7 Things Sunday

One. Lambing season is starting and this is basically who I aspire to be:
IMG_7291I have always had a thing for sheep. I don’t know what it is about them. I had a plush lamb toy named Cuddles that I slept with as a child. I also had this polaroid of a sheep running down a hill with it’s mouth open (it was hilarious, trust me) that my grandfather took and I kept it pinned up on my bulletin board for a really long time. I see so many of them in fields whenever I take the train, but I have yet to give one my affection. I want to so baaaaa-d. Word on the street is that I may even be able to assist in the birth of some. Now there’s something to add to my resume.

Two. This week’s feels:

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Three. When I tell people that I’m working at a cafe in North Berwick, they give me really strange looks and ask why I’m working all the way out there. Well, mostly because out of twenty-some places I applied to, they were the only ones to call me back and give me a job. But I think it was a fate thing. You know when you meet people and you know right away, Yep. I’m going to adore you. You just fit. Some of us who work together, we’re all kind of in the same place, working through some of the same what is my life right now?! stuff. Work shifts often turn into therapy sessions. I know I haven’t been there very long, but the two days a week I spend working have been full of life-giving cups of coffee, a lot of laughing, and some incredibly lovely people. This picture is blurry, but I love it anyway. Here are some of the Steampunk girls at the 65th birthday party for one of our regulars, Graham. Champagne. Stovies. Dancing to oldies. A night to remember, for sure.

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Four. Like most people, I listen to music when I go get my sweat on at the gym. But lately I’ve been obsessed with listening to stories instead. I become so engaged in them, I forget that I’m running. Plus I like to think I look less like I’m dying if one makes me break out in a smile or slightly audible laughter. Here are a couple favorites from The Moth:

 

For Cynthia’s full story, you can listen here

Five. Speaking of stories…Today is International Women’s Day! Some of the most inspiring and courageous women I have ever known, I met through ChildVoice International in Uganda. To honor the young women they have worked with, ChildVoice is doing a Kickstarter campaign to fund and publish a collection of their stories.

“Lifted from the rich traditions of storytelling in Uganda, this book seeks to capture the true stories of war, heartache, faith and forgiveness in one community…With experiences and emotions that transcend time and place, this book delivers a journey from darkness to light as told by those who experienced it most closely. 

…Brought together by the work of one organization, ChildVoice, to restore the voices of children silenced by war, Grace and other survivors share their stories as part of their journeys toward healing and spiritual transformation. 

…Through these stories, readers may find strength for personal journeys toward healing, and the courage to face their obstacles. Powerful, provoking, and educational, Enduring the Night invites the reader to join the conversation and be a part of something greater, for in doing so, one cannot helped but be moved to action in support of women worldwide.”

I have never been so confident in an organsation to #MakeItHappen for women in their community. Please consider supporting their cause!

Mama Cecelia telling me some of her story. She is truly the fiercest woman I’ve ever met. She also has my favourite voice to imitate and shared our love for baby bunny Brenda, sheltering her with protection (which is really saying something because Ugandans eat rabbits rather than use them as house pets). Picture 5

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Six. Every person/place/thing is adapting to new technology and figuring out ways to utilise it. I get that. This is where the world is going. As I start to see more and more art museums adopting digital mindsets, a part of me recoils because I suppose there is a tiny voice in my head saying, Nooooo! Please can this please just be one place that doesn’t look like a Buffalo Wild Wings in terms of screen coverage? Can’t we just put down the digital tools and sit on this nice little bench and LOOK at the art. Take it in. Let our imaginations go wild or give it critical thought. So, when I read about all the ways technology is helping visitors engage and learn more I feel torn and see valid points from all sides. But I completely give in when I read how it can be used for experiences like this.

Seven. This was just one of those weeks, you know? When all the bad news comes at once and you can’t do anything about it except have painful conversations that lead to nowhere. By the end of the week my heart felt like someone had been using it as a stress ball. Here’s to setting an intention for a new week full of great potential to at least be better than the last: Be patient and present (and go on more dates with the sea because honestly…so good for the soul):

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Love,

Taylor

Hey Soul Sister

Yesterday I was savoring a delicious breakfast in the company of these two lovelies. We were discussing workplace dynamics, conflict resolution, documentaries, progressive women’s movements, faith, etc. Ya know, the usual…

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While sipping my coffee, I stopped to think about what my closest girlfriends do with their lives. I came up with the following:

Revitalizing neighborhoods, community building, leading people in worship, parenting, studying to be a midwife, assisting refugees with urban gardening and childcare employment, researching for child and welfare policy, coordinating volunteers, managing projects and events, serving people onboard aircrafts, teaching America’s youth, leading missional outreaches across the globe, helping homeless families transition into stable housing, campaign management for healthcare reform, and running their own small business.

You know, I think Jesus was spot on when he said that to be a leader you must first be a servant. These women are the most service-oriented people I know and that is one thing that makes them incredible leaders. The occupation part is just a glimpse. They also serve on committees, volunteer in churches, grow vegetables or knit scarves and give them away, teach yoga classes and mentor at-risk kids. THEN, on top of that, they also find time to bring me lunch when I’m sick, take me to the airport at ungodly hours, dance with me, remind me of my self-worth, defend me, let me get snot all over their shirt as I sob into it, accept my flaws and allow me to see theirs. They challenge me to see God in new ways, they inspire me with their intellect and passions and they bring me comfort with their presence (along with a million other tiny and big things).

In the last week some of these friends have told me:

-They were sexually harassed in workplace environment

-They attempted to lead a group at work and were immediately shut down

-They didn’t feel heard or that their voice mattered

Siiiiggghhh. I hate that.

And there’s nothing I can do to fix it or make it go away. I also hate that.

BUT, I just want to say:

Chin up, cookie.

You are courageous for being where you are and doing what you do.

You are lovable for making the world a better place with the work of your hands and the fruit of your spirit.

You are capable of leading one or one-hundred-thousand with your voice and your abilities.

You are valuable because you exist. And good Lord, am I thankful that you do.

Fight for a place at the table. Speak up. Make waves. Cause a ruckus. Practice your Wonder Woman stance.

Love,
Taylor

 

Storytelling

This post is dedicated to Vivian, (age 4) who before taking afternoon naps will ask you to tell a story from your brain. Its best if these stories involve Vivian as a princess and her dog Lola. Sometimes she interrupts to correct your story and tailor it to her liking. Sometimes she stares at you in awe as if what you just said really, surely, truly happened. Vivian, never stop asking for brain stories.

 I listen to The Moth podcast at work a lot. If you’ve never heard of The Moth before, it started as a story-telling night conducted by an author and poet who gathered his friends on his porch (like moths drawn to a porch light) for spellbinding tales. It grew into a non-profit dedicated to the art of storytelling. Anyone can pitch a story and be selected to share it on stage. There are Moth storytelling events hosted all over the country and the storytellers are recorded and put on the podcast. Collections of Moth stories have been made into books. It’s a really beautiful thing in my opinion. I find myself laughing and crying and getting swept up in other people’s worlds. I love that they’re real, you know? These are your average people and their sad/happy/funny/crazy/meaningful/terrific life experiences.

So I started thinking about if I were on The Moth…what story would I tell? Obviously by now I should have a plethora of moving, witty, exciting tales of my own, right? So I went into a mild panic because nothing came immediately to mind. My thought process was something like this: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! My life is boring. I haven’t done enough interesting things. What kind of life am I living if I don’t have engaging stories? TAYLOR, YOU NEED A LEGACY! Judging by the popular personal memoirs I’ve read in the last few years I should probably wait until something tragic happens in my life like death or divorce and then do something spontaneous and spiritual to find myself. Something with traveling and/or strenuous physical activity. I must accomplish a feat. I’ve always wanted to be fluent in French. Maybe I should just stop everything and devote years of my life to that. I’ll go live on a farm in the French countryside and a sweet old French grandpere will teach me the language while do stable chores in exchange for rent. I could go on a quest to learn the lost art of…something. Maybe I need to hang out with stranger people.  Am I too cautious? Do I just come to terms with my very average, normal upbringing in a place where nothing too exciting happens?

Then I began to scale back when I considered the fact that the majority of Moth stories do not involve any of the things I just mentioned. In fact a lot of them are really average, every day occurrences but they’re presented in an enticing way because of the teller’s perspective. They aren’t stories chased after or forced, they’re experiences well-reflected upon. So maybe I’ll learn French from hypothetical farmer grandpere but I won’t put it at the top of my priority list. Instead I’m making it a goal to live life in a way that encourages storytelling. I’m going to be on the look out for life lessons. I’m going to be intentional about doing things that challenge me and embrace opportunities to do something unexpected. I’m going to write more things down. I’m going to live life so it’s a story to tell. I’m going to foster a creative existence, one that puts the little things on a pedestal because life is one ever-evolving work of art.