May we practice respect in honor of Aretha Franklin ...

“We all require and want respect, man or woman, 

black or white. It's our basic human right.” 

Aretha Franklin

Rest In Peace 

Aretha Franklin

love, mom

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Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

“I have noticed that 

the Universe loves Gratitude. 

The more Grateful you are, 

the more goodies you get” 

Louise L. Hay

I am the most luckiest AND grateful mom EVER!! 

love, mom

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The wonders of being weird!!

illustration by virginia fitzgerald. © 2018

the adventures of Joey - made by a Potato Hill poetry writer

There's a whole category of people who miss out by not allowing themselves to be weird enough. 

Alain De Botton

Once again I had the pleasure of spending a morning with some very creative kids at Potato Hill Poetry's Summer Writing Program. This week we created a comic/graphic novel using thumbprint art. I have posted all the amazing pieces on my other blog, http://virginiafitzgerald.blogspot.com, and I high;y suggest that you visit as the variety and storytelling of these comics are outstanding!

However, during our creating session, the general conversation moved to the topic of weird came up and I was saddened by the group's response to the idea of being weird. They saw weird as more of a negative while I see weird as something to celebrate. We discussed being weird for a bit, and I might have gotten a few of them to see the wonders of being weird, however, their response gave me pause.

I truly do believe that our unique weirdness should be embraced and celebrated because that is what makes us our own person and is the one of a kind gift we can give the world!! However, weirdness is something that much of our everyday lives tries to squash, through advertising, marketing, and peer pressure.  

So to combat those social pressures, I want to preach the wonders of being weird!

Today find your weird and let it shine!!

love, mom

p.s.

there is one more week of Potato Hill Poetry's 

Summer Writing Programs

click here to learn more

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today, let us be courageous ...

"Courage is resistance to fear, 

mastery of fear, 

not absence of fear."

Mark Twain

love, mom

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Who is in your tribe??? what are you attracting??

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. 

Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it...” 

Wilferd Peterson

love, mom

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where is your attention dwelling??

“I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.”

Oprah Winfrey

Last month I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop lead by Priti Robyn Ross, 'Refilling your Well', where I learned many practices and ideas about self care and mindfulness.  Our talks were filled with many thoughtful and smart maxims to remember as we live our days, and I hope to share many of them here.  

We spoke a lot about energy, and one point that we kept returning to was what you put your focus, your time, your energy on, is what is going to grow.  

So today I want you to think about ~

where are you putting your energy and attention??

Are you focusing on the positive or the negative??

what do you want to nurture and grow, your goals or your fears??

love, mom

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