from the heart: birthdays, deathdays, circle of life and love

not until after the birth of Malcolm did I understand the true, resonating, meaningful, powerful, need for celebration, colorful joy of a birthday.
Now whenever someone has a birthday, I think about how this is a celebration of the day they entered this world, the day they met their parent for the first time, their first impression of and on the world.

This is similar to the feeling I have when I am somewhere where I am surrounded by a bunch of people and I have a moment of pause, of conscious pause. I think... all of these people were born.. all of these people have a mother, or someone who carried them until they were viable to live on their own... or someone who brought them into this world. In a way it challenges the idea that we are born alone and we die alone. We are NOT born alone. and how can we die alone when there have been so many who have affected our lives, been entwined in our lives, passed on before us, and will pass on after us... sigh... a good sigh...

Mental Health Day

After dropping Moby off with Pam, our favorite child care taker, and after sitting to talk with her for at least 20 minutes... She just has such a wonderful loving presence... I headed out for my first all ME day in a long while. I hope that Josh takes these too.
Self care 101.
Doing things that fulfill the self.
Step one- get out of home where you feel surrounded by all of the projects you feel you have to do. Feed, kiss, potty dogs.
Step two- on a whim, grab your old-fashioned camera, consider photo-journaling.
Step three- be in awe of self regarding that you waited this long to get coffee. Peet's. Because while you were at Pam's home her husband Mike called from there and it sounded like a good place to stop. Clean car out, take photo.
Step four- drive south, you are not sure why. You forgot to tell moniqUe you would not be at work today, pull over, text her. Look at list you made pre-self care day to determine next step.
Step 5- realize that #1 you want to get your practice going. Go to Antioch, the place that makes this possible for you. Go there, take photo.
Step 5- break for lunch at Cafe Venus with Katy, Max and Marisa during last days of Katy's ownership of CVMB. TAKE PHOTO.
step 6- back to Antioch to complete all the busy work! transcripts, coursework, supervision requests and contacts
Step 7- text Josh in anticipation of dinner celebration- PHO!
Step 8- get and address envelope
Step 9- mail it

This process is not nearly close to being done with all the marketing and set up I want to do but such a big major step has put it in moooottttionnnnn!!! Yay me! Seriously, yayyyyyyyyy me!
Dreams are turning into my reality right before my eyes!
Mamaste!
This helps me be a better mom by being an even better example for my son...

Bubbaste

A boy on the go

My boy on the go.

OUR boy on the go.

Oh the possibilities! Oh the determination! Oh the love I have for you!