shrimp and grits: tasty?

I was offered shrimp and grits the other night while visiting girlfriends in North Carolina. I have never tried it because that combination doesn't sound appealing. Maybe I'd like it...maybe?

Have you tried shrimp and grits? Do you recommend the dish?

Just Sheri, curious (sort of)

women and girls

A few weeks ago I posted about my job search strategy = volunteerism.

Today, I want to tell you about a project I am working on as a volunteer. A local community foundation started a fund with a focus on issues that face women and girls. They are asking 1,000 women to donate to the cause and the money raised will go back to fund projects for women and girls advancement.

It has been scientifically proven that investing in a girl is a good investment. Here is what the statistics say:

• A girl with seven years of education (yes, just seven years): marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children (often shown as indexes for poverty reduction) the populations HIV rate goes down and malnutrition decreases 43%.
• If 10% more girls go to secondary school, the countries economy grows 3%.
• When an educated girl earns more income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family - compared to 35% for a boy.

To learn more about the project, watch the video below:

My contribution is to research the status of health and wellness for women and girls in the Rappahannock River Region.

Just Sheri, community volunteer and health researcher

who am I?

Man, know thyself. ~ Socrates

Who am I? Who are you?

Through my adult life I have been defined by many things:

My career. My job title. My place of residence. My possessions. My associations. My dreams.

These are ephemeral definitions. I am learning that...the hard way. All these things have been stripped away, bit-by-bit.

My career. 

My chosen career path requires an ability to travel and current circumstances do not allow this privilege. 

My job title.

I am unemployed. One of the first questions people ask when meeting them is, "what do you do?" I don't have a job, thus I have no job title to identify with.

My place of residence.

I currently live in the basement bedroom of a friends home, in a city I would not have predicted I would reside. I find it difficult to answer questions about "home." I don't feel that I have one. I haven't had one for years and don't know if that will change.

My possessions.

I sold the majority of what I owned to lighten the load when moving overseas. When returning to America we liquidated again and are the proud owners of a few pieces of furniture (not enough to furnish a one bedroom apartment) and a few household goods (which are still in Africa in embargo). 

My associations.

My relationships are limited in our new city. I have no professional network here. The majority of my friends and family are elsewhere. In our new circumstances, I often feel very much dis-associated with other people or places.

My dreams.

In my old job I was living the professional dream, but I quit my job and am struggling to know what's next in that arena. The personal dream of being a mother is outside of my control and remains elusive.

When these things are stripped away...career, job title, place of residence, possessions, associations, dreams...who am I? That is what I am asking myself these days.

Without these things - who are you?

Just Sheri, (apparently) experiencing an identity crisis

bits of my weekend: MLK event

This was a holiday weekend, celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.  While volunteering for a project I will tell you about later in the week, I was asked to speak at the annual community celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

My speaking instructions were simple - how has MLK impacted my life?

The answer to that question  is easy - his words. Reading his speeches is stimulating. Listening to them is moving. He was not a perfect man, but I would describe his life as well lived. He sacrificed for a cause much bigger than himself and his legacy spans geography and generations.

The basis of my talk was MLK's optimism in the face of trials...his dream of people being judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin...and that there are still worthy causes in need of individuals with courage to stand.

It was a beautiful event with liturgical dancing, the sharing of stories and a gospel choir that rocked the house.

Just Sheri, humbled and indebted

Quotable Quotes: measure of a man (or woman)

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday....his own words.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

 ~Martin Luther King Jr, Strength to Love, 1963 


Just Sheri, motivated by the message