7 Comments

Thank you for this beautiful note! I am only beginning to reflect upon this year’s lessons, but I wanted to share a shared realization with you. I have found that weightlifting has been among the most rewarding things I’ve done for myself - and I just started getting into it this year. I turned 40 over the summer and instead of thinking about how to shrink myself ever smaller (I’m in eating disorder recovery), and how to somehow obtain my 20 year-old skin again, I focused on gaining strength. A consistent practice at home has done wonders for my physical health (amazingly, especially my posture!!), and for my sense of confidence and worth.

I’m so inspired by you, Shannon, and will be preordering your book!

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Your description about being in the Bardo resonated with me. I retired from full-time work at our public library in September. I returned to work part time in October for the same library, but I work mostly at home doing social media/marketing for them. I FEEL in between my past and present, and have struggled with losing the identity I had at work. But I’m learning more about the kind of person I am and want to be and the things I want to do to express that. I’m following my curiosity. Making art, a totally new endeavor for me, and learning more about natural history and the environment, are filling me up. Doing those things and figuring out how to help others with my passions are giving me new purpose.

Oh, and I have looked at that genealogy program at BU, wondering if I should take the plunge. Maybe someday!

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❤️❤️❤️

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Thank you for all you've done and continue to do. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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I finally learned and accepted that I cannot change or control the adults in my life - whether it be my husband , children, siblings , friends. I learned I’m not responsible for anyone other than myself - I can love, support , encourage and care for my family but that’s different from being responsible for them. This shift has freed up emotional space for me to really take care of and focus on myself . I have a few health challenges but my biggest key to health is maintaining my 55lb weight loss . My one gap in my program was strength training. Since I had to give up CrossFit due to some back and other issues I haven’t found the way to strength train that I enjoy. This year I hired a personal trainer twice a week to just do strength training . I committed time and financial resources to my health and it’s made a huge difference. Just had hernia surgery and it’s amazing how fast I am bouncing back because I was strong going into the surgery. Sometimes it’s hard to realize I’m only responsible for me because it can seem like a lot of work , rather than focusing on people I can’t change , but the work is definitely worth it!

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For all the activism I have been involved in, dating back to Ralph Nader and the first May Day in DC, and the lucrative and satisfying professional life I experienced, AND my 9+ years with Moms Demand Action leadership after early retirement, NOTHING compares with the joy of being a grandmother. WHO KNEW??? We women are built for anything and everything that is thrown at us, and our day has come. We will build a better world together.

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Thank you, Shannon. You succinctly captured where I am in my life right now. I can’t wait to read your book!

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