Kerri On Down The Road

Strength is one of those words that can mean different things to different people.  For some, it may conjure images of muscle-bound bodybuilders or sinewy ultra runners who travel farther on foot than many of us care to drive.  For others, it brings to mind character traits that are more internal than external. I found myself contemplating what strength means to me as I rode my bike home from the gym one day last week.  I've started riding more this season and find myself hopping on my city bike to get to and from the gym when time allows.  I love the feeling of freedom I have on my bike, and it doesn't hurt that the way to the gym includes a lovely downhill section.  Of course, what that means is that there's an equally steep climb to conquer on the way home, post-workout.   As I started the climb, my legs began to question my bike-riding logic, and I quietly reminded myself that I am strong and capable and would make it up the hill.  That's when...

As I sit at my desk, staring out the window, trying to collect my thoughts, I am struck by the many transitions and changes that seem to arrive at this time of year.  Summer is slowly drawing to a close, with the light casting longer shadows early in the mornings and sunsets creeping earlier each night.  Schools are preparing to open their doors once again, and there is an underlying sense of routine and responsibilities returning to centre stage.  While some of these changes may feel welcome and are eagerly anticipated, there is also an accompanying melancholy for the passing of what was.  It is hard to feel the ease of summer sliding by, only to be replaced by the heavier feelings that often come with late fall and winter.   What is it about this annual shift from summer to fall that feels so hard? One would think that as we get older and experience this over and over again, we would become accustomed to it, yet that doesn't seem to be the case.  It ...

 Lately, I've been in a space of contemplation and evaluation.  Well, let's be honest, I'm often in that space.  What's been different about this recent round of reflection is something I happened across quite by accident.  With last week's full moon and lunar eclipse, there were many astrological reels to examine online, and I happily went down many of these rabbit holes.  One tarot reading I watched really stood out to me. It wasn't so much the nuances regarding Virgo season that caught my attention, as many of the messages being shared were ones I was already aware of.  The part that grabbed me was about decisions being made or changed as a result of the shifting energy surrounding the new astrological season we are entering. As the tarot reader moved through the cards she had drawn, explaining how they might manifest, she mentioned that the cards were indicating changes and new decisions being made.  She emphasized that, just because changes would ...

 Over the past few years, I have been working toward my BA in Psychology, taking courses through a distance-learning program.  It's been interesting and challenging to return to school as a mature student, and I have enjoyed the learning curve (for the most part).  When I was in high school, I completed my mandatory science credits by the end of my second year and did not feel compelled to pursue further study.  Instead, I focused my mind on more arts-based courses, such as English and music. Fast-forward thirty years, and I find myself immersed in courses that are very science-based, with no option but to embrace this discipline. What I discovered is that despite my many misgivings, I quite enjoy the scientific method of looking at things.  I like the very fact-based and logical lens that science has us look through.  Lately I've been thinking about how I can apply some of these same principles to my life as I examine the direction I'm moving toward. ...

When was the last time you witnessed a young child being denied something they firmly believed was theirs?  Whether it was a turn to press the elevator button, a cold treat on a hot afternoon, or simply a specific item that they had their eye on, they do not let their disappointment in being denied go unnoticed.  At work, I often witness these events and am always curious to see how they unfold; remembering all too well what it was like to work in child care settings and to have young children of my own to navigate these touchy moments with.  I remember the embarrassment when disapproving eyes cast their gaze my way as one or both of my young ones aired their grievances publicly, and how I felt the need to try to shush or diffuse the situation, rushing their process along. It was difficult to witness them moving through hard feelings, especially because these moments seemed to last forever.  As an adult, there are times when I would love nothing more than to be able ...

 Have you ever been at a point in your life where you feel like all the work and focus are starting to pay off, and you can visualize and sometimes even feel that things are starting to fall into place?  There are days when you are certain that what you have been waiting for is just around the corner, just a little more patience on your part, and you'll be "there".  The excitement is palpable; your anticipation increases despite telling yourself to hold on and not get ahead of yourself.  And then reality checks in.   It's not that you're nowhere near where you want to be; it's just that you aren't quite as close to your destination as you had hoped and believed you were. Sigh. What happens next?  How do you handle the feeling of being so close and yet so far? This is something I'm nudging up against in a few areas of my life lately, and I have to admit, I am not sure there is a way to handle these feelings without adding to the rollercoaster ride of em...