Touching Things Past

I'm a little bit of a history geek. I was a history major in college, and I really enjoy historical fiction, historical films and other things along those lines. I love to dive into some other time or place in the world and try to get a handle on what was going on then and there, what people might have thought and felt way back when about one another and their lives and their place in the world. There's something about knowing what has gone before that feels deeply important to me.

Thinking about it recently, I know that there are two sides to my interest in the past--one is intellectual and the other is more personal/emotional. I do have the desire to really know this world--in a sweeping, epic, global sense, where I begin to understand the cause-effect relationships that have led us toward the wonderful and vicious, beautiful and horrible experiences we collectively face day to day, now.

Within that massive base of knowledge, there are individuals. I think about my grandmothers, and the disparate lives they led that somehow, miraculously came together to create me. One of them lived through the majority of the 20th century in America, and while I knew her as a teenager, I never got to know her as an adult, when I could have really asked the questions I now want to, about her life and the things she personally witnessed within the history that I know so well in terms of dates, facts and situations. My other grandmother lived her whole life in West Africa, a place that I am connected to, but know less intimately. There's a wisdom there that is somewhat outside my grasp, but I long for a taste of it.

So, I read lots of books, and look at lots of pictures, and try to imagine what I can about these women, and the many like them whose lives and work set the stage for my own world. I feel that I'm still looking for the truth of those experiences, and I don't know if we today can ever really touch it, but it's nice to believe we might be able to come close.

Friday Forum: And the Award Goes to...

The Oscar nominations were announced earlier this week and, as Kristina mentioned in yesterday's post, the Grammys were this past weekend. This means that the awards season is coming to a close, but we thought it'd be fun to share the ways people enjoy it.

Do you or your friends host an Oscar-watch party? Do you dress up and walk down your own red carpet in your living room? What are the fun things you do during the awards season?

Groundhog Day, The Grammys & Gaga

CHICKS ROCK! is happy to have Kristina back as a guest blogger this week:

Kristina Leonardi is the founder of The Women’s Mosaic. She is a career/life path consultant, speaker, seminar leader and expert in the areas of women, diversity and personal growth.

Join her for Spring Cleaning for the Soul next Tuesday, February 10. You can also check out her series, Thursdays at Three for weekly inspiration.


This week was Groundhog Day, and whether or not a shadow was seen by that furry creature, it marks the midway point of winter - a time to be sure you've planted the seeds of all that you want to bloom come this Spring.

But Groundhog Day really reminds me of the fabulous movie starring Bill Murray, who gets up over and over to the same day with a chance to make things right each time, and ultimately makes the best changes to himself that attract Andie MacDowell and they live happily ever after. It's a good time to reflect on what you are doing everyday that is helping you get closer to or further away from your goals. As Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

So what do The Grammys and Lady Gaga have to do with any of this? One year ago you probably never heard of her, yet on Sunday there she was, the opening act performing with Sir Elton John, on the biggest night in music. Overnight success? Never. From an early age she figured out who she was and what she was supposed to be doing with her life. And with a clear vision, talent and determination took steps every day to get there.

I don't know much about her journey, but one thing I will bet on is that it was INTENTIONAL, as everything about Gaga is. Anyone who was nominated or performed at The Grammys would have that in common, in varying degrees. No matter what you want to do make your life about it, morning, noon and night and you will see results - at any age.

Being Drastic, Being Free

I hear the word “freedom” all the time, and, like many, my first thoughts are events such as the successful Indian independence movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the end of World War II, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, and other well-known events that have happened (and continue to happen) all over the world. I also know that pursuit of freedom manifests itself on a much smaller, personal scale in people’s lives. Examples of these include ending a “terminally ill” relationship, moving out of your childhood home and finally living as an adult, and quitting a dead-end job to start working in a career that you love. My own pursuit of freedom has been a continuous struggle with indecisiveness and frustration, but these dark clouds have been lifting. Why? I have decided to take drastic steps to make my declaration of independence imminent.

Working from my parents’ home is like climbing a slippery slope: I have a list of tasks to accomplish every day, but there are always too many distractions that make completing them impossible. Friends and other family members have complained to me about similar feelings of mental stagnation, making them less productive when they are living, working, or just visiting their childhood homes. Many may not have that problem, but I know myself; to realize my pursuit of personal freedom, I must move out of my current residence as soon as possible.

How will I make it happen? Some family friends have offered their place in New England and a teaching job at a private school as a temporary solution. I also have a few opportunities to teach abroad, which I will consider after I return from India at the end of February. My months of self-imposed exile are coming to an end, thanks to deep introspection and serious conversations with people I love. I may struggle much more than I planned to, but I know that it will be for a short duration if I take a deep breath and jump.

Some Months Lost

Everyone constantly complains that I work too much. I like signing up for new challenges, and I take any opportunity to try something new. The result is a very busy calendar with something work-related to do every day.

Lately, my mother has been lecturing me about needing to take time off to start doing fun things again. Last week, I went to the movies twice and she was so happy and shocked, she rushed me off the phone so I could get there early.

For the next few months, if I have no other outlet for creativity or a work-free zone, I can depend on Tuesday nights. Because today is the season premiere of the last season of my favorite show on television: LOST!

To say that I'm ecstatic is a bit of an understatement. Anybody who watches as faithfully as I do know that this is the definition of a Big Deal (yes, with capital letters). Not only do I watch, but I keep up with the theory blogs, the producers' interviews, I've even been known to watch a mini web episode from time to time. Yes, it's probably safe to say that I'm addicted with this story of people struggling with faith and reason, good and evil, light and dark. The island's mysteries are fun to keep up with too.

With the series finale only a few months away, I have a nice distraction from my ambitious schedule. I'm still trying to find that balance between working hard and overworking, but at least my mother can stop worrying for a bit. Then again, between work and the show, she might not hear from me as often... I guess she can get used to that.