create your future

I have heard people say, "I will wait and see what happens." You have probably heard the same thing. Maybe you've said it yourself. Lately I've noticed I have a strong reaction to this sentiment - I am almost completely intolerant of it. How about influencing what happens?!

I think we have a lot more power to create our future than we give ourselves credit for. We can be people of intention. We can be change-makers. Those whom we admire most made a difference, because they waited for made something happen.

I am not sure who said it, but I like this quote:

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created - created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating."

just Sheri, working on the future 

catch up

It has been nearly two months since my last post, not for lack of stories to tell, but more because I have been enjoying life...offline. Here is sample of what has happened in recent months...

I traveled to San Francisco for work, but the highlight of the trip was spending the weekend with my college roommate Samantha, her husband Chris, and their two kids. The last time we were in the same place was my wedding reception; at the time she was pregnant with her daughter (the oldest). While emails and Christmas cards keep us updated, there is nothing like sitting across the table from someone and sharing a meal or conversation. I credit  Samantha with teaching me what it means to be a good friend; because she is exceptional at it. We have shared a lot of great memories through the years. I LOVED seeing her as a mom!

Speaking of moms...my mom came to the DMV for a visit. It was her first time in this part of the U.S. She came to experience the beauty of the cherry blossoms - instead it snowed three times in March; including a few days before her visit. Sadly, she only saw bare trees. We did make time to visit the national monuments, but her travel wish list consisted of every day experiences; so, we had a couple take-my-mom-to-work activities, meals with friends, and even spent an afternoon at my favorite grocery. Activities only a mother would love...or perhaps only my mother.

There were also some celebrations of life events with friends, family, and friends who have become family.

We celebrated Joyce's birthday and on a separate occasion (not pictured) Naomi's dedication.

My friend Angela was recognized at a celebration event for her service to the community.

'Tis the season for graduations!

Phim graduated with her MBA.

My brother graduated from Law School.

Now that she is a high school grad, my goddaughter is off to college.

I also participated in a family trip to celebrate my brother's BIG accomplishment. Here is a photo of me enjoying fresh coco(nut) juice from a street vendor in Puerto Rico. I get nostalgic when drinking one of these. It takes me back to villages in India, Cambodia and Mozambique. My heart still resides with those I met in those places.

My sister-friend Theresa drove to Oklahoma City for a quick visit while I was there for the weekend. Have I mentioned I am blessed with a wealth of great relationships? Because I am. I count Theresa among those blessings.

I also got to live a dream when the Hubs and I were chauffeured to a wonderful evening at the Kennedy Center. I've wanted to attend an event at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts since we moved here. This iconic building has hosted many performances I've watched from afar (on TV) for a lifetime. It would have been a shame to live this close and not attend an event at this venue. I can now cross this off the list. Done! Though I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to attend another event at the Kennedy Center...if such an opportunity were to present itself.

just Sheri, living in the present

Overcommitted

I have spent the first part of this year with too much activity. The Hubs has termed this "doing too much" and he has had to bring this to my attention on numerous occasions over the years. I then am forced to reevaluate my schedule and priorities and make adjustments. For months numerous commitments have had me out of the house every week night:

• Monday: Vy and I are taking a conversational Spanish course at the community college
• Tuesday: I meet with Johanna, and once a month I participate in a book club meeting
• Wednesday: I teach writing at the local community college as a literacy volunteer 
• Thursday: every other week is a second book club meeting, on off weeks Jennifer and I hang out

Weekends are then filled with various volunteer and social activities.

While I could easily classify all of this activity as "good"- it is not good for me. So, two book clubs must become one. When my conversational Spanish class ends in April, I will not replace it with another activity. I have informed the literacy volunteer organization that, while I love the students and believe in the cause, I cannot continue to teach the course. After some time of rest, I will consider returning to one-on-one sessions like I did with Vy. I am constantly evaluating what else must go, what should stay, and whether or not there is anything else I should take on.

What has sparked this sudden re-evaluation? Well, there is a new, all-consuming commitment that is necessitating this...but more on that in a later post.

just Sheri, evaluating my commitments

Container Garden

Another benefit of being place bound and having a home, is that I can (attempt to) plant and grow herbs or vegetables. Since my knowledge base of such things is pretty much zero, I attended a class with the master gardeners in February. I learned a lot about microbes and bacteria, organic gardening and planting-harvesting-rotation. Most of it was WAY over my head. But, I really wanted to try to grow a few things this summer. So, here is my first attempt at gardening - herbs in a container.

I also bought another small container for my favorite herb - cilantro. I really hope I can keep this alive because I use it often and would prefer not to have to buy it, at least for a few months.

I also bought a little tomato plant and put it in a pot...this one is more of an experiment. Let's try and see what happens.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

just Sheri, amateur gardener

Free Food for Millionaires

A book club I was a part of a number of years back read a book by the title, Free Food for Millionaires. If memory serves, the title came from a conversation at an office on Wall Street. A catered lunch was  delivered for all of the wealthy Wall Street types and in a discussion with the protagonist of the story, a young second generation Korean immigrant, he coined the phrase "free food for millionaires."

I have been thinking a lot about this lately. The thoughts were sparked by the comments of a colleague who participated in a SNAP awareness program. For those who are unaware of what SNAP is, this is the food subsidy the government offers to those who are poor in America. It is designed to run out before the end of the month...and true to design, that is exactly what happens. My colleague lived on $5 a day, the allotted SNAP subsidy, for a week. One of her reflections were that she didn't realize how often in her own life food is readily available for free - at catered work meetings, or reimbursement for work lunches, etc. This is what sparked my reflection. It led me to the conclusion that I live a subsidized life.

While many criticize those who rely on such safety-net programs as SNAP, the majority do so without appreciating the abundance of their own privilege or acknowledgement of the subsidies they enjoy. I took stock of my current subsidies and here is a short list that I came up with:

• Like those in the story - I am the lucky recipient of many lunches or dinners paid for by my employer or partnering institutions in the course of my work. While it doesn't happen every day, it does happen at least once per month and usually more frequently than that.
• My employer offers mileage reimbursement, which subsidizes the expense of auto fuel for my vehicle. I have a fuel efficient vehicle so the reimbursement rate is generous.
• My employer picks up a portion of my cell phone bill. While there is also an expectation that I use this for work purposes, and I do, that reimbursement amount is a subsidy that I receive, because I would have a cell phone bill with or without the job.
• While there are IRS rules that restrict this and I am always VERY conscious of not appearing to receive favored treatment or to compromise  integrity - I do receive invites to events and meetings that may have an entrance fee for others. That is a subsidy.

These were just the subsidies I encountered in the course of a week, while it was on the forefront of my mind. While I am far from being a millionaire, and do not aspire to such, I do receive generous subsidies that allow me to do other things with my money.

In the past I received even more benefits: a corporate car where I had zero financial obligation and a housing allowance that covered living expenses.

I post this, because I want to maintain a position of gratitude for my good fortune. I do not want to take my blessings for granted. And, I have no place to judge those who rely on assistance for survival when I am benefiting from assistance myself. The source of my aid may not be from the government, but it is a subsidy just the same.

just Sheri, a subsidy recipient