I was up and out before 5 AM for my walk.

Birds twittering.

High clouds around the half moon at dawn.

Chilly 50°.

So beautiful.

Calm.

Peaceful.

And it fostered so much gratitude in me.

Now, I’m looking back over my life:

In my 20s I finished college and worked in New Hampshire at the Mount Washington Hotel as a founding member of it’s singing wait staff.

(Though, there’s no evidence of that now that the program has long been discontinued… I think it ran for eight years…)

I did that job for three seasonal years (May-October).

Between seasons I lived in New York City, Dillon Colorado, and Quincy Massachusetts.

I lived in Boston’s North End, Somerville, Jamaica Plain, and Brighton.

In JP my housemates founded an artist movement called, finalism — the final art movement of the 20th century.

It focused on collaboration.

We worked in theater and restaurants, read Buckminster Fuller and made art.

Music.

Lots of singing.

The A.R.T.

Philip Glass.

In my 30s it was marriage.

Motherhood.

Writing.

Running.

Poetry nights at T.T. the Bear’s.

Singing.

Sewing my dreams.

In my 40s I didn’t want to work at a job that meant my kids had to be in childcare.

I started a murals and decorative painting company, working during school hours.

I brought my youngest with me, for a time.

After eight years, just when I maybe could’ve expanded my little business and hired another person to help me out, Hubs was laid off of his job.

I’m still not sure why I took a 30-hour a week job that I held onto for ten years, instead of developing my little painting/murals biz…

During this time, I maintained a flexible schedule at work and was sure to speak up for children, youth, and my community.

I was very engaged at our children’s elementary school.

Started as a Room Parent then took on school projects for fun and community-building.

I was a frequent voice at the State House, giving public testimony to state lawmakers about commercialism in schools, the need for media literacy, arts and physical education in schools, and investment in our communities.

I was elected to Town Meeting, School Committee, and led Massachusetts PTA as its President for two years.

For ten years I attended a national legislative conference, meeting with the members of our state’s congressional delegation, and I blogged about my experiences.

This continued through my 50s and the governor appointed me to the state board of elementary and secondary education.

As I write this, I’m still there as a holdover appointee from three governors ago.

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I’m not *on here* because I’m reading more and listening more.

Change means taking action and change must be made now.

I am reading more.

I am listening more.

I’m unlearning.

Now and in all the ways.

I’m leaving out a LOT, but this is a start.

Point is, I can do a little research about things and show up in ways people let me know they need me to.

Onward!

Image credit: Leslie Smith Bordonaro