The first week of Destination Imagination Accept the Challenge Camp has come to an end... I am already excited about running an elementary school's after school program in the fall, but this successful week of DI camp has inspired and motivated me even more to make the program all it can be and more!
I look forward to the day where my students can get as excited as these kids about building structures, writing their own stories, performing, and using their imagination!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Appreciate the Rain
Last weekend I went on a retreat with 5 other Notre Dame-AmeriCorps members and it was wonderful. It was close enough to Cincinnati to not be a long drive, yet secluded enough that it felt as if we left our busy lives far behind. The place is called Grailville and it's located in Loveland, Ohio. The property extends for about 300 acres and can accommodate several groups at once in its various farm houses. What really brightened my day was when I learned about their trails in the woods. I couldn't wait to go outside and "play"!
However, on the first day of the retreat it had stormed and continued to storm into the evening. Everything was wet and we didn't venture outside (much) for fear of being struck by lightning. I was disheartened and worried that my outdoor "play" time would be ruined by more storms. Luckily, only one more storm came on Saturday morning at 4am and the sun appeared for the rest of the weekend.
When we woke up on Saturday and made our way to the dining hall for breakfast, several things caught my eye and made me change my attitude towards the rainy weather. I had forgotten how rain makes ordinary things more photogenic and interesting, and I'd like to share some of the images that brought me joy - not only in taking, but also in sharing with the others on the retreat. Most of the photos below were possible because of the rain during the retreat... Therefore, I have learned to appreciate the rain because without it I would not have been able to capture these moments.
The word "play" is in quotation marks above because it is a word that now has a deeper meaning than it did before the retreat. Below is a quote from a handout we received during the retreat, and one I will remember.
However, on the first day of the retreat it had stormed and continued to storm into the evening. Everything was wet and we didn't venture outside (much) for fear of being struck by lightning. I was disheartened and worried that my outdoor "play" time would be ruined by more storms. Luckily, only one more storm came on Saturday morning at 4am and the sun appeared for the rest of the weekend.
When we woke up on Saturday and made our way to the dining hall for breakfast, several things caught my eye and made me change my attitude towards the rainy weather. I had forgotten how rain makes ordinary things more photogenic and interesting, and I'd like to share some of the images that brought me joy - not only in taking, but also in sharing with the others on the retreat. Most of the photos below were possible because of the rain during the retreat... Therefore, I have learned to appreciate the rain because without it I would not have been able to capture these moments.
The word "play" is in quotation marks above because it is a word that now has a deeper meaning than it did before the retreat. Below is a quote from a handout we received during the retreat, and one I will remember.
“Play” By Pegge BerneckerAn antidote for suffering, play is healing and restorative. At its essence, play is free, dissolves conflicts, and builds connections. Life-giving, play leads us to appreciation and gratefulness.When we play we discover our deepest self is seeded in creativity and generativity. Play is an act of restoration and remembering. Solitary and contemplative, or active and communal, play can occur anytime, anywhere. Planned or utterly spontaneous, play brings us into the present moment, embodied in time and place… Across gender, race, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status and geographical location, all people and creatures play. Play heals… We engage our senses and body, becoming refreshed and renewed.Playing can be a catalyst for spiritual vitality to burgeon forth within each of us. It is through a spirituality of play –interacting with matter—that we encounter the sacred, one another, and our deepest self. Play is a gateway to skip through to increase our ability to be present, to heal, and to grow in gratefulness. Who will accompany you in your next play date? How do you play?
Friday, June 10, 2011
Life Happens
Since my last real entry, I've had some weeks where I've strayed drastically from my raw-ish food regime. However, lately, I'm trying to make up for it by being more active: walking more, riding my bike around, etc. I just got the bike from my step mom for my birthday and I've already put about 7 miles on it. Not to mention the 14 miles I put on my mom's bike while I was back home for a visit. I hope to make it an active summer - as active as my injured knee (from falling back in February) will let me be. Today, in fact, I just bought a knee brace that will hopefully help me out a bit.
In other news, a close friend of mine and fellow AmeriCorps member, passed away suddenly on May 20th. Her name was Tebbe and once we got started talking we could go all night! We would carpool to our bi-weekly meetings from her work... it was like clockwork. As soon as our Site Director would send out the email about our upcoming meeting, Tebbe would send one out to me asking if we could go together.
She would often tell me stories about when she was a "hot, young thing" and when she was really into the music scene in Cincinnati. At least once during each story, I would have to stop her and ask what some of the slang meant! Tebbe always thought it was so funny that I was so clueless.
Tebbe was so young at heart and fully of spirit and positive energy. It was contagious! I know I felt it when I was around her and the other day I was able to hear one of her trainees from her work talk about how she had inspired him to turn his life around and make a difference. It was wonderful to hear how inspirational she was for so many people. I wish I had gotten more time with her... but I am so thankful that I got to know her as well as I did over the 2 years that we worked in AmeriCorps together.
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| Tebbe and I at the Jazz for Peace event she organized ~ March 2011 |
In other news, a close friend of mine and fellow AmeriCorps member, passed away suddenly on May 20th. Her name was Tebbe and once we got started talking we could go all night! We would carpool to our bi-weekly meetings from her work... it was like clockwork. As soon as our Site Director would send out the email about our upcoming meeting, Tebbe would send one out to me asking if we could go together.
She would often tell me stories about when she was a "hot, young thing" and when she was really into the music scene in Cincinnati. At least once during each story, I would have to stop her and ask what some of the slang meant! Tebbe always thought it was so funny that I was so clueless.
Tebbe was so young at heart and fully of spirit and positive energy. It was contagious! I know I felt it when I was around her and the other day I was able to hear one of her trainees from her work talk about how she had inspired him to turn his life around and make a difference. It was wonderful to hear how inspirational she was for so many people. I wish I had gotten more time with her... but I am so thankful that I got to know her as well as I did over the 2 years that we worked in AmeriCorps together.
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| Tebbe and I in the DC Metro ~ Feb. 2011 |
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