Points to ponder – Page 21 – From the Desk of Pennwell Gray

Four reminders to connect or reconnect with your body.

Rolling from left to right on the reformer, crossing one bent leg over the other straightened leg as my upper body stretched in the opposite direction, my mind wandered and I tried to recall exactly when my physical decline began.

At what point in time did I either consciously or unconsciously decrease my activity level? Was it a slow, insidious creep over several months, or was it a sudden stop on one particular day? When did ingesting comfort food replace the act of challenging my body? And who is this out of shape, winded woman struggling to move her body fluidly? Continue reading “Four reminders to connect or reconnect with your body.”

Men are not from Mars. Women are not from Venus.

“What do you expect? I’m a man.”

“You women all love to shop.”

“Women are more nurturing than men.”

“Men don’t go to the doctor.”

These are just some examples of what I hear people say when in conversations about men and women.

Scattered.

Is anyone else in this state of mind?

I rise, forget the shine, and ready myself for the day. The water boils for my first cuppa of tea, I pour it in my cheerful shamrocks mug and off to the computer I go.

On being a woman.

In honor of International Women’s Day.

Being a woman is not easy – but neither is being human.

Familial and societal imposed expectations. Perceived limitations of self and fear of not being enough – or doing enough, or loving enough, or caring enough, or anything – enough!

10 Fun Facts about the Irish in America

It has been said that America is the most Irish country in the world and as a Boston girl, I would know.

At the age of five, I had a brogue. It was ever so slight, the faintest lilt of a melody rolling off my tongue. My pronunciation of ‘bathin suit’ and ‘vawlume’ left no doubt that there was a twinge of green coursing through my veins. But that’s what happens when you spend five days a week being taught by a nun from County Laois (pronounced leash) in parochial school. Continue reading “10 Fun Facts about the Irish in America”

Pandemic relief for those who let themselves go.

What was I forced to give up and what did I choose to? How did COVID-19 impact my life?

These were questions that arose as I conducted my year-at-a-glance review.

When COVID-19 crept into our world, it was a slow, insidious process for many. We listened to scientific experts and watched the news, yet I’m not certain if we fully grasped the impact it would have on our lives.

Then in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the pandemic hit hard. Fast and furious replaced the slow and insidious. There was conflicting information and data. Non-essential workers went home with their must-have business tools to conduct their professional lives. What we thought would be a week or maybe a month transformed into what we now refer to as ‘the new normal’ – twelve plus months later. Continue reading “Pandemic relief for those who let themselves go.”

On vulnerability.

We need to re-think how we define vulnerability – or maybe, our perception of what it means to be vulnerable.

Vulnerability is not a weakness. It is not the trait of a person who is less than or cowardly. Quite the contrary.

Simple pleasures and gentle reminders.

This morning, I heard a lovely sound coming in through my windows. The melody was happy and hopeful, with an upbeat tune that made me eager to start the day.

MYTH: Beauty Pageants.

For those who haven’t taken the time to learn about the world of pageantry, you may have an inaccurate and false belief about them. If you still chuckle and scoff at a beauty pageant queen, may this post enlighten you.

The winner takes it all.

A competitive nature is something that we’ve been conditioned and taught to value. When we hear someone labeled as a winner, we equate that with tireless energy, unyielding effort and unlimited potential. The word is synonymous with success and everyone wants a winner on their team.