June 2020 – Steph Simply

Berry Beneficial Acai Smoothie

June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles, Recipes

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”–Jim Rohn

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”–Ann Wigmore

With the warm, humid weather of summer making its way into the Tri-State area, I find myself craving smoothies again. Since quarantine, I have once more fallen into the habit of not eating anything until lunchtime. Sure, my stomach complains at times, but not enough to motivate me to pause for breakfast. As I have shared previously, I hop on and off the breakfast train–going for weeks at a time eating breakfast regularly, and then falling off that habit for weeks again. Craving smoothies is a sure sign that it is time to hop back on that proverbial train.

However, I tend to have a sensitive stomach that has only become more sensitive with age. I learned that I have to, unfortunately, limit my coffee intake in the early morning hours. In fact, I typically down 16 or so ounces of water first thing in the morning before touching a coffee cup. Additionally, I am sometimes downright nauseated in the morning, and the thought of food, even my favorite oatmeal, doesn’t even sound appealing. (Yes, I am one of those people who loves oatmeal.) Thus, I have learned that if I wait until lunch time, my queeziness will subside, and I am usually ready to eat.

I know some research states that one should “eat like a king” at breakfast and ensure the consumption of 30 grams of protein first thing in the morning, but those researchers don’t have my stomach and are often hocking their own protein product. Still, I do recognize, especially as I age, the benefits of consuming quality, nutritious food at each meal–whether it’s two, or three, meals per day–for longterm preventative health care. Additionally, there is some scientific data suggesting that making healthful choices in the morning typically leads to more positive choices as the day progresses. Therefore, if my stomach can handle it, why not have a nutritious breakfast smoothie later in the morning, especially if exercising outdoors in hot, humid weather?

I know, I know, many diet experts warn about the dangers of drinking your calories, rather than chewing them. Furthermore, other diet experts caution against all of the calorie laden ingredients that can be easily added to a smoothie. However, I would argue that a properly prepared smoothie–one chock full of whole food ingredients based upon your unique dietary and caloric needs–can be a nutritious, healthy choice, especially if you have a sensitive stomach like mine. One of those whole food ingredients is acai.

In fact, it’s impossible not to notice the proliferation of acai products, pronounced, ah-sigh-ee, in restaurants, grocery stories, and health food markets. From smoothies to smoothie bowls, from flavored yogurt to juice refreshers (think Starbucks), from flavored protein bars to pill/supplements, and from dark chocolate bars to infused margaritas, acai seems to currently have sweetheart status in the health community. Although acai is generally referred to as a berry, it is technically a drupe, also known as stonefruit, like cherries, plums, olives, and peaches, and it is popularly lauded for its numerous health benefits.

Based upon my reading though, there seems to be a general consensus to group the acai with berries. Furthermore, acai tends to have a short shelf life as it only grows on palm trees in Central and South America; and thus, it is most often available in three forms: frozen fruit puree, freeze dried powder, or pressed juice. As a self-proclaimed foodie, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to give acai a try by purchasing a small bag of the freeze dried powder.

To be clear, I do not believe that acai is the panacea of health that many supplement companies try to convince consumers; however, acai does offer many health benefits similar to most dark fruits and berries. Acai possesses high levels of antioxidants (even higher than blueberries and cranberries), essential fatty acids, fiber, and are nutrient dense. Still, like any one single food, acai is not the magical key to health; however, when consumed as part of a larger diet based on wide array of colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables, acai is a wonderful addition.

One word of caution though, many frozen fruit purees, juices, and other acai-flavored products are loaded with added sugar and/or other ingredients a health-conscious consumer may not want. Therefore, if, like me, you want to reap the nutritional benefits without the junk, the freeze dried form of acai seems to have the greatest amount of fiber, essential fats, and health-boosting plant compounds.

Below is the recipe-scaffolding that I created using acai freeze dried powder. Do you have to use acai? NO! Instead, replace the acai with ½ cup of another fruit; or, if you want to stick with the drupe (stonefruit) family, add in cherries, Indian gooseberries, or slices of nectarines, peaches, and/or mangoes. Feel free to play with this recipe. There is never an obligation, in my opinion, to follow recipes exactly as created. Think of this recipe as a springboard of ideas for creating your own variation of this summer-time smoothie. Want to make it a smoothie bowl? Then, fill a bowl with this smoothie and top it off with slices of fruit and the crunchy goodness of nuts, seeds, granola, and/or oats. Summer is the time to have fun in the kitchen; and, yes, it can still be nutritious! After all, one positive choice leads to the next!

From my home to yours, I wish you healthy, happy, and homemade meals or smoothies!

P.S. If you do find another variation that gets your taste buds excited, please share it with me by emailing me or tagging me on Instagram or Facebook! I’d love to see what you create!

Berry Beneficial Acai Smoothie

Makes 1 serving, but can be doubled, tripled as needed.

Base Ingredients:

½ + ½ cup favorite smoothie beverage (water, milk, plant milk, kefir, coconut water)

½ to 1 cup of frozen or fresh berries (Pick your favorite! Frozen fruit leads to a thicker smoothie.)

½ cup frozen, plain–no other added ingredients–riced cauliflower (I know, it sounds weird, but it’s a wonderful thickener, and it’s a great way to sneak veggies into your day without tasting it!)

½ banana, frozen or fresh (Remember, the more frozen ingredients, the thicker the smoothie.)

**If wishing to use protein powder, see note below, and add in here.

1 ½ – 3 tsp acai powder (depending upon the amount you want)

½ tsp vanilla extract

*Dash of sea salt and any other optional add-ins suggested below

*Optional add-ins:

**1-2 scoop(s) of favorite protein powder (This is an optional addition. I make this smoothie with and without protein. However, I found that even using a tablespoon of my favorite plant-based protein powder gives the smoothie a more rounded flavor and thickens the smoothie a tad bit more.)

1-2 tablespoons of favorite nuts or seed (Think walnuts, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and etc.)

1-2 tablespoons of favorite nut butter

¼ to ⅓ cup oats (As a thickening agent, and another boost of nutrition, especially if you need the extra calories.)

In a blender, or blender cup, add ½ cup of your favorite smoothie liquid.

Next, add it fruit(s) and plain riced cauliflower

Add in banana, cut into chunks.

Add in all other ingredients as well as any optional add-ins

Finally, top it all off with another ½ cup of preferred liquid.

Blend until smooth.

Best if served immediately, but can be stored in fridge for later use.

Note: Can add more or less liquid to adjust to desired consistency.

Mmm, drink in that refreshing fruit and veg!

The Nature of Outdoor Exercise

June 18, 2020June 24, 2020 by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles, Simple Observations and Musings, Travels

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”–Ralph Waldo Emerson

“If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to man when he goes for a walk.”–Raymond Inmon

If you have worked from home during this quarantine period, you have most likely experienced some form of frustration, isolation, emotional upheaval, or perhaps even anger, depression, and/or anxiety. Add to the pandemic crisis a strong sentiment of public unrest due to social injustices and inequalities, as well as high unemployment, and it is no wonder that mental health issues are on the rise. How does one cope with all of these stressors in a healthy manner? Based upon my research, there is no one right answer.

Many mental health experts tend to agree on the fact that we should all maintain and/or create a routine for sleeping and waking, hydrating, eating healthy food, and some experts will even emphasize the importance of taking a daily shower and not working in pajamas all day–which is amusing to me on a number of levels. Others suggest the importance of finding a creative outlet, reading those been-meaning-to-read books, gardening, cooking, organizing closets, and so forth–anything that feels productive and useful. Still, others highlight the importance of exercise and spending time in nature as ways to maintain and/or strengthen mental health. While all of those are noteworthy and worth exploring, due to the months-long quarantine period, I rediscovered the soul-healing power of exercising in the great outdoors.

I’ll be honest, Dear Reader, and I suspect I am not alone when I write this, I have a history of battling bouts of depression, or my dark side as I humorously like to call it. Usually, it’s seasonal or situational, never long lasting, and fairly easy from which to recover. However, the quarantine period was different. In fact, the months of March, April, and May, felt dark, difficult, and downright disheartening, and I was employed! I have to wonder how much more devastated I would have felt if I had lost my job.

Initially, I would joke that as an introvert, I had been preparing to quarantine my whole life. However, I quickly discovered that the new demands of trying to integrate work into home life, along with a couple of other major life shifts, made it hard to establish a routine, much less stick to one. I tried meditating every morning; then I tried practicing yoga every morning. Still, no tangible routine ever formed that significantly pushed away the mental darkness.

One event that nudged away a few clouds were the days in which my husband, John, and I cut off the work day by a certain time, and then drove to a local walking path for a 30-40 minute walk. Unfortunately, so much of our local spring was, more often than not, wet, rainy, cloudy, and cool–exceptionally cool given the time of the year– for these afternoon excursions. This was compounded by the fact, like many Tri-State residents, that we do not live in a neighborhood conducive to walking, we always had (have) to drive to a path.

Image from St. Mary’s Proctorville Walking Path

One day, I began randomly googling exercises for back injuries as well as walking-to-running training plans for those recovering from a back injury. Nearly ten years ago, I had begun running as a form of exercise and found that while I was not particularly fast, I thoroughly enjoyed being outside on trails, paths, or sometimes side-walks as well as following goal-setting plans. In fact, I loved it so much that I ultimately ran several half-marathons, a couple of 15-milers, and even completed two marathons–one in honor of my 50th birthday. All of that came to a screeching halt when I injured three discs in my lower back.

*Image from Kanawha Trestle Rail-Trail*.

It had been nearly four years since I last ran, but as I sat there that day, reading on-line, I began to wonder if perhaps I could run again. Maybe slower and for shorter distances than last time, but what if . . . .

*Images from Kanawha Trestle Rail-Trail*

While researching, I also found a wealth of information regarding the benefits of exercising outside–especially as a way to cope with stress. Some of the benefits of outdoor exercise include: improvement of sleep; increased absorption of Vitamin D, increased productivity, creativity, and problem solving; alleviation of stress; reduced anxiety; boosted mood, and lowered blood pressure. Furthermore, for me, a training plan provides some semblance of a routine as well as the sense of accomplishment with each completed workout, especially when everything else in life feels chaotic.

Images from Kanawha Trestle Rail-Trail

Then, as serendipity would have it, I ran across an on-line board that answers questions and provides reading material that solely focuses on recovering, healing, and preventing back injuries. In one post, I read an article that referred to a book and walk-to-run training plan from 2011 called, Run Your Butt Off. Quickly searching for it, I found and read the plan as well as the author’s notes. This plan is fully available on-line; you do not have to buy the book, although I did purchase a used one later.

The gentle and positive words of the authors of this plan have inspired my butt to get outside for exercise.

As I read the kind and encouraging words of the plan’s author, I began to believe I might have stumbled onto something doable. While it is a 12-week plan, the author strongly and repeatedly encourages exercisers to work through the plan at their own pace, stating that most newbies take longer than 12-weeks. With those heartening and gentle words, I decided to give the plan an honest try. (Full disclosure, the book also focuses on good eating habits, but who couldn’t benefit from a little nutritional 101, especially with the quarantine pounds many of us, myself included, have packed on.)

Images from Kanawha Trestle Rail-Trail

Without belaboring the details, those proverbial clouds are thinning, and the mental clarity is brightening once more. Sure, the gradual progression from walking to running feels good, but it’s the getting outside in nature and the people/critter-watching that are really at the heart of it. Yes, I keep my distance from others, and I do have my mask nearby, but I typically do not wear it while exercising. (The research seems to be mixed regarding whether one should or should not wear a mask, but all agree that social distancing is still the rule regardless.) Seeing trees, smelling grass, feeling the uneven surface of a path under my feet, hearing the call of the red-winged black-bird, and even tasting the fresh air of each inhalation–I feel a renewed connection.

Image from WWI Memorial Path, Ritter Park, Huntington, WV

Several years ago, I learned that each person’s heartbeat is unique. No two people’s hearts beat at the same rhythm. Add to that tidbit, the wonder and magnificence of each creature, each blade of grass, each birds’ song, each rock’s shape–all are distinctive and all are connected by the universal pulse of the Divine Creator. Being outside and immersed in nature, I am reminded that I am connected to a bigger picture. I am in awe of the wide-screen image of mankind, all of God’s creatures, Mother Earth, and the universe beyond; and in those moments, my mind is as free as the pitter patter of my own heart and two feet.

Whether walking, running, biking, kayaking, fishing, or simply enjoying a cool breeze in the shade, I hope you make time to get outside and soak up some of the sweetness of the natural wonder that is our world.

As seen on positiveaffirmations101 on Instagram

P.S.

Dear Reader,

Word Press, the company with which I use to produce this website/blog, recently updated, and I don’t quite have the hang of how to edit and arrange pictures. Please bear with me over the upcoming weeks as I learn to re-navigate this wonderful platform.

Angel’s Heart and Sole

June 11, 2020June 9, 2020 by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles

“Because women don’t expect to have heart disease, a lot of times they don’t seek help if they have early symptoms of a heart attack.”–Laura Bush

handmade embroidery — Photo by Magdaline Nicole on Pexels.com

I wasn’t supposed to still be there, but there was a pair of ladies 20+ years my senior with whom I spoke each time I passed them on the short local walking loop. This was my third time to see them walking at this location, and I had already learned that one of the ladies had COPD and was also recovering from lung cancer. I had already completed my goal for the morning, but after realizing something the two ladies had told me, I added one more lap. I wanted those ladies to know that they were actually completing two miles per walk, not one mile, as they had thought!

Focused on the sense of accomplishment I was fairly certain those ladies would feel, I decided to jog back to them, and tell them the good news. Lung cancer and COPD be danged, these ladies were unstoppable together. Little did I know that these women were the start of the morning’s theme–people supporting one another for the betterment of overall health. I exchanged a few final pleasantries with them and went on my way.

woman holding heart cut out — Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

“Most women do not realize that heart disease is the #1 killer of American women.”–Monica Potter

heart with a red oil pastel — Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

Moving on, lost in thought, it occurred to me that I was still jogging, albeit not very quickly.

Well, Steph, why not jog the rest of the loop as an extra bonus since it is Saturday?

That is when I encountered two adorable kids, clearly brother and sister. It was obvious, the sister did not want to continue moving around the path, but the brother wanted to keep going. In fact, he began jogging as his sister began walking in the opposite direction. Saying good morning to both kids, the boy began to talk to me, and within one minute, I could tell he wanted to run the rest of the loop, but he was filled with self-doubt. I kept my pace slightly ahead of his, and offered words of encouragement. Together, but at a socially appropriate distance, we crossed his perceived finish line, the entry point onto the path.

Me with Col Schneider after he ran a half mile loop with stopping as part of the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

I introduced myself to the adults waiting for the boy and then walked away to allow them to return to their group conversation as well as focus on the boy’s accomplishment. Stretching and reflecting on the encounters of the morning, I overheard a conversation that led me to determine who the boy’s mother was.

Do I introduce myself?

Gathering my courage, I introduced myself to the mother of the boy, and I was immediately put at ease with her enthusiasm and graciousness. She told me that her name was Angel Schneider. Soon enough, I was lost in conversation with Angel as I learned that at age 43, she suffered a heart attack in front of her two kids, Col and Madeline, along with her husband, Tom on September 11, 2018. She was at the walking path to meet up with friends and family for the Huntington Virtual Heart Walk for the American Heart Association. Those who gathered, or who walked virtually, were acting in support of heart attack survivors, heart disease, and memory of loved ones lost to this disease.

Angel Schneider and me at after I ran with her son, Col, as he ran a nonstop half mile loop as part of the 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

As Angel I spoke, I noticed that she was wearing the same shirt as her two children and husband with the words, “Angel’s Heart and Sole.” Angel explained that this was the name of her fundraising team for the AHA. She added that two of her closest friends proposed the name after learning she was selected as the “heart hero” to promote the 2019 AHA Huntington Heart Walk as suggested by the staff at the St. Mary’s Hospital cardiac rehab program. This led to AHA asking Angel to speak at the rally before the event, and as her team began forming for the walk, Angel felt led to create the Angel’s Heart and Sole Facebook page/blog.

Part of Angie’s Heart and Sole team ready to participate in the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

Angel Schneider with her brother, Clarence Lykins.

Angel Schneider with her Sis, Pearl G. Miller, at the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

Through her Facebook page and word-of-mouth, Angel began fundraising for the AHA through the sale of t-shirts. In fact, her first fundraising team for AHA Heart Walk, sponsored by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute, raised nearly $2,800 earning the award for top community fundraising team as well as top individual fundraiser. This past Saturday, she was right back out there doing it again for the 2020 event–only with a virtual twist to it.

Tom Schneider, Angel’s husband in foreground, with group that met at OU Proctorville walking path for the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

“Women die sitting at home.”–Dr. Jean McSweeney

Tom and Angel Schneider with their children, Col and Maddie.

However, despite Angel’s recovery from her 2018 heart attack, life has dished up some additional challenges. In March of 2019, Angel returned to St. Mary’s Hospital for what she later learned were coronary artery spasms. Then, during the fall of 2019, she contracted a rare case of pneumonia caused by a bacteria called chlamydia pneumoniae. It took Angel about six weeks to fully recover, and she had to endure not only three rounds of steroids, but also a steroid injection.

Angel and Tom Schneider at the 2020 Go Red luncheon sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Angel’s life was also further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the crisis, like many of us, she was working from home, trying to juggle her health, work, and personal life, while still trying to help her two kids complete school virtually. It was during this time period that she learned the job she had loved doing for over 11 years was coming to an end. A new company took over her place of employment, and Angel was cut in the first round.

Angel Schneider modeling a red dress at the 2020 Go Red luncheon sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Angel Schneider speaking at the 2020 Go Red luncheon sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Angel Schneider being interviewed by a local TV station for the 2020 Go Red luncheon sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Regardless of the bumpy ride of the past two years, Angel holds fast to her faith. She states that God has, and continues to, open doors for her.

“I don’t understand why some things in life happen the way they do, but what I do know is you can either use it for good, or let it consume you. I choose to use what has happened to me for the good, for the glory of God, and to shine a light on women’s health.”

Angel is unsure what her next career step will be. She would like to do more with her “Heart and Sole” page and continue to support AHA–perhaps even become more active at the national level. However, no matter what direction Angel’s life takes, her husband will continue to be her greatest source of support, and her children will continue to be her greatest source of motivation as they were only ages eight and ten when she had her heart attack.

“No young child should see his or her parent have a heart attack.”

Col Schneider with his sister, Maddie at the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

One thing is for certain, whatever life-path Angel ultimately traverses, she is sure to put her heart and soul into it.

For more information about Angel’s Heart and Sole, women’s heart health, Huntington Heart Walk, St. Mary’s Go Red luncheon, and/or the AHA, please visit Angel’s Heart and Sole page on Facebook.

Angel Schneider at the AHA 2020 Virtual Huntington Heart Walk presented by St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute.

Common Ground

June 4, 2020June 5, 2020 by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles, Simple Observations and Musings

“Whether we like it or not, we have all been born into this world as part of one big human family. Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to one nation or another, to one religion or another, adhering to this ideology or that, ultimately each of us is just a human being like everyone else. We all desire happiness and do not want suffering.”–Dalai Lama

“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.”–Jimmy Carter

person gather hand and foot in center — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Like many of you reading these words, I have been experiencing a great deal of turbulence of the mind and heart. From COVID-19 to the seemingly never ending struggle for racial equality, the world–from both the macro to the micro–is feeling a bit upside down and sideways. There is so much political and societal divide that I cannot pretend to fully comprehend it all.

In my early adulthood, my grandmother shared a story about a time my papaw and she came to my elementary school to pick me up. Since this did not occur with any regularity, I must have eagerly anticipated this event. Grandmother did not remember why they were picking me up, so I can only assume it was to help my parents.

It is my understanding that I exited school skipping in excitement and holding hands with another girl. Grandmother explained that, as she took my hand, she asked a question.

“Why were you holding hands with that colored girl?”

According to my grandmother, I replied, “What color was she?” I was around seven years of age, and up until that moment, I had not noticed the shading of skin.

photo of girls wearing dress while holding hands — Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

What a marvelous thing to realize that kids are not born with innate prejudices. As a professional educator, I have spent all of my adult life devoted to the classroom. From Kindergarten to grade 12, and every grade in between, I have spent over 30 years instructing children, ages 5-20, and I can tell you that kids, especially the younger ones, do not make assumptions about skin color, or other dividing factors unless it has been taught/modeled by someone or something.

Specifically, 15 years of my career were spent with kindergartners, the overall most eager, curious, and loving age group as a whole. While I can only speak to my experience, the majority of five year olds that I encountered were too focused upon themselves, and who or what they were going to play at recess, than to care about so-called differences. However, they were certainly curious about what they perceived as differences for which they may not have been exposed, such as when a fellow classmate began to wear glasses, had to wear an insulin pump, or was sporting a cast. However, if as the teacher, I allowed for both structured and organic conversations about the change to occur, within less than a day, the so-called difference became inconsequential.

My great nephew, Champ, playing with his cousin.

Champ, my great nephew on the right, seated with his cousin.

That is not to imply that the conversation of skin color, or other differences, never came up because kids are observant and inquisitive by nature. For example, one school year, a white male kept playing with the hair of one of his black female classmates. She always wore it in braids with colorful beads, and he often chose to sit beside her when he could. This shy, quiet girl did not like him touching her hair, and I often had to remind him to keep his hands to himself, and I encouraged her to use her words to tell him to stop. On and on this boy’s obsession with the girl’s hair continued as he specifically loved to take his hand, place it gently on the top of her head, and “pet” the braids from top to bottom in a repetitive motion.

My great nephew, Champ.

My great neice, Luna.

Finally, the girl had had enough one morning, and blurted out during opening circle activities, “Stop it! Why you always touchin’ my hair?”

The boy burst into tears, covering his eyes with his hands. Eventually, he explained to her with great gulps of breath in between each word, “I like your hair. It’s not like mine.”

My niece, Lexie, center, holding her second cousin on the left; and her nephew, my great-nephew, Champ, on her lap.

My neice, Lydia, with her daughter, Luna.

True enough, the boy had medium brown hair that was closely cropped to his head except for his bangs that hung straight over his freckled forehead.

A few days later, I overheard the same two students talking as they practiced writing their names with scented markers.

“Do you want me to see if my mom can fix your hair like mine?”

The boy emphatically nodded his head and added, “Ask her when you get home.”

My great nephew, Champ.

My great neice, Luna.

Reflecting upon my own family, specifically my nine nieces and nephews, they reflect a variety of appearances, interests, and beliefs. From very dark skin to the palest pale; from light blue eyes to black; from curvy to trim body shapes; from pink to black, brown to blonde, curly to straight hair; from conservative to liberal views, and all variances in between, these special family members reflect a wide cross-section of young adults. Yet, when we gather together, whether it’s in person or virtual, the only thing that matters is mutual respect and love.

My sister, Rachel, with two of her five kids, Lexi and Naomi.

We certainly do not see eye-to-eye on all subjects. We do not have the same interests, jobs, hobbies, and so forth. Differences abound. What we do possess, though, is a bond–the humankind connection, with emphasis on kind. Sure, we are linked by family, but we are also woven into the web of humanity. And like all webs, the resiliency of it is dependent upon the strength of every strand–and each strand of this human network, it is worth remembering, is a unique creation of God.

My sister Rachel, second from left, with three of her five kids, L to R, Issick, Arlen, and Vincent.

Neither my nieces and nephews, nor my past and current students had any control over who would be their parents. They did not get to choose their address, their family income, their family make-up, their family circumstances, much less control the color of their skin, eyes, hair, and so forth. In fact, none of us could, so why should we judge one another by circumstances for which we can not control?

Why should I be more likely, as a white, middle-aged female, to be given a warning if stopped by the police for a traffic violation? Why should my white, 58-year old husband be stopped by police over 14 times during the course of his life and not be ticketed? It wasn’t until his 15th violation–forgetting to turn on his turn signal at the foot of a local bridge–that he actually received more than a warning.

My great nephew, Elijah.

My great niece, Harper.

My great nephew and niece, Elijah and Harper.

I’ve watched Spanish speaking, brown skinned students play side-by-side their mostly white peers. While they weren’t able to verbally communicate, they were still able to construct the “tallest, most awesome block building ever!” Similarly, I observed a student, originally from Jordan, with only rudimentary English, being taught to dance by his English-speaking cross-country teammates. This year, I further observed a group of middle school boys notice a new Chinese student standing by himself during an extra recess. Eventually, despite the fact he did not speak the same language, the boys were able to coax him into playing basketball with them. While he did not participate for the entire game, for the ten or so minutes that he did play, the smiles and high-fives abounded. My point? Children find a way to discover common ground. Why can’t adults?

As seen on Instagram at stephsimply. I posted this pictures years ago of my daughter, Maddie, playing dress-up one Christmas, with her cousins, Lexi and Naomi. They hadn’t been around one another in a couple of years at the time of the photo, and yet, they found common ground within minutes of being together.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. . .

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.”

So do I, Dear Reader, so do I, for all the world’s children, including the newest members of our family, my great-nieces and nephews.

Yoga Classes

Month: June 2020

Berry Beneficial Acai Smoothie

The Nature of Outdoor Exercise

Angel’s Heart and Sole

Common Ground

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