I so appreciate this article: It’s Not About Race. It is a beautifully clear and poignant explanation of how systemic racism came about, what it does, and the ways I unwittingly participate in it. Because I am white and therefore enjoy the privilege that has resulted from normalizing Western European behaviors and ideas, it takes some work for me to understand how and why this happened. Still more work to understand how I perpetuate the system and what I can do to change it. I SO appreciate smart people willing to explain it to me in a way I can absorb. #grateful

What lovely weather the past few days! Sunshine and thunderstorms in perfect balance (for my taste, anyway)!

I know I mentioned this before, but OMG chickens!!

You can see our little baby in actions on my Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/dianakorpi/videos/10155503536178851/

Uh, the date! I mean really. 7/17/17 is pretty freaking awesome.

More chicken coop progress despite the hot hot hotness. You are the best, Mckenzie. 😊

Having had really good energy for several months now. Every day that I walk more than 12,000 steps (most days the past few months) I am SO grateful to have the energy to do that. I am appreciating the hard work my heart is doing to let me live such a good, rich life. ❤️

Surplus energy during cabin week – even got to play tether ball (which is hilarious. I am not tall.) and go for walks and canoe and paddleboat rides. What a change from last summer. And what a thrill!!

Um, chickens. Chickens! You guys. They are so amazing!

I haven’t been posting very regularly, but it’s mostly because I am so busy appreciating all the goodness of my life that I forget to share it with you. 💕

If you haven’t seen a post from me in awhile, you can assume that I am appreciating some or all of the following…

Family and friends who fill my heart and my days with joy.

Special events, regular events, silliness, sweetness, surprises.

Weather in all its glorious states. Okay, maybe not the sticky hot humid weather. On those days, you can assume I am very, very busy appreciating AC. So hard. 😉

Fun interactions with people I don’t know, unexpected laughs and smiles, amusing and amazing sights and sounds, memories of hilarity and the making of more such memories, animals, flowers, sunshine, food, coffee, art, learning, growing, making and learning from mistakes, games, laughter, shared time and space, and all the little things that make our lives easier, more comfortable, more interesting, more full.

And for the next few months, you can be sure I will be appreciating (many times a day) our CHICKENS! O M G. So in love.

 

More Lego fun.

Sunday morning box fun with Ida.

More progress on Project Chickens. Mckenzie has been hard at work every day, rain or shine. It’s amazing!

Guess what? I can cook! And bake! This week we enjoyed lemon chicken, fried rice, peach-strawberry pie, and enchiladas (next time I’ll use only 2 serranos. My English/Finnish background has not prepared me for that kind of HOT.) 😉

Getting to make and enjoy said deliciousness with my favorite people. 💙

Mini pies to test out new recipes. Strawberry+black raspberry=Yes! Strawberry+banana and strawberry+nectarine=meh. Just FYI.

The most adorable, funny, awe-inspiring, wonderful roommates. Srsly. So. Much Cuteness.

Old saw + new blade = lumber cutting success!

An abundance of black raspberries. Thanks to Mckenzie’s pruning last year, we can actually reach them to harvest this year!

The latest addition to my office wall o’ inspiration. See me learning to chill?! 🤣

Gorgeous weather and the energy to get in 10,000 steps most days! Way to go heart. Maybe I can keep you!! 😁

Drinking coffee and watching morning storms with the family.

Post-storm puddle walks.

Ida and the balloons!

Sorting through 2 more bins of stuff and donating most of it.

Newly organized and cleaned kitchen.

Sarah’s immersion blender!!

Protein smoothies (see above). 😉

Planning fun summer plans.

My Pride Month colored work spreadsheet. Because rainbow.

Good results from 2nd colonoscopy. No cancer, no surgery or new drug treatment imminent!

All the days that don’t involve colonoscopy or prep. Srsly. 😆

Field trip with Sarah to watch and learn about the printing process. SO. COOL! (And so loud!)

Strawberry picking with the family. Perfect weather for picking 30 lbs of strawberries. 😁

Batch cooking weekend with Sarah. So much done!

Fun meals with funny people.

Fresh strawberry pie with coconut whipped cream. O M G.

The successful purchasing, transporting, and installing of our new (to us), $75 stove.
Goodbye 30+ year old monstrosity! Hello new friend!

Progress on Project Chickens!

Sitting on the stoop at 6:30 am with my coffee. Listening to quiet punctuated by kids noisily running for the bus.

Midday walk around the block. Oh hostas, what big leaves you have!

Gorgeous flowers all throughout the hood.

Porch Fest! I only had energy for a short walk during tonight’s Porch Fest, but I managed to see 6 bands during my short little walk.

 

The sound of music wafting all through the streets reminded me a little of my beloved Rocky Mountain Song School, which I’ve missed so much these past few years. There is just something so magical about people making all kinds of music in one place. ✨✨✨

Today I am thinking about the intersection of privilege, resources, community, mental health, and positive psychology.

I am passionate about positive psychology and about helping people find ways to increase their happiness. But I do have questions.

How can I account for and address the fact that I am working from a position of incredible privilege?

How helpful are the tools I use and suggest to people who are marginalized by systemic racism, or who don’t have access to the resources I do for any number of reasons?

Are there ways to make these tools more applicable to a wider audience, or are they only useful given a baseline of ease?

I don’t know. What do you think?

Sarah’s expert and enthusiastic pruning of our weigela, which brought forth a riot of blooms!

Living with truly adorable people.

Our new fancy fenceline with snapdragons, clematis, and sedum, oh my!

Superhero walks.

Tag-team lego building.

My newly-won title as the Pajama Whisperer. Taking my place among the greats!