4 Months Down of No New Clothes

As the calendar changed over from 2018 to 2019, I resolved to buy no new clothes in the new year. One of my previous co-workers had done just that a few years ago, and I thought, why not give it a try? A couple of friends thought I was crazy and that I probably would have a hard time with it. One friend thought I would just buy other things instead. Another friend thought about trying the challenge too.

While only 4 months in, here are a few things I have learned:

1. I have way too many clothes -->
While I have not added new clothes to my closet, I have put clothes in bags to be donated...and I still have way too much. I don't know how the clothes accumulate so much over time (aside from all of the race shirts)! In all honesty, I could probably try this no new clothes thing for two years and be okay.

2. It's easier to say no when you have a clear "rule" -->
Because I have set the hard line of absolutely no clothes buying, I'm tempted a lot less to even look in shop windows or at ads. I have unsubscribed from as many clothing store emails (e.g. Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, etc.) as I could. (I'm pretty sure the ads were tricking me into thinking I would save money if I bought more, while the truth really is you save money when you don't buy anything!) When I am waiting in line for the elevator at Trader Joe's and see the cute items in Loft, I can just turn away.
I found this to be true during Lent as well. Just for Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Saturday at sundown) I gave up all sweets. And while it was hard, I found it easier to forgo the treats than when I try to limit myself or reduce my intake at any other time. And it was so freeing! I knew I couldn't, so I didn't.

3. Changing up the routine can be good for the soul -->
It's definitely been eye-opening to live by this promise to myself. I have been dependent on material things without even realizing it. Yikes! But by making this resolution for 2019, I, in essence, hit the pause button and was able to start making small tweaks to live, in my humble opinion, a better life. I know that moving forward once 2019 comes to a close I will be more conscious of the clothing I buy and less impulsive of buying clothing even when it's on sale.


All in all, I am grateful for the graces I have already received through this resolution as well as the support of friends who keep checking in on me about it to see how it's going. Only 8 months to go - I totally got this!

Renewing our commitment, zeal, and hope for Catholic education

It was definitely a neat experience to have NCEA 2019 in our very own city of Chicago this past week. The Archdiocese shut down for two days, and all schools were required to send their staffs. I bumped into so many people - my own current faculty, teachers I used to work with at my previous school, classmates from Remick and ACE, friends & professors from Notre Dame, and other fellow teachers from across the city. Plus, many of my faculty got to meet my twin sister and thought they were seeing double. (We were turning heads right and left, for sure.)

LOVED seeing our high school ACE teacher - she was the best!

Remick 15 representation at NCEA

Always a good time when you get ACE XV friends together
(And the ACE HH was amazing!)

Over the two days, I ended up attending some good sessions, and I also had the opportunity to present about how to engage our Catholic school students in their weekly/monthly Masses. The presentation stemmed from my grad school work, and I was originally encouraged to apply by one of my grad school supervisors. In looking back, I am so grateful for the push - it was a terrific experience (even though I was extremely nervous in the weeks leading up to it), and I believe the people who came walked away with some practical ideas to put into place in their own communities. In fact, I received an email yesterday from one of the attendees, and it truly made my day -->

Here are a couple of pics from the session - the principal I work with and some of my friends snapped some photos -->

I believe this was before the technology cut out...

Pretty sure I was praying for grace and peace at this point!

As teachers and leaders in Catholic schools, we need to constantly seek opportunities, both formal and informal, to renew our commitment, zeal, and hope for our work with the young people in our care. So, in my humble opinion, what probably is the most fruitful thing that came from the conference is the boost of energy and ideas for everyone who attended NCEA - the timing of being right near the end of the school year could not have been better as we make the final stretch toward summer and we work to keep it meaningful, rigorous, and joyful. 

I am so proud and blessed to be working in Catholic education - I believe that just as it was a gift for me growing up, our Catholic schools are a gift to the students who come through our doors each and every day. For all of my fellow Catholic school educators - keep up the good work! And know you are in my prayers.

Hearts, Hope, and Questions Burning

When I mention the Lenten song "Jerusalem, My Destiny," many people nod and say something along the lines of, "Yeah, we sang that all the time in my parish growing up." Interesting...we never did. Maybe it's a midwest thing?

Here's how it goes:

Refrain:

I have fixed my eyes on your hills,

Jerusalem, my Destiny!

Though I cannot see the end for me,

I cannot turn away.

We have set our hearts for the way;

this journey is our destiny.

Let no one walk alone.

The journey makes us one.

Other spirits, lesser gods,

have courted me with lies.

Here among you I have found

a truth that bids me rise. (Refrain)

See, I leave the past behind;

a new land calls to me.

Here among you now I find

a glimpse of what might be. (Refrain)

In my thirst, you let me drink

the waters of your life,

Here among you I have met,

the Savior, Jesus Christ. (Refrain)

All the worlds I have not seen

you open to my view.

Here among you I have found

a vision bright and new. (Refrain)

To the tombs I went to mourn

the hope I thought was gone,

Here among you I awoke

to unexpected dawn. (Refrain)

I honestly heard it for the first time this year, and for some reason it struck a chord with me. I haven't been able to shake it since. I've been to Jerusalem, yes, but I don't think that's it, or at least it's not the only reason. I think, instead, that it's the idea of being fixed on our destiny, which is heaven, the "new Jerusalem." And if you really dive into the lyrics, the references to scripture are simply beautiful. But even more than these individual parts is the overarching theme of hope - a hope that is shown to us in a "bright and new" way, something that is "unexpected."

So as this Lent draws to a close and we enter into the Triduum tomorrow, I can't help but meditate on what it means for me to "set my heart for the way." What am I doing that allows me to live with a singular focus on Jesus Christ? What's is distracting me from the ultimate end goal of heaven? Who has walked with me and with whom have/am I walked/walking?

My dad always quotes a recording of a preacher talking about Good Friday in light of the hope of the Resurrection - the man says, "That's because it's Friday...Sunday's a-comin'!" Sunday is "a-comin'," and we, as Christians/Catholics, can find so much hope in that. God fixed His eyes on His people, and He sacrificed His only son so that we might have eternal life. This Easter season, let us, in turn, fix our eyes on Him and work to right our steps for our journey home.

Staying humble and striving to be better...with some help from my friends

You ever have that feeling that you are friends (or walking around) with saints?

In Chicago I have been blessed to get to know many wonderful individuals through my church, and I am so grateful for their friendship because they encourage and challenge me to be a better person and follower of Christ through their daily actions.

One such friend got me involved in Bible study, led me to Mission OLA (where I now volunteer regularly), and has invited me to various Masses and faith-based events over the years. He is a daily Mass goer, and his wife brings their 2 year old daughter to daily Mass too, just a little later in the day. I knew they would be the perfect ones to verify what time daily morning Mass would be today at the church right around the corner, so last night after Mass I inquired.

To my dismay, daily Mass around the corner was canceled since one of the priests had been removed. However, my friend immediately said, "Come to Cantius. Morning prayer starts at 6:30 and then Mass is at 7am." Interesting...and requiring a bit more effort...hmm... I figured I could do it one day, so I told him I would see him there.

I am so grateful for the invitation, as Mass was absolutely beautiful. It was in English, and there was chanting, some use of Latin, some pre-Vatican II practices (e.g. priest facing East, use of the communion rail, etc.), and other things. The church itself is beautiful and very ornate. Overall, it was a peaceful and beautiful experience, especially since the sun was just coming up on my way there and then was melting the snow on my way home. My friend apologized that he was not able to say hello, as he had to rush after communion to catch the train...to catch the bus...to get to work. (Holy cow; if I ever complain about my commute, slap me!) But it honestly didn't matter - it was good just to be there to pray together and to have the opportunity to receive communion. (Plus, I'm sure I'll see him at church this week for Tenebrae.)

I don't know how I am so lucky to have such amazing friends. They help me realize how far from grace and how flawed I am (and I don't mean that in any kind of demeaning or morbid way) while, at the same time, help me strive to draw closer to God every day.

Thanks for looking out for me, God. :)

Taking Ourselves Out of the Picture

Sometimes I can be pretty impulsive, I'll admit it. Most recently, it seemed like a good idea one day to join the Art Institute...so I did.

(It's this impulsivity that makes me realize the whole no buying new clothes in 2019 thing may help me with this in the long run...but that's another story.)

Back to the Art Institute...

As a member, I am able to always bring one friend or family member for free. (If you ever want to go, let me know - the offer's out there.) So, one of my friends joined me for this adventure (after getting ice cream, of course) on Saturday, which, by the way was absolutely beautiful and sunny; the perfect walking about downtown kind of day. Through the members entrance (oooooh) we went, and one of the volunteers helped orient us to the members lounge (again, ooooh), and there we made our game plan of what to see. I must say, it is very easy to get lost in that place - the rooms go on and on, and it's hard to tell at times if you've already seen one room or if it is just in the similar art style as the last one. So, while we had our game plan, we mostly just wandered.

What struck me most was the amount of people who were taking photographs of the artwork instead of spending time looking at it or reading about the history of it. As my friend pointed out, can't they just Google it and get a better image of it? Probably. Can't they just enjoy the artwork and not be worried about who they would show it to later? I don't know...it seems like we, as a society, have lost some of our ability to sit in contemplation and wonder of beauty that surrounds us.

Now, I'll admit I've gotten caught in this trap of photographing when I should just be enjoying various things a lot, especially on my trips to the National Parks. (Google's collection of pictures of those are surely better than the ones my own camera takes.) I'd like to argue that it's different in nature than in a museum...but is it? Truly?

In getting behind the lens, we (literally) take ourselves out of the picture. (No pun intended.)

I'm not advocating that photos are bad or that we should stop taking them altogether, for photos are such a beautiful way to keep memories alive. Instead, I'm arguing that there's a fine line, a balance to be met, especially since nowadays there's an unspoken pressure to make everything worthy of Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. But life happens...and it doesn't look like that...nor should it have to. Some of my favorite things I've done of late don't have any photo evidence at all - time with my family, having good conversations over dinner with friends, getting caught up in a good book, taking a morning walk for fresh air before racing off to school... You get the picture. (Ok, pun somewhat intended on that one.)

I think it's important to ask ourselves, Did I take that photo to prove something or did I take that photo to make me happy (and remember something special) when I look back on it in the future? It's subtle, but there is a difference.

It's something I want to commit to working on myself - less photos, more be-in-the-moments; less proving something, more remembering with fondness and love. 

And I think this something that's on my heart today because I believe that engaging more mindfully with when I take pictures will help me on a spiritual level (and likely in other areas too). I have found myself of late often wondering if I have chosen to do things for myself, for someone else, or for God. While I know my answer should be the latter of all three, it's sadly not always (or maybe not even often) the case. I find myself thinking What would X say/think about this? or I need to make this decision for the school/student because X will be more satisfied with this way. But that's the wrong way of thinking. We're not on this earth to make other people happy. If we can lighten their loads, bring joy, and be true friends, that should be the beautiful effect of being on this earth for God and His purpose.

As we enter into this most holy week of our (Christian/Catholic) Church year, let us take time to contemplate God's love and ultimate sacrifice for us; let us be present to His Word and present to the presence of others who are walking and living this journey of faith with us. Have a blessed and beautiful Easter season, everyone!

And here we have it, where I can't even follow my own advice - As per usual, here are some (unrelated-to-the-blog) photos of things keeping me busy lately:

recent sketch of the Golden Gate Bridge

Teachers participated in a display where students had to guess whose baby picture was who, so with the help of my mom (who scanned and sent the picture) I joined in the fun. I'm not sure if any students guessed me correctly...

Went to support and celebrate my friend from church who directs the plays at her Catholic school - they did "Mary Poppins Jr" just like my school this year. What fun!

Fancy drinks before Paula Poundstone

Teacher observations are the best part of my job.

Just gonna leave that here.

Spring is putting up a fight against winter in Chicago...even though winter is winning with its snow and cold temperatures today...

When friends show up unexpectedly to work :D

a lovely thank you gift for helping with the school art fair

Fr. Greg Boyle came to speak at our church - what a gift to hear him again!

Nothing beats Saturday morning runs on the Lakefront, especially in beautiful weather

I miss Bobtail...but Johnson's will do! I can get used to this...

Triple Vanilla Bean - yum!

March Madness...and why I'm mad for MSU basketball

March Madness. They call it that for a reason.

There's nothing quite like it. (And the games this year in particular have been nothing short of spectacular. My hands were shaking for minutes after MSU's win over Duke on Sunday night.)

I love watching it, no matter who is playing, as long as it's a good game. Auburn and UK on Sunday? Holy cow! And Purdue vs Virginia - even via FaceTime with my dad (since I don't have cable), it caused my heart to pound. But when Michigan State's in it? That's a whole different ball game.

I originally reflected on my love of Spartan basketball via this post in 2011 (2 days after my grandpa passed away). And for me, this truth never gets old, and I probably can't put it in any better words. I still love sharing it, especially as year after year my students ask, "Why MSU? Did you go there?" (I like to think I did...in fact, for awhile I tried to think up what degree or certification I could get from there.) I think it's important for the students to recognize the importance of connecting with their grandparents, no matter by what means that connection happens.

And nowadays, MSU basketball is a connection with my parents too. We get on a group text, commenting on the games, how grandpa would have hated any missed free throws, and wondering if they'd pull through. At 3:21 left in any given game, if MSU's ahead (which they were on Sunday at that point), my dad still says, "321 call Chuck" (our street address in Michigan and my grandpa's name) - more often than not, if the Spartans were ahead at that point in the game they would win. (I guess you could call it a superstition.) "Do it for Grandpa" is still our rallying cry.

As I sit here typing this post, I am staring at a small poster announcing MSU as the 2000 NCAA Division I Basketball Champs - a stunning win over the University of Florida, 89-76. It's one of the only things I ended up asking for when my grandpa died. (I also took a Spartan sweatshirt that belonged to my grandma.) I am hoping that this season - 19 years later - I can add another poster of my own for 2019. I hope these boys have it in them - I personally have faith they can go all the way.

College basketball? It's madness, yes. But for me, it's memories and keeping those memories alive in a special way. I'm not sure I would have wanted to be in the same room as my grandpa if he were alive to watch Sunday night's game against Duke - the stress would have been too much. (I'm sure my roommates were about to throw things at me for the screaming and jumping up and down I did that day as it was.) I will be a Spartan basketball fan for life, even over the schools I actually graduated from. (Call me crazy - that's fine by me.) There's something about the way that team always plays, how Izzo coaches them, and how I know my grandpa is still watching with me.

Go Green! Go White! Do it for Grandpa!!


P.S. - If you're feeling sentimental (or want a good laugh), check out these two posts from the archives: "Words, Don't Fail Me Now" and "Grandpa-isms: Sayings, Songs, Jokes, and More..."