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#313: Take the Note

I love this thought provoking piece from Corey. My last blog also fell under the topic of receiving feedback and I enjoyed the process of reflecting on what I learned from one specific professor I had and what I did with her critiques. But I think Corey brings to light yet another compelling outlook to consider when receiving an evaluation from someone, no matter how big or small. I've slowly learned that constructive criticism doesn't have to be personal 1, because someone is simply believing in me to grow and be better. But 2, because the feedback helps in thriving as "part of the whole." Specifically, after reading Corey's writing I consider more deeply how my own growth can benefit the cohesiveness of the entire unit or mission I play a role in, as each part needs to be doing their best to flourish as one unit. Thank you Corey. Your sharing of your experiences and lessons from different points in your life help to broaden perspective in my own and to try to keep in mind the bigger picture as I walk through it.

- Amanda

Corey LoftusSeptember 13, 2022Corey LoftusComment

#312: Sincere Teachings and Student Minds

During my sophomore year of college, I took a creative writing course that helped me grow on various levels. Throughout my schooling, I had always felt confident in the subject area of writing, but the professor I had shattered that confidence the first month of the semester... in a great and perhaps necessary way.

Amanda PosaSeptember 6, 2022Amanda PosaComment

#311: What If I Slowed?

It's easy to feel obsessed with convenience and quickness. Doing things faster. More efficient. There's a desire for the quick high of the left lane. We grow the “most food for the most people”. And I know I can buy anything from anywhere and have it tomorrow. But what if going slow was sexy?

Jaime PosaAugust 16, 2022Jaime PosaComment

#310: What Have You Learned?

I’ve been off of work, and with my kids this whole summer. It’s been a blur filled with equal parts daddy school, activities and chilling out. Last week, while breaking down our days before getting to sleep, my wife asked me a really good question that I haven’t been asked in a long time. “You’ve been with the kids for 2 months now… what have you learned so far?”

Corey LoftusAugust 9, 2022Corey LoftusComment

#309: What's Dippy Dip?

I've written many blogs and journal entries about my dad. A lot of these have been a form of grieving, or perhaps an effort to keep his energy alive, or simply to serve as memoirs of who he was.

It struck me one night that losing my dad has given me reasons to write about him - reasons I don’t have for my mom, because she is still here. And in that same thought I felt compelled by different reasons to write about my mom - a person who has very much influenced my life and the person I’ve become. To take time to reflect, to express gratitude, and to serve as an acknowledgement of who she is while I have the opportunity to do so.

Amanda PosaAugust 2, 2022Amanda PosaComment

#308: A Different Walk Every Day

My 2-year-old dog, Birdie, needs to walk at least five miles a day to be calm, relaxed and happy.

My wife and I have concluded that the best way to make this work is with lots of walking first thing in the morning. I’ve been taking her 3 miles right when I wake up, and my wife takes her another mile or so when she walks our youngest daughter to school.

I’ve chosen to walk the same route nearly every day. This makes the timing predictable, and it also helps for training purposes (especially if I let her off leash).

Sasha DichterJuly 19, 2022Sasha DichterComment

#307: Rooting for Others

My boyfriend Oscar and I joined a soccer team a year ago with a group of about 25 other guys, and now we play pick-up every Sunday morning. Over time, I became close with a few players on the team. I was grateful for these new friendships. Not only did we share many talks and laughs throughout the games, but sharing conversation over cold beers at the local brewery in town post-game became part of our Sunday routine.

Amanda PosaJuly 12, 2022Amanda PosaComment

#306: Work and Identity

I was recently let go from my job. It brought up a lot of things for me. The usual, concerns about finances and healthcare, and also a few things out of the ordinary. I wouldn’t have thought losing a job would mean losing part of my identity, but it certainly feels that way.

Corey LoftusJuly 5, 2022Corey LoftusComment

#305: Ending Hurting Humor

Dry Humor:

“…deliberate display of emotional neutrality or no emotion, commonly as a form of comedic delivery to contrast with the ridiculousness or absurdity of the subject matter. The delivery is meant to be blunt, ironic, laconic, or apparently unintentional…”… WIkipedia

In a moment I will focus on dry humor specifically. But this note is really about hurting humor.

Pip CoburnJune 29, 2022Pip CoburnComment

#304: A Little Bit Every Day

More often than not, I realize I'm comfortable with “a lot,” and I'm comfortable with “nothing.”

It’s easy to make a big push for something when I'm feeling inspired: a New Year’s resolution; after reading a great article on the benefits (or drawbacks) of coffee; while on vacation.

Often, that big push either overshoots (I overdo it and get tired), or inspiration wanes.

Which is why “a little bit every day” is tougher, and more valuable, than it appears.

Sasha DichterJune 21, 2022Sasha DichterComment

#303: Grandma Faust

To laugh everyday.

To ride big-wheels at 70 years old.

To not "give a s$*t" about what others think.

To take walks into town. To hold hands at any age.

Jaime PosaJune 14, 2022Jaime PosaComment

#302: I Don't Need to Be Happy

I've learned that the pursuit of happiness actually leads to unhappiness.

Why? Because it's an unrealistic expectation. Happiness is a fleeting emotion. And therefore it's actually impossible to live in a state of perpetual happiness. Yet sometimes it feels there is pressure to. But I know I can't constantly be smiling, laughing, or always thinking positive thoughts.

Danielle PosaJune 7, 2022Danielle PosaComment

#301: Spring-Themed Anti Pet Peeves

As many probably already know, I Iove to reach out to a few community members at the start of every season and ask if they would like to contribute an anti pet peeve about it - something small that brings them joy during that particular time of year. So the spring responses are compiled below, and they are all wonderfully different. I also discovered that Reed loves the anti pet peeve ask so much that he was compelled to write an entire little list, as you'll also see at the bottom!

CommunityMay 31, 2022Anti Pet PeevesComment

#300: Milestones

Today is a landmark for the CFC Writing Circle which started about five years ago.

I would like to express that with each passing year, I've felt it become a more prominent part of my life - It has truly brought me so much joy and inspiration reading others' writing pieces throughout the years. And it has also given me this creative platform to share my own words in an intimate and safe space where I can also commit to deeper reflection on the events that take place in my life, both big and small.

Amanda PosaMay 24, 2022Amanda Posa, CommunityComment

#299: Time

He could have just said I’d be away. But he didn’t and I guess this is why it stuck with me:

I was sitting at a picnic table at Soul, the local brewery we go to sometimes after pickup soccer on Sundays. A group of eight or so of us lingered around the table, salty elbows and hands between cold glasses of beer, kissed-warm by the sun. We were discussing the idea of a team barbecue, and as I mentally ran through my calendar to check dates that were being tossed around, one of the guys said:

“We can’t that weekend, Christina will be in Utah.”

Christina PosaApril 26, 2022Christina PosaComment

#298: Sri Lanka

I was fortunate to spend the month of March in the beautiful island country of Sri Lanka. As I finished up packing and closed out work for the week, I kept hearing similar things from those I shared my travel plans with.

“Always carry either a pocket knife or mace.” "Pack a flashlight and shine it in their eyes if someone tries to approach you.” “Make sure your money is always stored in different areas.”

Amanda PosaApril 13, 2022Amanda PosaComment

#297: Being a Boring Dad

At bedtime the other night, my son Teddy told me, “Dad, I love you… even though you’re boring.”

I kissed him on the forehead, and couldn’t disagree. I kept thinking about how I can find a better balance between being the coach and the referee; in my relationships with my kids, and in my life. And then it leapt out at me, all of a sudden. A position I’d totally missed thinking about. I’d forgotten how to be the player.

When did I stop playing pretend?

Corey LoftusApril 5, 2022Corey LoftusComment

#296: Short-term brain, Wellness brain

“What do you do to preserve your sense of wellness?”

I was recently asked this question as the prompt to a breakout I was a part of, and I gave an answer that I found surprising:

“Ignore my short-term brain.”

Sasha DichterMarch 29, 2022Sasha DichterComment

#295: When Easy Tries You

I had a great anti-pet peeve happen today! It was Monday (never a good start in my opinion) and it promised to be a long day with an aggressively overpacked schedule. It was sure to end in missed meetings or a missed flight or at the very least — total, frazzled exhaustion. As I looked at my calendar before bed last night, I chastised myself a bit — “What happened to saying 'no' Lisa?! It’s not possible to do all that in a day!”

Lisa BairdMarch 22, 2022Lisa BairdComment

#294: The Invisible Fence

We have an invisible fence set up around our yard for our dog. To mark it, we’ve put up little white flags and taught her not to cross them. Since we live on a busy street, it’s doubly important that my dog understands and respects these boundaries.

Of course, she needs to get out of the yard a few times a day for her walks. Any time I walk her, the first thing I do is take off her Invisible Fence collar. This means she could easily cross the line without our help.

Sasha DichterMarch 16, 2022Sasha DichterComment