How many times have you directed those words at yourself after making a mistake?  We are so much harsher on ourselves than on anyone else.  In fact, you probably would never even consider calling someone else an idiot - unless it is yelled (along with a few other choice words) in the privacy of your car when someone cuts you off in traffic.

As you may have imagined, this post is the direct result of an incident yesterday, in which I was upset with myself.  Beyond the physical injury (yes, it was that kind of mistake), I was beating myself up pretty badly for ruining intended plans (we were on the eastern side of the State visiting my sister-in-law) and for inconveniencing my family.  

After a bit, while sitting in a bed in the Plattsburgh E.R. waiting for them to determine that I had dislocated my arm (thankfully, not broken my humerus), I realized how dumb it was to condemn myself for an accident.  Yes, it probably could have been prevented if I had tied my laces instead of just shoving my feet into my hiking boots for the short distance to retrieve my coffee from the car.  However, the fact that the lace got caught in the step, causing me to trip and land face-first in the gravel driveway, was not intentional.  

When you can realize that life is simply a series of mistakes, treat each of them as a valuable learning experience, and then move forward with all of that accumulated wisdom, you will understand that you are perpetually creating new and better versions of yourself.  

This current rendition of me is incredibly grateful and humbled to have Mike (my hubby), my family, and all of my DRC Peeps in my corner.  I will be calling on them over the coming weeks to assist me with the simplest of tasks - not the least of which will be tying my shoes.

DRC News

The DRC-East families are continuing to raise money for a furnace for the facility that hosts us in Lawrenceville.  The GoFundMe page is active and they are selling 50/50 raffle tickets until the drawing on November 5th.  Get in touch to purchase your tickets.How many times have you directed those words at yourself after making a mistake?  We are so much harsher on ourselves than on anyone else.  In fact, you probably would never even consider calling someone else an idiot - unless it is yelled (along with a few other choice words) in the privacy of your car when someone cuts you off in traffic.

Those of you who have read my blog regularly for a while have heard me mention, a few times, that serendipity is my favorite word. Not only do I love the fundamental concept, along with the feeling of playfulness it engenders, but I have also very recently come to realize that it embodies my entire life philosophy.  

I believe that openness, flexibility, adaptability, gratitude, and trust are all the keys that provide the space to explore all the possibilities.  And, not coincidentally, allows those serendipitous moments to pop up, seemingly out of nowhere.   

On the opposing side, I have come to learn that obsessively worrying about circumstances that arise, or trying to control a situation, ultimately inhibits my ability to go with the flow and embrace the incredible opportunities that present themselves along the way.  In fact, upon reflection, I often didn't even see them or their potential.  

I have discovered that expecting happy surprises, which may include people fortuitously entering my life, events occurring at a particular time, or even experiences that I had not imagined as useful, enrich my soul beyond measure.  And I am profoundly grateful. 

The boys filled the water filter on their own, and then watched carefully and discussed the process of the water going down through the filter and filling the bottom of the pitcher.  "It is going down and up at the same time." - TD

DRC News

I am excited by the potential of one such serendipitous phone call that I received this past Friday.  In the coming weeks and months, you will be witness to the unfolding results of the collaborative work that it inspires.  Stay-tuned!

Yesterday, I asked DRC kids, families, staff, and board to vote on a new t-shirt design.  One of them has become the clear front runner; however, in the interest of fairness, I am not going to say which one.  If you feel at all invested in which t-shirt would best represent DRC, please state your preference in the comments or send us a message.  I will reveal the new design in next week's blog post.

As we get closer to winter, DRC-East families are continuing to work hard on their fundraising efforts to purchase a furnace for the fantastic facility that hosts us in Lawrenceville.  Along with the 50/50 raffle (which you can also purchase at DRC Canton), they have created a "go-fund-me" page. They are grateful for any help you can offer. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed. 

The five consecutive words I hear more often than any others regarding homeschooling (or, more accurately, unschooling) are, "I want to make sure..." My response is always either, "you can't," or more directly, "don't," when I am feeling particularly spunky.

Yes, I understand that the basis of this statement is steeped in the murky and culturized depths of what society and the government school system have established as valid. However, this particular conversation makes me incredibly crazy and frustrated.

For starters, the pre-determined guidelines and standards do not take individuality, not to mention particular interests or aspirations into consideration. And, more importantly, at the end of the day, no one, except YOU, has the authority to determine the validity of what YOU choose to learn and explore.  

Autonomy is critical for problem-solving, scientific inquiry, the ability to make decisions and reason, open-mindedness, the skill to perceive injustice, and the capacity to play, explore, and wonder.  

The ill-conceived concepts of obedience, conformity, and compliance (for the good of all), have undermined and virtually erased the legitimacy of individual self-determination.

With this knowledge, I have no reason to wonder why: many young people feel lost and have no idea what they are even interested in pursuing, there is a disregard for the scientific method, and a rush to accept conspiracy theories, as well as why there is this unfathomable and disconcerting inability to understand the significance of history on our current reality.

DRC News

The DRC-East families are working on raising money to help purchase a furnace (boiler) for the house that hosts us in Lawrenceville.  If a central heat source is not installed before it gets cold, DRC-East will need to find another facility and move.  

Because DRC does not own the building, the families are organizing these on their own.  The first fundraiser is a 50/50 raffle.     Thank you for your support.

SLU Make a Difference Day
Thank you to the SLU Crew who came on Saturday to install a pallet fence, and rake our yard. 

When given the opportunity, how do you describe yourself?  Do you reference your physical and personality characteristics, along with your skills, interests, and talents?  Do you share your dreams and aspirations, and emphasize your positive attributes?  Or, do you list your deficits and the negative aspects that you dislike about yourself, first?   

Most of us have mastered the fine art of self-deprecation.  To the point where we don't even realize how much it has influenced every part of our lives.  

For fear of being labeled selfish, lazy, or narcissistic, we have learned to downplay our talents (and genius), work ourselves to the point of exhaustion, without resting, and ignore the burning desire to take the time to practice a new skill-set.       

Our health (mental and physical), relationships, and aspirations, along with our good intentions, are all the collateral damage that attests to our busy-ness and self-disparagement.

No, you are not lazy or selfish if you take time to "goof-off" and rest your mind and body.  No! You are not narcissistic if you think about following your passions and desire happiness.

Therefore, the most important question of all may be, do you know, in your heart of hearts, what inspires you to be your best self?

In the end, it all comes down to trusting that your true authentic self is perfectly suited to you (and is enough).  Your joys, intuition, hopes, desires, talents, and skills, as well as your imperfections, are all part of you for a reason.  Acting on the things that fulfill you is what will drive you to share yourself with others.  And, not coincidentally, the resulting collaborations are what bring you more fully to yourself.  Because all humans, even those of us who are extreme introverts, require meaningful connections with our fellow beings to survive and to, ultimately, thrive. 

DRC News

Thank you to Bill H. for assembling the portable basketball hoop that Tasha N. donated a couple weeks ago. We enjoyed a few short games of "PIG" before the rain arrived (and stayed around) this past week. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you also to Zoe S. for picking up the CNY Foodbank order at the Canton Neighborhood Center and bringing it to DRC last Wednesday.  It is a task that we need a volunteer to take on least two Wednesdays every month.  If you would like to help out occasionally, contact me here.

DRC-East, in Lawrenceville, is booming.  Six new kids joined us this last week!  We are looking for dedicated volunteers to spend a day or two each week with our amazing kiddos over there.  If you live in the area and would like to share your skills, talents, and interests with them, please get in touch to learn more.

Thank you!