karenika

Note to Self – Week 25

This week’s page was another Life Book lesson. One by Alena Hennessy. I didn’t have anything in mind when I started this piece. I just sat down and let myself have fun with paint.

Message says: See the light in others and treat them as if that’s all you see.

Here are a few detail shots:

Note to self: i want to be the kind of person who sees others’ light. everyone has light. i want to be able to find it and hang on to it. just like everyone has pain. if i see their light and i focus on it with all my might, i know the world will be a wonderful place for me.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Stories of Twenty-Fifteen – Week 23

Here’s this week’s story:

Title: Pinkeye
Story:
When I got back from Zurich, the boys were very happy to see me but they also looked like they’d had a wonderful time with Daddy. They’d played games, eaten cookies and ice cream, spent a lot of time running around at school and playing with their friends. I felt grateful that they have such a wonderful Dad.

The next day, however, I noticed Nathaniel kept scratching his eye. At first I thought he was having an allergic reaction to being outside. He was sneezing and had a runny nose so it didn’t seem impossible that he was allergic to something. And maybe the jet lag got in the way of my thinking clearly because I didn’t think too much of it.

That night he was even more agitated but because I’d already fallen asleep, I didn’t know about it until the next morning. By the time he woke up, both his eyes were completely red and swollen. It didn’t even take me a second to diagnose him.

He had pinkeye.

So off to the emergency room we went. It was Sunday morning, of course, as these things only seem to happen on Sundays to us. We were lucky enough to get an appointment at the Medical Center so we didn’t have to go to Stanford’s Emergency Room which is always a long wait and makes me really sad.

The doctor confirmed he had pinkeye and gave him drops for the next eight days. She did, however, say he’d be able to go to school on Monday since he’s have had the drops for 24 hours by then. This was a huge relief because I was scheduled to go to work the next day.

Even though the pinkeye continued for the next few days before the symptoms subsided, the little boy took it all in stride. As he does with almost everything. I am so grateful that he’s always in such good spirits and doesn’t get fazed. I’m also grateful that it was just pinkeye and nothing more serious.

I love you, little boy, hope you get better fast.

Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

You Choose – Week 22

This week’s pick is about abundance. It says “I really just want to be the warm yellow light that pours all over everyone I love.” I want to be generous with my love. I want to give it freely. I want to find something to love about every single person I know.

i love love the yellow on this one:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of Pilgrimage

I read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage because it’s Murakami and i’ve been waiting for this book to come out in English ever since I heard it was out in Japan. I waited and waited and got it the day it came out.

And it didn’t disappoint. Because Murakami doesn’t disappoint.

For me, it wasn’t as wonderful as some of his earlier works I love, but i still found it intriguing and it has all the characteristic Murakami touches. If you’re a big Murakami fan like I am, I’m sure you’ve already read this. If you haven’t read him before, start with something like Kafka on the Shore or The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Fifty-Two Stamps – Week 19

I wanted to follow the coffee theme I started last week so I made another cup of coffee today. I have so many of these in my house that it seemed fitting to make a little stamp of them.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Note to Self – Week 24

This week’s page was another Life Book lesson. One by Tam. I wanted my girl to be letting her hair loose in the wind. Letting it go. That’s what I always wish for myself.

Message says: Release, let it go.

Here are a few detail shots:

Note to self: it is okay to let things go. when you hold so tight, you just hurt yourself. be kind to yourself. it’s ok. put it down.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Stories of Twenty-Fifteen – Week 22

Here’s this week’s story:

Title: Directions Spring Pow Wow
Story:
When I went to Switzerland back in December, the team told me about a quarterly powow that would likely happen in January. I told them that I didn’t think I could be back for January but I would make sure to attend the next one.

Well, the next one was in March. As it worked out, it was a relatively uneventful week at home so I didn’t feet horribly guilty leaving the kids. I was still not really looking forward to the long trip, to leaving the kids, and to multi-day-long meetings.

The first day I got there was late in the afternoon. I went into work and chatted with some of the engineers and I was already happy to be there. The second day, however, was extremely long and full of a lot of information. By the time I went to bed, my head was spinning and I was ready to get some rest, especially since I’d woken up at 2am that day, thanks to jet lag.

The next morning, I felt alone and homesick. This always seems to happen on day two. I feel the most disconnected and alone on that day. But by the end of the same day, I was completely happy to have made the trip. I had had a lot of meetings, connected with many of the people I work with but don’t get to see in person. We also went out to dinner as a whole team on Wednesday night which was quite nice.

On Thursday, I was even happier that I’d come. I spent even more time talking to my team members, to other, wider team. Generally by this day, we’ve done all the must-do work and it’s more casual, deeper conversations. The ones that really make me feel a stronger sense of connection and belonging. We then went out to dinner on Thursday night, just our team. It was a wonderful day and night. The perfect way to end the trip. It made me feel grateful to have made the effort.

I know that there will be one of these every quarter and maybe I can’t attend all of them but I wanted to write down this story so that I can remember how wonderful it is to take this time and connect with the team in person. I know it’s no fun leaving my kids, but I also know that being happier at work is strongly correlated to feeling a deep sense of belonging. So it’s worthwhile to take the time to go.

Stories of Twenty Fifteen is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

You Choose – Week 21

This week’s pick is about being alive. Seeing the beauty. It says “I don’t expect others to complete me” I want to do what makes me come alive. I don’t want to wait for others to come up with ideas or plans.

some fun butterflies on this one:

You Choose is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

A Book a Week – ready player one

I listened to Ready Player One because I’d heard the audiobook was awesome. And it was. It was awesome.

As someone who’s been in computer-land for a long time, but not a huge gamer, I still really enjoyed this nerdy, awesome story. I liked how it all came together. I liked all the little nerdy bits. I liked Will Wheaton’s reading.

If you’re into computers, computer games, at all, you will love this one.

Fifty-Two Stamps – Week 18

This week is another little one that I can use and reuse. Can’t really go wrong with a cute cup.

Fifty-two stamps is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.

Note to Self – Week 23

This week’s page was a One Little Word lesson. This month is about messages to myself. Where I am now. What I am.

It’s quite shiny:

Note to self: i am both succeeding and struggling and a continuos work in progress. Nothing is ever perfect. Each things takes work and time which means that time and effort cannot go towards something else. You get to choose. Choose wisely. And pay attention to the choices. And also remember that each phase will pass. Be gentle with yourself.

Note to Self is a project for 2015. You can read more about it here.