" target="_blank">the ten commandments of Catholic dating.</a></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Here me out.</center><center style="text-align: left;">I am not trying to make a case that there are official "rules" for Catholic Dating. As I look back on my dating highs and lows as a woman in her mid-thirties, I do think there are a handful of dating commandments (aka principles) to remember for Catholic singles.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">You might have some different thoughts than me in this department. However, for me, these are the ones I keep returning to again and again. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Things like always saying thank you, NEVER ghosting the other person, and not being too attached to the outcome.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">You can read the rest over at <a href="Now am I not trying to make a case that there are official “rules” for Catholic Dating. The only “rule” is that we are not intentionally sinning. Let’s not get caught up in semantics here, but as I reflect on the highs and lows of my own dating experience as a woman in her mid-thirties, I do think there are a handful of dating commandments (aka principles) to remember for Catholic singles. You might have different thoughts than me. However, these are the ones I keep returning to in my own dating experiences." target="_blank">CatholicMatch</a> ...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Do you any of these ring true to your own dating experience?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Is there something missing you would add?</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-50309665773988363362021-01-20T14:16:00.000-05:002021-01-20T14:16:01.841-05:00The Mental Health Question Changing Me Right Now<center style="text-align: left;"><i>What do I need right now?</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="text-align: left;">This question is saving my life and keeping me sane these days.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">At the end of December, my dad began in-home hospice care. Over the last few weeks, it became clear it was becoming too much for my mom to continue caring for my dad while working full-time. This past Saturday, he entered a hospice care center where he will spend his final days.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The last six months have been up and down. It has been difficult watching dad's physical abilities continue to decline. My siblings and I have been juggling caring for dad, being there for mom, and living our own lives.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="text-align: left;">Today I am sitting in dad's hospice room watching him sleep and using a syringe to give him juice and water to keep hydrated. His final days are upon us, and he is very near going to meet Jesus soon.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">In the midst of this sadness, this one little question is helping me navigate the death of my father.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i>What do I need right now?</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What I need is to make sure I am praying each day and connecting with the Divine spark inside my spirit.</center><center style="text-align: left;">What I need is to allow my body rest or sleep in if I am tired. </center><center style="text-align: left;">What I need is to make the time to move my body physically and exercise.</center><center style="text-align: left;">What I need allow myself to feel and name the feelings and emotions that come up for me.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There is a lot of hard in life right now. However, continuing to ask this question each day (sometimes multiple times a day!) helps me take care of myself and focus on what is the next right thing I can do for myself.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">What does the next right thing look like right now?</center><center style="text-align: left;">What do I need right now, in this moment?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="text-align: left;">Over the last few years of going to therapy, I have learned how to really listen to my body and feelings to tell me what is going on inside of me. This question helps me know how best to care for myself in the moment.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This part of life is sad and hard right now. Yet, there are other parts of my life right now that are special and beautiful.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I know what the next few weeks will hold for our family. Life will change and look different, but it will not end.</center><center style="text-align: left;">As I look ahead to dealing with the grief and loss of a parent, I will keep asking myself, "what do I need right now?"</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Hard days are ahead, but I know I can get through them. I can do hard things and have done them before.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i>What do I need right now?</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i>What do you need right now?</i></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-21703656550861297632020-12-31T22:10:00.006-05:002020-12-31T22:10:46.386-05:005 Questions to Help You Live a Focused 2021<center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I started 2020 with the greatest hope and anticipation. I rang in the New Year with a new boyfriend. I had thought ahead and planned out some good, intentional goals. I was developing projects to grow in my writing skills and creativity. Then a global pandemic hit. Everything I had plotted out and was ready to tackle very quickly changed.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Now, as 2020 winds down, my world looks much different than it did a year ago. I am watching my dad slowly die of a rare neurological disease. The writing project I hoped would turn into a book deal was denied. I broke up with a man who turned out to be emotionally unavailable and am putting myself out there in online dating yet again.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">And all those goals I imagined for myself? Well, let's just say the year went very differently from how I imagined it twelve months ago.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Maybe your 2020 was a year of flourishing and personal growth. Perhaps you had breakthroughs on some of your goals, dreams, or creative pursuits. But maybe this year was hard and lonely, as it was for many of us in the human family.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Regardless of what our last twelve months looked or felt like, here are five questions to help you think, reflect, and look ahead to a focused 2021.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">1. What worked well ( and did not work) for me in the last year?</center><center style="text-align: left;">2.What new things did I learn about myself?</center><center style="text-align: left;">3. How have I personally grown?</center><center style="text-align: left;">4. What resources helped me grow?</center><center style="text-align: left;">5. What do I want to do differently in 2021?</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Read more about each of these questions at <a href="https://verilymag.com/2020/12/new-year-2021-focus-question">Verily</a> . . .</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">2020 may not have been the year any of us imagined, but that does not mean it was all a waste. If we take time to reflect and look at all we learned from this year, it can help us live with more focus and intention as we head into 2021.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Sending each of you light, love, and peace as you begin 2021!</center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3488042249492889606.post-48396325224569116832020-12-07T13:26:00.002-05:002020-12-07T13:26:22.033-05:00The Power of a Woman's Story<center style="text-align: right;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">There is something powerful and beautiful about a well-told story. Some of my favorite memories as a little girl were listening to the stories of my grandmothers, aunts, and mom. What experiences formed and shaped them, how they became the women they are today; questions like these always left me wanting to learn more from and about the women I most admire and looked up to in my own life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Enter the documentary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v583zIwMKeE" target="_blank"><i>The Girl Inside</i></a>.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This new mini documentary gives viewers a heart-wrenching and heart-warming glimpse into the lives of a group of women awaiting sentencing at Cook County Jail in Chicago, the largest single-site jail in the United States. Through these women's stories, filmmaker <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mskatebryan/" target="_blank">Kate Bryan</a>, in partnership with production company BEHOLD, expands on a theme of Bryan's <a href="http://1girlrevolution.com/" target="_blank">1 Girl Revolution</a> podcasts: the truth that every can make a difference with her life.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Sadly, the voices of incarcerated women are often overlooked or not considered as valuable or important. With the numbers of incarcerated skyrocketing in the United States - the population of incarcerated women has increased by more than <a href="https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/incarcerated-women-and-girls/" target="_blank">700 percent</a> over the past 40 years - there is a desperate need to educate, empower, and help women heal in the prison system.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The documentary follows incarcerated women as they participate in a life-changing academic course taught by Dr. Laura Biagi, an interdisciplinary voice artist and teacher whose work focuses on teaching others to use their voice for personal and social change. Through "Storytelling as a Healign Art" class, the students learned about the power of every person's voice and then Dr. Biagi led the women through a series of storytelling exercises and vocal warmups.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The culmination of the course and documentary comes when Dr. Biagi gives the women a writing prompt, "I am your voice, and this is what I want you to know . . ."</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">The vulnerability, hope, and empowerment these women share by their own voices and stories is transformative and beautiful to behold.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://verilymag.com/2020/12/the-girl-inside-documentary-kate-bryan-incarcerated-women-review" target="_blank">Read the rest over at Verily . . .</a></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><img alt="post signature" src="http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a603/victoria_strader9/pattysignature_zps85707cc6.jpg" /></center>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05900413545108321127noreply@blogger.com1