 I am an East Coast expatriate hiding out in the Midwest... I am an urban gal living in the suburbs and occasionally hiding in the country I am a yoga practitioner, fitness enthusiast, believer in the mind-body-spirit connection... I am a mid-life "revert" to the Roman Catholic faith in which I was raised and which has become an enormous source of support, encouragement, inspiration, and joy in my life... I am a mom, sister, daughter, and wife... I am an explorer; adventurous and curious about the world and people around me... I am educated in the formal sense but I gain insight through everyday living... I created this blog at a time of great fear and apprehension in my life. I chose to sustain it because of the discoveries about myself and the world around me that it has revealed. What you can expect to find here: the documentation of a love-hate relationship with the greater Philadelphia area
reminiscing about the good-ole-days (the 80's!)
complaints about my various ailments and injuries, both real and imagined
pictures and stories of gardening, decorating, shopping, sewing
my love of irony
links to kooky news stories
way too much scatological musing for sane people
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Thursday, March 09, 2006
Tuesday afternoon I went to my local indoor pool to swim and perform what I like to call "water pilates." Basically I utilize the float apparatus to do resistance training on my arms, shoulders, thighs, butt, and abs. Once you take any aqua-aerobics-type class you learn how to do all of these exercises, so I do them on my own and then swim a few laps and do additional stretching before retiring to the sauna.
I was alone in the sweltering sauna and took advantage of the silence to listen to my thoughts. My mind began focusing on my near-obsession with "calling." I am one of those people who, despite extensive education and life experiences, still don't know "what I want to be when I grow up."
Some weeks ago the first reading at Mass was the story of Samuel and Eli. Samuel being a young apprentice and literally being woken from sleep by God calling his name and telling him what the heck he was supposed to be doing. The Blessing of Explicit Directions is what I like to call it. I have tried time and again to tune into my intuition and pray for clear direction. I'm not asking for any Big Picture scenario here. I just want to figure out how to best apply my interests and talents to somehow effect a change in someone/something other than myself. And then, I felt something come through clearly in the 180-degree air of the sauna. That "inner voice" nearly hit me like a sack of bricks as it proclaimed, "You need to share your knowledge and enthusiasm for exercise to help other people." How would I do this, I began to question. I can't afford certification courses in fitness or yoga right now, even though I'd love to be some sort of fitness instructor.
Yesterday I got a surprise phone call from Pam, the perinatal loss conselor at the Hospital. She asked how I was doing and I shared my improving health and outlook that are accompanying my weekly workout routines. As I detailed some of the changes I have made and acknowledged the occasional stumbling blocks I have encountered, she replied, "Wow. What would you think about writing a monthly article with exercise and "take time out for yourself" tips for our (maternal loss)support group newsletter?"
Pow! There was that sack of bricks again. "Yes!" I said without skipping a beat. "When is the deadline?"
Posted at 09:09 am by brandy101
 | | | Giggles
March 11, 2006 09:38 PM PST
Brandy...you are amazing!! I, like everyone else here, hope that you will share your articles. I would love to read them!!
I wish my sack of bricks would hit me. I know I have a calling...I just haven't been able to see the Caller ID yet. | |
| | | selfindulgence
March 11, 2006 08:26 PM PST
If your column is ever available on line, I'd love to read it. If it's anything your blog, it'll be the exact medicine people need, at the exact moment they need it.
Or something.
Anyway, I totally agree with you on The Cure. Robert Smith is one of the few British vocalists who sings without losing his accent that I can handle. I have amost all their albums and have seen them live on several occasions.
Other than that, a British singer needs to sound miiiighty American for me to get into them. This is why bands like the Stone Roses (who I was forced to see in concert about a dozen years ago) and Blur remain barred from my record collection.
Oh! And I don't know if you're a fan or not, but Lisa Loeb will be Chicago (actually, she'll be in Morton Grove of all places) in June! She headlines a consortium of Jewish musical groups.
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| | | chrysalis
March 10, 2006 04:25 AM PST
That is excellent news, Brandy! With your dual talents of fitness and writing, it certainly does look to be a "calling" of sorts!
So, will you share your articles with us?
My crystal ball (lol) says that someday you'll become an investigative fitness journalist, hardhitting and always at odds with your editor. Kinda like Fletch, but in a leotard. | |
| | | Michelle
March 9, 2006 05:38 PM PST
The world works as it should...we just need to trust in it more. Thanks for the inspiration!
P.S. I have no idea what I want to be when I 'grow up' either | |
| | | AbbyNormal
March 9, 2006 01:42 PM PST
Wow. That sounds like a Blessing of Explicit Direction if I ever heard one!
I think it would be perfect for you, and for your (future) readership. You go!
(maybe I should go do some sauna hopping, myself...) | |
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