Tag: Community

Why I Live in Rural America

- Alexis Leave a comment
View from atop Roan Mountain, Tennessee

I read this opinion piece a few days ago called “Something Special is Happening in Rural America.” It gave me a little added optimism about my chosen home and reminded me of some of the reasons I live here. I’m part of a trend in America away from living in big cities and toward living in smaller towns.

I grew up in a town of about 20,000 people in south central Pennsylvania. Although the town itself was small, it was about 30 minutes from the state capital and in a metropolitan area with a population of more than 500,000. I lived about two hours from Baltimore and Philadelphia and less than four hours from New York City.

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Turning To Your Network in Challenging Times

- Alexis Leave a comment

A hill covered with fall foliage next to a lake, deer a bright blue sky with white clouds

Every now and then, I have a recurring dream that many others have experienced as well.  I’m in a classroom, and it’s the end of the semester.  I had enrolled in this class but had forgotten about it.  I haven’t been there in weeks.  I haven’t done any of the reading.  I know none of the material.  It’s almost time for the final exam, and I’m panicking.  I’m completely unprepared, and I’m going to fail.

When this dream appears, it’s an obvious sign that I’m feeling overwhelmed.  I usually try to take it as a cue to reassess my priorities, remove a thing or two from my schedule, and maybe set aside some time to meditate, exercise, or otherwise relax and regroup.

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Loss, Love, and Community at the Holidays

- Alexis Leave a comment

Abstract painting loosely resembling a fall landscape
Peace, 2014. Private Collection; prints available.

With the holiday season well underway, I’ve been thinking a lot about family and community.  I had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving with family, as I’ve always been lucky enough to do.  While I was so grateful to be surrounded by my mom, aunt, cousins, and husband, the absence of my father and uncle were palpable — it was our first Thanksgiving without them.  Spending these last few days at my parents’ house, it seems as though everywhere I look, I’m reminded of my dad.  It’s as if I can still see him sitting in his favorite chair and hear exactly what he would say in response to just about every situation.

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The Pleasure of Wandering

- Alexis 2 Comments

Black and white photo of stacks in a library

Last Saturday morning, my husband asked if I wanted to drive to a nearby town and have breakfast.  I glanced at my to-do list and replied that I had too much on my plate for the weekend and would rather just stay home and start on my chores.

One of those tasks was to replace a perpetually leaking tire on my car, so at about 11:00 AM, we drove together to the tire shop.  By the time we left, I needed to eat something (pregnancy hunger can be sudden and intense).  Rather than swinging through a fast food drive through lane, we decided to stop by a downtown coffee shop that we rarely visit.  Though they had healthier options, I indulged in a delicious cinnamon roll and a chai latte.

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