Author’s note: Considering that this swampy weather has officially turned my brain to mush and I have no good ideas for this week’s blog, besides whining about my intense dislike for summer heat, humidity, and pesky, head-circling, biting bugs, we are taking a look back at a post I wrote in August 2021. With a few edits, the theme is as relevant now as it was four years ago when we were all figuring out how to navigate a world-wide pandemic.

Decisions, Decisions
8/15/2021
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Every human is born with natural decision-making ability.  Unfortunately, some have lost their capacity through conditioning.  

I have always been decisive – I would say (as would those who know and love me) that determination (stubbornness) is a large part of my personality. (Now in 2025, I understand this characteristic is mostly due to my neurospiciness.) My husband, Mike, jokes that I can walk into a furniture store to shop for a couch and come out ten minutes later having made the purchase.  

I don’t waffle, and I don’t second guess; I quite, simply, jump in and go for it.  I trust the experts and the process.  However, I have always understood that nothing is permanent and, in my mind, never totally finished – everything is a work in progress.   When you learn more – you merely adjust your original calculations (in my mind this is the simplest definition of science).  

When I make those inevitable mistakes or missteps, I work to own them and rectify them.  I also understand going in that some fixes will be more expensive than others.  Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop me.  

The thing is, failing to make a decision is a decision in itself.  One that can be (way more) harmful, painful, and costly than any other path you could have actively chosen. 

Deep Root Center is here for any child who requires a different educational environment. We offer both in-person at our Canton facility and consultation services, as well as our DRC-Pop-ups. Get in touch to learn how we can help.

Last Friday, my husband, Mike, was one of the featured musicians at the Potsdam Summerfest on the second stage. He played seven of his original songs in the middle of Market Street for thirty minutes.

This major accomplishment is extraordinary for a few reasons:

• Mike is a self-taught musician who bought his first guitar at the BX when he was stationed in England in the mid-80s. Always an avid fan of music, he purchased records as a teen and young adult, and devoured and memorized all of the info on the album covers.
• He began playing seriously just a few years ago at 56, starting with mostly Jethro Tull covers and performing his first open mic in May 2022.
• Three years ago, he wrote his first song and began performing at more open mics locally and in the Adirondacks.
• Having written seventy songs to date, he spends hours practicing each week.
• Over the past six months, in addition to the Potsdam Summer Fest Gig, he has had several opportunities to showcase his talents and sometimes be paid, including playing for GardenShare at three local farmers’ markets three different times this summer through a NYS Arts regrant Program. He was off to Plattsburgh this weekend to play in another music festival.

Mike’s musical journey exemplifies how pursuing personal passions is enabled by a dedication to lifelong, self-directed learning. It also speaks to my belief that we are each constantly evolving into our authentic selves.
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To this point, some folx are always in motion—going from one project, one passion, one triumph to the next—plowing through obstacles and learning from their mistakes. Others struggle to find their purpose until it is revealed mysteriously, when they least expect it. And finally, it is important to note that only a rare few seem to know their destiny seemingly from the day they were born.

Not very many of us are even remotely close to where we thought we would be when we envisioned our lives at 18. Our life stories tell tales of major plot twists as we make decisions based on new circumstances we encounter throughout our lives. I mean, I could never have imagined that at the age of 36, a mother of two small children, I would go back to college (to study Anthropology of all things), at 48 I would quit my job of ten years that I thought I wouldn’t leave until I was a ripe old age, and having been that shy, awkward, clueless, and terrified 18 year old, it is utterly crazy that at the age of 49, I founded and now direct Deep Root Center, a not-for-profit self-directed learning center, but here we are—eleven years later at the age of 60, still going strong with a deeper understanding of my own neurospiciness.

This is why I spend my days encouraging youth to explore all the possibilities, starting with their interests. With our support, they can discover whole new worlds that they had no idea existed.

Young people should not feel like they need to commit to one path forward for the remainder of their lives. It makes me a little sad to hear a teen agonizing over certain decisions, as if they don’t choose one thing, it is lost to them forever. The world is wide open, and they should feel free to jump in, take some chances, follow their passion (whatever it is in the moment), get messy, make mistakes, and find their joy. There is absolutely no need to stagnate your growth potential for fear of judgment or failure.

​I have been busy planning fun carnival style games for this event. There will also be a creativity center set up with an abundance of supplies for anyone to make cool art. And we will have a playzone with toys of all kinds. Save the date and bring the whole family. 

Summer Program
Don't miss the Early Bird Special ending July 31st

Representation matters. Everyone should be able to recognize a version of themselves thriving in the world. When folx feel seen, they sense that they are understood and validated.

Why is this important? Simply put, it is a testament that we:

• are, in fact, human
• are not stupid
• are not lazy
• are valuable & worthy
• can achieve the things we dream about
• can make valuable contributions to our community and society

I believe that the fundamental definition of a flourishing society is one where everyone is cared for and seen! To be clear, judgment and control do the exact opposite.

Connection and engagement go hand in hand — it is hard to have one without the other. All humans crave meaningful connection, and our innate desire to relate a good story, with all those quirky personal touches, is the link that celebrates our shared human condition, especially for those of us who are neurospicy, loner types who prefer solitude over a crowded room. Mutual enthusiastic engagement in the telling provides the essential glue (and for some of us, the all-important dopamine hit that gets us out of our own heads for at least a few moments).

It may look something like this: I was standing at the Deep Root Center info table at Pride Fest in Potsdam when a man walked up to me very intentionally and said, "You look very familiar." As per usual, whenever I am in public settings here, "I replied, I grew up in Brasher." And, he said, "I live in Brasher and grew up there." It turns out that, after connecting the dots through my Dad, who was a teacher there for 25 years, I discovered that this guy is my Mom's new neighbor! He was born in 1983, the year I graduated and left, so I'm not sure how he recognized me unless I look more like my mother than I previously believed. We proceeded to share stories for another 15-20 minutes, totally caught up in the weird serendipitous six degrees of separation (which is often more like one or two degrees), here in the NoCo.

Connection and engagement are also the key to building a community (whether large or small) where everyone feels safe and cared for. Again, these two elements are accomplished simply and elegantly through shared personal narratives that ultimately help develop empathy for those who are different from us.

Unfortunately, I believe that compassion and empathy are the main components missing in today's world. Those who choose to judge, control, and punish without trying to understand the levels of hopelessness, discouragement, and pain, or even the occasional moment of joy another person is experiencing, are the reason (well, that and racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, white nationalism, misogyny, and the uber-wealthy's unmitigated obsession for acquiring more and more and more...) we are currently in this unbearable situation, where abject cruelty and inhumane barbarism is now the law of the land.

This is why connection and engagement are the main factors I look for when a new student member at Deep Root Center is settling in. The most contented and involved are those who are open and willing to try new things, join group activities, and are visibly more comfortable pursuing their interests and being themselves while listening to and accepting others for who they are.

For those who struggle to make meaningful and respectful connections, we model thoughtfulness, honesty, and kindness. We are also not afraid to discuss anything that impacts individuals or the group, including toxic attitudes that could be harmful to our community.

Furthermore, despite the ruthless examples of callousness and brutality from some of our elected representatives, we will continue to hold space with grace and empathy while empowering a culture of trust and respect in a community that is here for any young person who needs us.

Opportunity for Local Businesses
We are looking for sponsors for our 2nd annual Craft Fair and Family Fun Event to be held in the Norwood Village Park on August 9th from 10-3.
Sponsorship Levels:
Bronze - $25 - You or your business will receive a personal thank you and mention in DRC Social Media Posts
Silver - $50 - You or your business will receive a personal thank you, and a mention in DRC Social Media Posts and on our website.
Gold - $100 - You or your business will receive a personal thank you, a mention in DRC Social Media Posts, on our website, and in a news release to local newspapers, and if sponsored before July 21st your business will be featured on posters of the event that will be hung around the local area.