cindy
Overflowing with words,
but where do I begin?
A misfit, middle child, preacher’s kid, I escaped into the safe spaces of books and cozy chairs. Hidden behind glasses and ugly-shame, I observed. I was too much an introvert to speak my words, but pen and paper opened the valve to writing my truths. My explorations and experiences led me to question organized religion, to identify as a feminist and ally, and to understand the value of my own voice, as well as the price of remaining quiet.
A career built on writing and language skills gave me a voice in a meaningful way and an accumulation of stories to inform my life; gave me confidence. Marriage, two children, sandwich generation caregiving, the loss of loved ones have added richness and depth to my worldview. Failures, regrets, and pure bad luck color my story. Friends, older and younger, continue to teach me so much and fill my heart with joy.
My words, as a woman of slightly-more-than-middle-age, indeed overflow and cascade into the words of the next generation, my daughter Rebecca, a strong voice of her own.
Writing has always allowed me to speak the unspeakable,
empowered my thoughts and spirit, and given me grace and peace.
Writing has always allowed me to speak the unspeakable,
empowered my thoughts and spirit, and given me grace and peace.
recent posts.
Mental illness is not a definition
Sometimes the universe pokes at me until I acknowledge her messages. Recently, the universe has hinted that I need to tell my story about mental health. My family’s story brought me to this place but sharing it is harder.
Just Start
Why am I such a slow starter at many things? The longer this quarantine goes on, the less discipline I seem to muster for anything other than occasional work projects. I’m hoping to be more consistent about writing for this blog site in the coming year.
Daniel and Lee
I’m crushing on Daniel Levy (Schitt's Creek). He is beautiful, sensitive, smart, funny, out and proud. And damn, Daniel reminds me of my friend Lee, both in looks and style. Only Lee was my best friend more than 40 years ago.
Bookshelf: Oct-Dec 2020
Happy 2021. Thank goodness! The last quarter was good for reading, though I ran out of new books as Christmas approached and had to wait for Santa. But a couple of rereads were worth it.
Bookshelf July-September 2020
We’re still living in quasi-quarantine, and my synapses don’t seem too sharp. Lesson learned: write notes about books as soon as I finish them. So what did I read?
RBG Reflections
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born the year after my mother’s birth. She was of the generation of women on whose shoulders we stand today.
favorite things.
authors:
Ann Patchett | Anne Lamott | Anna Quindlen | Antoine de St. Exupery
books:
The Little Prince | Harry Potter series | A Thousand Splendid Suns, and everything Khaled Hosseini has written | The Magician’s Assistant, and everything Ann Patchett has written
quotes:
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de St. Exupery
“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” – Khalil Gibran
“The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.” – Gloria Steinem
background & interests.
self care:
Reading | Time with friends (and coffee or wine) | Massage/sauna
professional background:
Communications education, with a dose of English and theater. Career in public relations and marketing, primarily in not-for-profit health care.
personal growth experiences:
Becoming a mom | Losing my parents | Redefining self after an unplanned career transition
