Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.
Giada De Laurentiis
When I was approached by my friend at church about wanting to make pierogi, I was totally on board. Food? Check. Getting together with friends? Double check. My creative brain started thinking of how we can get others involved at our church, too. We originally thought let’s open this to the congregation and whoever is interested will come. Remember the movie with Kevin Costner, Field of Dreams? Build it and they will come. Well, that was our thought as well. We will open the opportunity to get together after church services and make something with our own hands. We can turn it into a prayerful fellowship! Or perhaps we can serve them during our Palm Sunday celebration to everyone! The ideas just kept flowing. The question was, can a handful of willing people make this a success?
The answer is, of course we can! In fact, the ironic part of this whole endeavor is that none of us are of Polish descent, where pierogi are a staple food. In fact, some of us are German, Italian, Swedish and Colombian. What do you end up with all those backgrounds coming together to make a dish most of us have enjoyed in one way or another? The results are quite amazing, frankly. We all brought our talents and gifts together and made some fantastic little pockets of yumminess! We worked as a team. We laughed and joked around. We experimented with different methods that worked for us and we really had a wonderful time in the process.
Food. Fellowship. Faith. We started out with the the focus to make a bunch of pierogi and share them, but our end results are so much more than a delicious little treat. We continue to build our personal bonds with one another and we learned some new skills along the way. The biggest reward is knowing that God has played an important part in orchestrating our fellowship.
During one of the church services this month, one of our lay leaders spoke about the Fishes and Loaves and shared an interesting take on how artists have depicted this most popular story and sign of Jesus during his ministry. As I was listening to him speak, it occurred to me that our little pierogi venture started out small, just like the five loaves and fishes, and blossomed into so much more. We kept setting goals, changing our direction and determining what we could do with our new found gift of pierogi making.
We decided not only to sell them to the congregation, but to utilize the money we made to purchase something for our bell choir. This small idea from a friend who said, “Elisa, do you want to get together and make pierogi?” grew into an actual fundraiser! Who would have thought a simple idea could become a tremendous blessing!
By the way, that lay leader I mentioned really is the pivotal force behind this whole thing, whether he realizes it or not. He had shared a picture of a dish of pierogi when he was traveling to Poland earlier in the year to my friend and that’s when she decided she wanted to try making them.
We are still in the midst of making and selling, so I can’t share what our final outcome has been just yet. But, if I may speculate, I have a good feeling that we will reach our goal and be able to purchase what we need in order to make our bell choir space even better. And not only that, our little pierogi making crew has also grown together even more and we have all come out of this with happier hearts as a result.
After being part of this experience, I can see why food can be the one thing that brings many together, but it is our willingness to open our hearts and minds to receive a greater gift…love, fellowship and faith. And maybe add some pierogi, too. 😉
Do you have a story to share how food and fellowship brings you closer to your faith and family? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
You know the saying, “All good things come to an end?” That phrase probably couldn’t be more true than right now with my oldest son graduating high school this week!
His high school years were a bit different than what we expected them to be given half of his years were overshadowed by the world pandemic that began in 2020. As a freshman, it was an exciting time and my son was ready to take on high school sports. He did play in the freshman basketball team during the winter season and seemed he liked it. He had been playing recreational basketball since he was in 3rd or 4th grade. His favorite sport was baseball. Unfortunately, he never had the chance to play on the freshman team because of Covid.
Fast forward to 2023. My son decided not to play on the high school basketball team, and chose not to play on the varsity baseball team, either. It seems the excitement of playing sports in high school dissipated for him and he wanted to pursue different things.
Little by little, I’ve noticed that all the things he did as a youth, he was letting go, or saying goodbye to them. Of course, he may have been completely fine with it, but for me, I was sad. I spent so many nights and weekends in all kinds of weather watching as my kid played baseball and basketball. I loved watching him and his teammates do something they enjoyed. I liked seeing the comradery among his friends on the team. I enjoyed the social time with the families.
Was this time I spent for my son or was it for me? If I must be honest, I have to say probably both. He entered high school and then the pandemic put a halt to practically everything. For his senior year he chose not do anything extracurricular; I not only was disappointed for him, but for myself. At first I would say, “…but you’re missing out! don’t you want to be part of a team? don’t you want to participate in activities with friends?” The answer was no. He was fine with his choices and I needed to be fine with it too.
My son has grown up. He’s making his own decisions and establishing his own path, at his own pace. In all practical purposes, he should! He is 18 and ready to move on to the next stage of life. Goodbye high school…hello world! He has decided to go to college after high school graduation, so that is a big step! Luckily, he won’t be far…but far enough that he won’t be coming home to eat dinner and play video games to his heart’s content.
This is not only a big change for my son, but it is certainly a big change for me. I’m used to how things are and I am happy to know both my children live home and, for the most part, I know where they are, what they may be doing and most importantly, are sleeping in their bed here at home. There is a comfort in knowing your children are near by and safe.
I’ve spent the last 19 years of my life nurturing and caring for my boy… teaching him, guiding him, and encouraging him to try new things. If you’re a mom reading this, you know how much we put in…not only our physical time and effort, but our emotional selves, too. And that’s the part that is most challenging.
Our hearts and souls are poured into our children with the hopes they grow up to be happy and healthy individuals. And right now, all that work will be tested as my son embarks onto the new adventure of his life. All I can do is pray and hope I did what I could and that all those lessons over the years will resonate with him.
When move-in day happens in about 2 1/2 months from now, I think the reality will hit me that my kid, my first-born son, will not be home that night, but living with a roommate at college. Until then, I will relish the time this summer to enjoy the little moments, which tend to be fewer than before. He is older, has a social life and doesn’t necessarily want to hang out with his mother. That’s ok. Even if he sits down with me to talk about the latest workout regime he’s doing, I will listen intently as if he is giving a lecture in front of an audience. It will be those small moments that I will remember later…that will make me feel satisfied that I did my best and that it’s ok to say goodbye to my little boy and welcome the young man he is today.
Yes, good things do end, but good things also begin, too. Life is cyclical. Life is ever changing and evolving. New adventures await us all. Even though some of the best years of my life are ending with my son grown up, there is something else to look forward to, as well. The future isn’t set! It is actually an exciting time for my son and all his friends right now. I need to put aside my emotions for a moment and see the future in his eyes. And when I do that, I am astonished beyond words of how proud I feel to see what’s in store for him next. And that certainly brings some comfort and makes me smile.
My son, Luke, and me, holding on tight. Photo credit: Victoria Lee Photography
This is the week for all us last-minute shoppers who are braving the stores and coming to grips with the “leftovers” and gift cards we will have to give to our loved ones.
For the most part, I have been taking this holiday season in stride, despite being busy with life. It’s been a nice change for me in some ways…just accepting what I can and cannot do, both on the physical and mental levels. I’m not stressing over some things like I used to…do I want to do it all? Kind of. But I also understand it’s just not necessary. I believe setting realistic expectations of myself has been helpful. I don’t have those anxious feelings and I hope the energy I exude is a combination of happiness and calming peace.
I am not saying that things have not been challenging or emotional. Ask anyone…I can get pretty emotional and easily cry. Yet, the last couple weeks, I actually feel okay. I am taking things as they come and if I do more than I planned for the day, then it’s a bonus.
Last week, I hosted a Christmas party with good friends of ours. I planned a simple menu of a couple different chilies and ordered some stuffed breads. My friends brought over some appetizers and desserts. It was perfect, in my opinion. And the whole time, I didn’t get upset or stressed as I was making the food or setting up the spaces to eat. I did what I could and it was enough.
Which leads me to this thought: it is completely acceptable to be imperfect and know when to say “it is fine. It is enough.” Don’t get me wrong. I do put expectations upon myself to have things “just so”…especially when I create. But if I spent my energy always concerned with all aspects of my day as needing to be perfect and “just so”, then I would be exhausted. My mind would be overwhelmed and I would probably be pretty irritable, too. I don’t think my family would want that! Neither do I.
I am grateful I have been more in control of my emotions and overall mental well-being this month. It’s a nice change of pace. It actually feels natural…more normal. And what better way to end the old year and start the new by simply taking things in stride?
How have you spent this holiday season? Have you enjoyed the little moments? Share your thoughts here. I’d love to hear from you.
Progress, not Perfection. I just heard this phrase after listening to a workshop on Zoom held by my local library on nutrition. Although I knew most of the information that was shared, I think it’s helpful to remind myself of the basics of nutrition and healthy eating. Since beginning this new journey, I find myself more interested in how I can be healthier, not only with my weight, but the actual nutrition I consume.
Habits are certainly challenging. I honestly had some doubts whether I could kick some of my poor eating habits. I believe I have gotten over the first 21 days of establishing new habits I can incorporate into my life and not feel deprived or sad, or whatever negative feeling I thought I would.
Progress, Not Perfection.
It’s all about moderation, balance and consistency. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Without over analyzing this, it actually is. No need to over complicate this. Perhaps being home and not working at the moment has helped, too. I have the time now to plan and prepare. I don’t feel the need to eat out as much. Or when I do, I am mindful of the choices I make. The small modifications I have made so far in my eating habits have made a difference. I am currently down 10.2 pounds total and that’s in a seven week time frame. And even though I have a long road ahead to reaching my ultimate goal, I am more confident then ever that I will achieve it.
Again, it’s Progress, Not Perfection.
A positive mindset and attitude are really important. As with any life altering change, believing in yourself and being confident you can achieve success helps maintain the momentum. Sure, you’ll feel down and out at times, but that’s when you have to remain steadfast and not stay in that space too long. You may not realize the small changes are the building blocks to the end goal. Keeping those positive thoughts a constant will help you navigate the days when you feel discouraged.
Remember….Progress, Not Perfection.
I enjoy researching topics and since my health has become my number one priority, I like finding new websites and resources that educate me in the world of health; specifically how nutrition plays a vital role in a successful journey of weight loss. In addition, I have become more interested in my direct relationship with the environment and how I can incorporate my health goals and the environment. My son has been taking an AP Environmental Science class in high school and he brought home the book, “Cool Cuisine. Taking the Bite Out of Global Warming” by Laura Stec. It has sparked an interest in learning more how I can make a difference while eating healthy.
Progress, Not Perfection.
Slowly I am establishing a set of tools to help me continue on my trek to lose weight and be healthy. These tools and resources are now in my back pocket and I can turn to them when I might feel stuck or in a rut. Websites, blogs, YouTube videos, Instagram and the library are a few ways I can keep learning and growing.
It’s all about Progress, Not Perfection.
Before I end this post, I’d like to share a recipe I enjoyed that I got from The Girl on Bloor from Toronto, Canada. Her blog and YouTube channel have been very helpful and I think you’ll like her easy and manageable approach to eating healthy. I love portobello mushrooms and pizza. This recipe combines both into a healthier and still satisfying alternative to the carb heavy pizza most of us adore!
What have you done that has been a success for you in your journey to a better you? Please share your comments here. Let’s get the conversation started!
They say when faced with many challenges, the ones that prevail come out stronger. I am not so sure how much stronger I can be. At this point, I should be Ms. Universe of Strength, if that’s a thing!
Back in February, I mentioned about changes in my job situation and that I should embrace those changes with a positive attitude. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out. The new owners of the practice made drastic changes that left me feeling frustrated and upset most of the time. After careful thought, I decided to leave the job in early April. I gave a 2-week notice, but was asked to leave a mere 2 days later. It wasn’t the parting I wanted and I left feeling a bit humiliated, disheartened, yet relieved. Without getting into details, it was the right decision.
It has been only about a month and a half, but it feels like a very long time since I’ve been out of work. At first, I figured I’d give myself the time to grieve, re-evaluate, and decide what my next steps would be career-wise. In addition, I was preparing to have surgery for my hip the end of April, so the timing was actually ok.
Then I encountered another road block – my surgery was canceled. The reason? I had gained 30 pounds since my consultation (less than a year prior) and the doctor would not perform the surgery.
Needless to say I was devastated. I knew I had gained some weight, but the amount I gained was astonishing. I was so angry at myself for allowing this to happen. I walked out of the office building and hurled my handbag towards the car in a rage. WTF??? How could this be?? How could I allow myself to get to this point? I have been in a lot of pain and it has only gotten worse. I am unable to sustain long periods of standing and walking is difficult. The arthritis that has caused the deterioration in my hip is pretty bad. I need the surgery!!!
Did anyone say WAKE UP CALL? I won’t say I’m completely depressed because I keep trying every day to make good choices. Yet, I am not super happy with how things are progressing, either. Ever since I received the news about the surgery, I have changed my eating habits. There are so many combination of things I have to think about to ensure I make right choices each time. I’ve spent hours looking online looking for healthy recipes that I think will work for me. So far, I’ve been doing this on my own, with no outside support from sources like professional weight loss programs.
The weight is not coming off fast enough for me. It’s a slow progress. I have probably lost about 4 pounds total in a month. Some would say that’s great. But for me, it’s not good enough. The physical limitations are affecting me even more. Now that the weather is nice, I could go outside and walk, but right now, it’s nearly impossible without pain. The most I can do is probably just do an upper body workout, which I have just come to realize will be my only way out of this dread of feeling physically useless.
And if not to add more salt to my open wounds, I am also managing my parental duties to my kids, especially my younger son, who has struggled with anxiety and depression most of his adolescent life. I spend a lot of time taking care of his needs. I don’t want to disclose too much here, but he is battling things I am not familiar with and so I leave it to the professionals to help him. I’m just there for him to love and support him as much as possible. It’s not easy because as a parent, I feel helpless. Thank goodness, though, I have found good providers.
My older son is a junior in high school and I’ve been trying to guide him, along with a tutor, to prepare for life after high school. He wants to go to college and study physical therapy or something in the health sciences. However, he has his own challenges with grades and extracurricular activities that colleges look for when considering a student for admission. As a mom, I worry about his future and that brings a whole different set of frustrations to the mix. Additionally, there are other things like elderly parents to worry about, my 20+ year marriage to maintain and just working on keeping my mind sane! HA!!
All of these road blocks/obstacles, are certainly difficult and could potentially be paralyzing. Every day I wake up hoping for something to change. But change doesn’t just happen on its own. We have to pave our pathways around those road blocks to find a new road to travel. Sure, what is ahead of us is unknown and can be very scary. But if we don’t make our own way, we’re stuck behind that obstacle holding us back.
My therapist told me of this metaphor in nature about a rock in a river…the water makes its way around it to continue moving forward. The water doesn’t stop flowing just because it ran into a rock. And it certainly doesn’t go backwards, either.
Neither should we. No matter how many obstructions get in our way, we have to keep moving or else we are stuck in our own misery. I don’t want to be stuck. I want to keep moving. I want to find my clear path of success…even if it will take longer than I hope.
As a famous musician once wrote and sang,
We all end in the ocean We all start in the streams We’re all carried along By the river of dreams
All my life I’ve struggled to manage my time effectively. It is a huge challenge for me being organized and planning things. I haven’t been able to find that sweet spot of where I can actually feel in control and have the confidence to know I am doing a good job. Instead, I get home and do the necessities ( like feed the family), then I am wiped.
My previous post was about finding balance with an ADHD brain. I haven’t found it yet and I really hope that I get into a groove and I can say that I am an effective planner; that I’m able to manage my time and balance both work and life at home.
It’s been a frustrating several months because I know I am capable of so much more. When I was focusing on my own mental and physical health earlier this year, there was a sense of purpose and even peace that almost disappeared.
I’m not saying that I’m a very unhappy person right now but I am definitely frustrated in how I handle day-to-day situations. My temper is short, my emotions are strong and all I can think about doing now is working and getting home to crash on the couch at the end of the day.
Thankfully , there is a positive outcome to all this. About two months ago, I started picking up my pencil and sketch book and paints and started doing more creative things again. During my self awareness journey, I have learned that tapping into the creative side of my brain is very healing and a way to relieve stress. During Covid, I had lots of time to be creative and rediscover talents I didn’t realize I had.
However, ever since my work hours changed in late spring 2021, I find that I don’t have as much desire or energy to draw or paint or even go for a walk and take pictures. I am a working parent whose main responsibilities is to the family. I know we all have to take care of ourselves, but when other needs are prevalent, it is very easy to push aside our own personal needs for others. Add depression, anxiety and ADHD to the mix and priorities are scrambled.
Up until very recently, I didn’t think I would ever get out of my darkness. It just seemed this was my new normal. I knew I had done so much work last year to put myself first and take care of my mental well-being. Then, my life shifted quite abruptly that I couldn’t make heads or tails of anything. Whatever I experienced in the last few months just seemed to be so much harder than I could ever handle. I honestly thought I was doomed to live a perpetual life of misery. I’d tell myself this is the new me and I just have to deal with it. That’s the depression talking.
When I outline all the challenges I live with, I wonder how I get through the day. Mental illness aside, I deal with a lot. And when I feel overwhelmed, I shut down. I basically give up and do nothing. Then later, things pile up, and my responsibilities increase. It’s a terrible cycle to be in because if things don’t get addressed, then they get worse. This is a huge piece of ADHD that affects so many adults. From the outside, it may look like I am lazy and disorganized. In reality, I am stuck. I cannot make decisions, start or finish tasks because I don’t know how to begin and eventually, I get upset.
Emotions are high with those who have ADHD. I am more aware how much my emotions are affected by my inability to process information or situations. Frustration is a result. Anger kicks in. Then, I explode. Another vicious cycle that is hard to get manage. And I am medicated! I can’t imagine how I would be without meds.
It helps to have a supportive family who understands the conditions of ADHD, too. If someone understands how your brain works, then they can be more supportive, loving, patient and even helpful. At least that is my philosophy. I am super sensitive to those that are judgemental. I become very defensive and emotional if I feel I am being attacked. I know now this can be an opportunity to educate. Understanding leads to empathy with little room for judgement.
How can I continue to improve and establish a balance in my life? Now that I’m in a better place mentally, I can think clearer and come up with some ideas:
Slow Down – nothing good really comes from rushing around. It just makes you stressed and upset.
Ask for help – there is no shame in asking others to help you. We aren’t superheroes!
Be grateful for what you have – wishing for things or situations to be different just fuels the frustration. Maybe you don’t have a pristine house, but you do have a place to call home.
Stop expectations – hoping for people to do something you want isn’t going to help. When we let go of expectations, we can achieve peace of mind because there won’t be disappointment.
Believe in yourself – self doubt is destructive and can paralyze you. Take a moment each day and find something that makes you proud.
I am not saying these tips will be the solution to a life of happiness. As with anything, it takes work. We have to be active participants in our own lives.
The world is always changing and if we don’t take time to re-evaluate ourselves to adapt and improve, we will be stuck. In essence, we are all works in progress!
It’s been awhile since I have written. In fact it has been awhile since I have done anything significant on a creative level. It’s been a very different summer than in 2020. For one, I had a lot more free time to enjoy and explore my creative outlets. I also slept less and woke practically every morning to watch the sunrise. This summer, my sleep has seemed to have fallen in a more “normal” pattern. Last year I joined Tik Tok and met some amazing people online and embraced a community of positive folks, as well as all kinds of artists. I even made videos that were fun and also videos that I shared diferent thoughts. I enjoyed interacting with so many people and even gained some friendships along the way.
This past Spring, I experienced some life events which made a big impact with practically everything I had done and felt before. My client I worked for as a caregiver for four years died and then a mere four days later, my uncle, whom I was close to, also passed away from complications due to Covid.
A month later, I took on a new job with more hours and a completely different environment. Luckily, I enjoy what I do. With that, my leisurely life sort of came to a halt this summer; a time when I should have been enjoying time taking day trips with the family or hang out with friends. Instead, I jumped into the “real” work world and am learning to adjust.
I attribute my new schedule the reason I stopped being creative. I barely draw, paint or even take photographs like I used to. I miss it but I am also somewhat drained at the end of the day. I need to find a new balance in order to go back to finding time and enjoying the things that made me feel good. Not only has the creative side of me taken a back burner, but so has my health and wellness journey, which also sort of stopped being a main focus since Spring.
With summer coming to an end and my kids going back to school, the reality of that hasn’t quite hit me. It means I won’t see my kids when I get home from work because they will be involved in after school activities. By the time they get home, they’ll be busy with homework and studying and finding their own balance from their carefree summer.
Balance. Such a simple word. Yet, it is very challenging for so many people. Balancing our schedules so as to not leave things out, yet not be overwhelmed either. Balancing the work/life thing is important. When one part of our life takes over and the other part dissipates, it causes a tip on the scales that to some, can bring on a lot of anxiety and stress. Thinking of all of this makes my ADHD brain spin.
Time management and planning will be key even more than ever. I get nervous wondering if I can do it. Time management and being organized are not my strong suits. As much as I strive to be an organized individual, I usually come up short bc it becomes extremely overwhelming and frustrating. I realize I need to take things slower and more methodically so as to not panic and stress out.
Up until recently have I really understood how my brain works. I didn’t realize, for instance that I can’t think on the fly. I have to talk out loud to get my thoughts out. Sometimes it may not make sense, but it’s my way of brainstorming and organizing the thoughts. Another thing is that it takes me a few seconds to actually understand when someone is asking me a question. I need the time to process it. Since there is somewhat of a delay, people may get impatient with me or wonder why I don’t respond immediately.
The most frustrating aspect of my condition is that I have numerous thoughts swirling in my head and most are important, but I have difficulty putting them in order to make sense so I can tackle my ongoing “list”. And because of that, I get extremely overwhelmed and emotional that it literally drains me on a physical level, too. I suppose that is why I have a history of avoiding things.
Tasks that seem so simple to others are exponentially more difficult for a person who lives with ADHD. Add mental health issues into the mix, like anxiety and depression, certainly does not help. I have to be very intenional in everything I do now because there is a lot more happening in my life that I never had to concern myself with as much as when I was younger.
I have also noticed more that I do not want to know every detail of something. Bullet points, highlights, etc. are more effective for me. For example, my husband is extremely detail oriented and a big planner/forward thinker. When there is a project in the home that has to be done and he wants to share it with me or ask for my opinions, he will give me so much info that I tune it out or I will get very upset because I just want to make a decision and not go over every detailed scenario. Once I make my mind up, I go with it and try not to look back because it already took effort for me to come up with my decision.
I have heard and read about things people with ADHD can do to minimize the anxiety and accomplish what needs to be done while still enjoying things that bring joy. That is my ultimate goal. To go back to being creative more often. It not only is fun, but it is therapeutic.
Below is a list of 7 ideas/strategies I have found most helpful for me to incorporate into my life. I hope this list can help you if you’re overwhelmed, overworked, stressed, anxious or just lost. You don’t necessarily need to have ADHD to incorporate these into your life, either.
1. MAKE A LIST. I have had a strange aversion to lists most of my life. I really can’t tell you why. However, I realize I need to make lists and write things down, especially because I am more forgetful as I’ve gotten older. I won’t say I am a master list maker (or follower), but I am working on it!
2. PLANAHEAD. Don’t wait for the last minute . Boy is this how I have lived most of my life. Perhaps in my youth it worked out ok. As I have gotten older and now have a family, doing things last minute just causes so much stress that I try very hard to do things more in advance.
3. PREPARE FOR THE WEEK. Again, this goes in the same lines as planning ahead. This one is more about meal planning. I have always been one to fly by the seat of my pants kind of person and find many times I never know what we’re having for dinner. Forget about packing lunches or even making breakfast! It’s just not good for any of us. We have been ordering out more or just not eating decent meals. And if I have to fight tooth and nail to prep the meals for the week on Sundays, I really believe I will be happier by the end of the week.
4. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Over the last year, my sleep has been sporadic. Insomnia is not healthy and can cause havoc on your body, mind, and emotional well being. We need our sleep!
5. SCHEDULE TIME FOR FUN. Sounds silly, right? Remember what I said earlier? My schedule has changed to the point where everything I enjoyed before has taken a back burner to work and tasks that need to get done. We need to make it a point to have a little fun. If you have to block out time on your calendar and treat it as an appointment, then more than likely you will do it. And try not to talk yourself out of it either!!!
6. BE INTENTIONAL. None of this will work unless we set our minds to doing it. Say it out loud. Write it down. Post stickies on your mirror. Whatever it takes to remind yourself that these things are important for your well-being, the more you will stick to it.
7. FIND YOUR SUPPORT CIRCLE. I cannot ephasize how important this is for true success. We all need that support, love and understanding. If those around us don’t get it, then tell them how you feel and explain just like I did here how your operate and what is important to you and what you need from them.
I’d love to hear your observations or suggestions on how you achieve balance and/or how you are living with ADHD. Leave your comments below. I am sure there are other things I forgot.
“My wish is that I can achieve balance without frustration and those around me have the patience to understand me.” – Elisa Uhrynowski
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I consider myself a creative person. I love anything to do with the arts; drawing, painting, photography, writing, the theater and music. I honestly cannot think of anything I don’t like about the arts! I am not talented in music or theater, but I do appreciate it. Participating in various artistic and creative forms gets my mind working in different ways and it also serves as a great escape!
I can take a walk and find something that catches my eye and I’ll stop and take a picture. And not just any picture. I make sure I like the composition, I place my focus where I want and adjust the settings as necessary until I get the photo. When I draw or paint, it reminds me of childhood. I also enjoy the challenge of learning new techniques. And of course writing is something I enjoy as well. It enables me to share what’s on my mind while being creative.
Statistics have shown how important it is to involve children in the arts. Some well known benefits are problem solving, a gain in confidence, collaboration/teamwork and improvement in focus. There are other advantages that may not be as obvious, but may actually be even more important than mentioned above.
I believe our school system does try to incorporate that part of education just as well as other academic classes. It’s part of the Core Curriculum. Yet, there seems to be a lack of support when it comes to certain aspects of the arts. Even within the state, there are big disparities among school districts. We certainly can improve.
Many parents who want to get their children more involved in the arts usually have to go outside the school system because there just isn’t enough. There are many statistics out there showing how parents support the arts in education. One blog I found, americansforthearts.org conducted a survey in 2015 and found that at least 88% of parents believe the arts to be an important part of a well rounded education. Overall, a majority of parents (some as high as 93%) that have been surveyed in studies state they would like to see more arts in education. Another survey done around 2019 broke down the statistics even further.
Music seems to be on the decline, especially in my area. Parents aren’t sending their kids for lessons as much as they did in the past. The focus seems to be on sports or other activities. High School bands are smaller and the amount of school bands competing has also diminished. In my city, we are currently recruiting students from 6th grade and up to participate in the Color Guard for high school. It makes me sad to see that there aren’t enough kids participating.
I have a friend who has a music lesson business that is not flourishing as it was about a decade ago. He has told me that the music culture has changed and kids just find different ways of enjoying it. They don’t necessarily take lessons to play an instrument. Technology and social media apps like Tik Tok have changed how kids consume music. So, he is reinventing how he conducts his business with the hopes he can continue to offer quality instruction to students for years to come.
I sat down with Hannah Perry, owner of The Gigging Pig to get her perspective on the arts education.
Interview with Hannah Perry, June 2, 2021
How did art play a role in your success as an entrepreneur?
It was everything. I was raised by parents who encouraged me and my siblings to explore. We visited museums, the theater. It was part of my life. I never questioned whether or not I could do something that I enjoyed. In fact, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I would be an artist. I am very fortunate to have had the arts as part of my upbringing.
Aside from some of the most common arguments for fostering the arts, what are some other less known benefits to arts education?
Unlike sciences and mathematics, the arts enable children to express themselves in non-verbal ways, which in turn, helps to build their self-esteem. The collaboration involved is much more about combining each other’s talents to form a unified project, whether it is a dance performance, a musical concert or theater, being part of the arts allows children to express and discover. In the process, they learn how to be considerate of others. Additional benefits are learning how to cope with emotions, problem solving and decision making, as well as improve vocabulary.
What can our education system do to improve exposure to the arts?
It can be better. For example, we (The Giggling Pig) are invited each year to a local school in a neighboring town for a “Day in the Arts.” It is interactive, as well. We provide art lessons and it is a wonderful day of celebrating.
Not only should all the arts be part of our educational curriculum, but it should start at a young age. I believe it is just as important, if not more than other aspects because in the arts, children are free to express themselves without judgement. In essence, participating in the arts enables children to the best they can be and have the confidence to pursue other things as well.
How can local businesses assist the schools in support of arts education.
I always participate in Junior Achievement and teach entrepreneurship to the students in the high school. That is certainly one way businesses can support the schools.
If money/funding wasn’t an issue, what would you love to see in our public schools regarding the arts that isn’t already being done?
I would love to see our entire community showcase the arts in a way that families can participate. Remember when Stamford had the different cows throughout the city? Perhaps we can do something similar and conduct a scavenger hunt of sorts where they explore our community and get prizes for completing the “hunt”. I would love to see our children have endless opportunities to participate in all kinds of arts programs.
How can parents help children be more involved in the arts?
It doesn’t have to monetary. In fact, start at home by just talking about it. Visit museums often. Go to concerts. Parents can even go online and find many opportunities to learn art or music via several free websites like YouTube. The key is to start when they are very young and continue throughout their years at home.
You mentioned your business, The Giggling Pig. Tell us more about your mission.
We aren’t just an art studio. Our values and mission is to teach children kindness, compassion and empathy. We do this indirectly through the art lessons and camps we run. The books I have written are all about these values.
In my opinion, we expect kids to understand these attributes without giving them the tools. By allowing kids to be creative in a safe and fun environment, children learn not only art, but about friendship, too. I have observed kids, who have been coming to our studios for years, enjoy being with one another, without any predisposed notions. They accept each other and become good friends. It’s a beautiful thing.
What does success look like to you?
As artists we appreciate nature. And I think one of the reasons nature is so powerful and can teach us so much, is that no one questions its beauty. No one asks the trees why they grow at different rates, why ones taller than the other. Why this flower bloomed before that one. We appreciate it for all that it is. And I think people should be more like that.
That to me is success. Giving children the confidence and the love they need to bloom how they want and when they are ready.
Do you foresee a positive future for arts educaiton?What does success look like to you?
Thank you very much, Hannah, for taking the time to discuss your viewpoints and why it is so important to focus on the arts in our education for our children.
After listening to Hannah speak about the arts and how important she believes it needs to be part of our everyday lives, I started to think that any kind of education starts in the home. As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. If we make the arts part of our environment at home, then kids will most likely want to have more of it at school. I strongly believe we need to make it a priority and not only bring in special guests/performances, etc. for a few hours, but interweave throughout the day on a consistent basis.
Art and Music is everywhere. And in all kinds of forms. There are so many benefits to the arts. Making it as part of our everyday lives makes us well-rounded people. It helps open up communication. It is fun. It is an escape. It is healing. Imagine making the arts the forefront of our education as our children grow up. The outcomes of possibilities are endless!
“Everything really is art, and we should cherish all its forms or we will certainly lose a closer connection to ourselves as human beings.” -Clori Rose
I painted this Henri Mattise inspired painting with Lana Pirulli, artist and instructor at The Giggling Pig in 2020
For more information about The Giggling Pig, please visit their website www.thegigglingpig.com. All research for this blogpost is from personal discussions and internet research. Hyperlinks to the statistics are embedded within the post.
Found on Pinterest. Bonnie is a quilter and blogger and can be found on Quiltville.com
The following post popped up in my Facebook memories. I suppose this was the beginning of my writings for my blog, which I originally published in August 2020. The sentiments I share still hold strong.
I will add that as a society, if we are not intentional in our actions and words, we are doomed to succeed in humanity. As we take time this weekend to honor those who fought for our country, I pray we will stand united and not just use this time for barbecues.
I have a lot on my mind lately, as I am sure many of you do. This world pandemic has affected all of us in ways that we cannot fathom in modern day history. Humankind has been through many trials and tribulations since we came into this earth, but this, being my lifetime, my world now, with my family, is something I believe is so unprecedented.
In a world full of instant communication and sharing of information, we can take what we see or learn and make choices. We have seen many positive actions taken, like thanking our healthcare workers, our educators and all the other “do-gooders” out there just trying to get through another day of social isolation and/distancing.
As humans, we are social in nature. Being cooped long can take a toll on anyone, especially for those with mental illness or other struggles they live with everyday. Technology has been our best friend throughout this, because we have been able to “see each other” via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or any other video/audio program. It has enabled us to remain connected, even if we cannot be there for one another in person.
However, it is not in our nature to remain isolated too long and we can see that everyone around the country and world are trying to get back to a new “normal”. But how can we really do so without the constant fear in the back of our minds of a resurgence? It’s all so confusing and frustrating because we yearn for companionship, socializing and just being with others. It’s Human Nature. I also strongly believe that those with mental illness are extremely vulnerable and we need to take care of them the best we can.
What baffles me the most that the events that have taken place in the last week are completely atrocious and makes me sad for our society. I feel angry, but I mostly feel disappointed that despite all the good cheer we have been sharing with everyone, we are falling apart or going backwards with violence, riots, downright rudeness and disregard for one another.
One of my teens is pretty insightful and the tragedy of George Floyd’s death and now Operation Pridefall (it’s an anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda campaign) coming up in June is making him question what is wrong with our world? I try to offer words of wisdom, support and an open ear. How do I tell my kid that “this too, shall pass” when our history shows when one tragedy ends, another comes along at some point and that we need to remain steadfast and strong and hold our heads up high and ignore the haters?
All that comes to mind is that we can voice ourselves against the wrong in a peaceful way and not choose violent or threatening acts to get our points across. We must remember those who fought for Civil Rights and did it in an inspirational way, not buy killing or spitting or looting, but by prayer, positive and powerful words and peaceful actions.
Who were some of those that fought against the hatred and prevailed or at least inspired a movement? Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa to name a few. But there are several others who sacrificed themselves to the point of imprisonment and even death to spread the words of Love and Peace. Even if you don’t believe, we can look at our biblical history and see how followers of Jesus stood up for what they believed and died for it, too.
Personally, I am not that strong of a person. But I do have a voice that I can express here because of our forefathers of the United States without being persecuted. And for that, I am grateful.
I told a group I belong to that I had an urge to get out on a soapbox and speak my mind about how we need to continue doing good for others and to let go of our old ways of violent protests. Would anyone listen? I pray for the families who have suffered and died due to this pandemic. I pray for those with mental illness. I pray for all those have lost their lives unduly or unjustly. I pray for our leaders, our educators, and law enforcement. I pray our children. Most of all, I pray for humanity. If anything this pandemic has taught us is that WE ARE HUMAN and WE ARE GOOD. We can choose the path of Light or live in the dark side. I will always choose LOVE and EMPATHY for people because what are we without that?
But I will not only pray, but take action in a way I know I can make an impact. Perhaps it’s by helping others? Maybe sending a care package to someone who needs their spirits lifted? All I know is that I will never stop caring for people and will speak out against those who place judgement on others in a peaceful and thoughtful way. I leave you a couple quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
There’s a song from the 90’s that was in the movie, Night at the Roxbury, entitled “What is Love?”, the theme of the movie. The characters are brothers who are very close, have a falling out, eventually reconcile and everyone lives happily ever after.
The movie was a flop and there wasn’t much depth. Probably the only thing that became a success was the popularity of the song, “What is Love?”
So, what is love??? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
love is “an intense feeling of deep affection for a person.”
If we look at the Bible and see what Paul wrote about love, it encompasses many things like patience, kindness, hope and trust.
There a numerous references to love. It seems this has been the most discussed and researched topic since the beginning of time. From philosophers to poets, love has been a subject of intangible curiosity.
Recently we said our final goodbyes to my beloved uncle, who not only was loved very much, but was also the pillar of the family. He was an intelligent and kind person who was passionate about his family. He wrote and reflected on life and would share those thoughts with us. During the services, his spirit was strong and we felt a power of love so fierce that we couldn’t help but feel deeply connected to one another.
The energy of grief, though prevalent, was overshadowed by the fortitude of love our entire family expressed towards each other. The priest highlighted the fact that the only thing that is of ultimate value is LOVE. In his Italian accent and jovial expressions, he emphasized love threes each time he spoke about it.
This had me thinking more about the power of love, particularly when families unite during circumstances like a funeral. We rejoice in reuniting with one another and reminisce on our past. It’s a strange thing if you think about it. Why is it that it takes something like death to bring family together??
Since the pandemic, we have become creative in connecting with our loved ones. There really isn’t much excuse to be in touch, even for a few moments. Technology enables us to speak or see each other across the world. Staying in touch has never been easier. Yet, we fall into a trap of our own busyness and forget about those that mean the most to us…those whose roots are our life force.
We get caught up in our own lives and don’t take the time to plan get togethers with our families. Life happens. The key is to purposely set time to keep connected with our family. It isn’t always that easy, which is why we need to be intentional in putting our families and loved ones a priority. Annual family reunions is certainly one way to stay connected.
What else defines love?
Love means feeling compassion and empathy towards others. No judgement. When we judge, we set up a barrier and separate ourselves from others. When we are separated, how can we truly love?
Even after much time that passes, families can find themselves back to a place of love, despite all the heartaches from the past.
Love means acceptance and understanding.
Love has a partner that can’t be forgotten. Forgiveness. Without forgiveness, we are trapped in our own pain. We cannot move on and we hold hardness against others. When we forgive, we become free.
And who doesn’t want to feel free from our negative feelings? I don’t want to be weighed down with hatred or ill will. I realize that even if we all share different philosophies about life, we still share a common bond. After experiencing this loss in my family, it is more obvious how short and precious life truly is and we must not take our families, our friends or ourselves for granted.
All we need is to Love, Love, Love.
My family, May 2021
‘The beautiful things in life are not just things. They’re the people and places, memories and pictures. They’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.” -author unknown
Thoughts From My Crowded Mind 