My birthday was last month. If the last few years are any indication, I think I’m going to enjoy 42.
I started journalling about 10 years ago. Then, it was a great outlet to talk to myself and figure out what I wanted and where I wanted to be going. Now days, I feel really settled which has resulted in much less writing. Things are still turbulent as all get out. Kid, relationship, house, 3 dogs, travel, work… lots going on and plenty to do, but the overall feeling is of riding the flow without worrying about what is coming up next or where it is going. I’m confident in my paddling skills and looking forward to seeing where the river is going to take me.
But I regret not writing through it. I like having my journals and this blog as a way to keep track of things that have happened. In just the last month I’ve surfed in Costa Rica, gotten married and watched my daughter gleefully throw herself at the ocean waves. Definitely all well worth remembering!
One of the newest things I’ve been doing this year is volunteering as an Engineer in Residence with a local public school. Now that Portia is getting older and I have a bit more free time, I’ve been wanting to do some volunteer work. Once a month I spend a morning in the classroom talking about engineering and science. The next one is this Monday and I’ll be presenting to 3 kindergarten classes and teaching them about potential and kinetic energy by flinging marshmallows at a target with plastic spoon catapults. It is a great way to promote women in engineering and I get to have fun too.
