Visiting France with Gracie
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Grab a baguette or an Oreo Coolatta, and find out what Gracie has been up to for 3 months in France as I recount our family’s visit to France to see Gracie. From Gracie making a lot of supportive friends from all over the world to Jack eating all the ice cream he possibly can, and talking about the fact that it’s been 10 years since Molly died. Key Takeaways: [0:37] Gracie has lived in France for 3 months [3:05] Public transportation is one of the biggest differences [5:25] Food quality in France is superior to America [7:56] Disneyland Paris is different...
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Memories of the Boston Marathon
A Thousand Tiny Steps
As I’ve come up on the 10th anniversary of Molly’s death I look back on how as much as things change, they also stay the same. I was in Europe 10 years ago at this moment and that’s where I am now, but this time I’m trying to figure out where do I belong in life and how do I feel like I still have purpose as I age? Key Takeaways: [0:14] My memories of 2016 and going to Europe [2:38] Not going to the Marathon for years - and finally going back now [3:47] Reconnecting with so many lovely people at the Marathon [6:47] The...
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Lady Justice and the Sisterhood of the Crones with author Jennifer Speidel
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Jennifer Speidel, my long time friend and now author, wrote a book called Lady Justice and the Sisterhood of the Crones. A story of a corrupt world where women are silenced and it’s up to Mavon and Buluku to get justice, gain wisdom, and rise to their true power. Key Takeaways: [0:39] Why I decided to write my first book: womanhood and getting older [4:20] I started the book by writing the chapter titles and developing characters [6:05] Crones in the book and what it represents in real life [12:07] The...
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Gracie's in France!
A Thousand Tiny Steps
Gracie has been living in France and is here to tell us all what it’s been like! From navigating bonjour correctly to making friends with people from all over the world, and just being in your 20s navigating new experiences and a whole lotta change. Key Takeaways: [0:44] I’ve been working for Disney in France for a 2 months and here’s what’s different [6:22] The pastries are to die for, but the food is bland [12:14] Portion sizes are definitely smaller [14:12] Disney World Orlando vs Disney Land Paris [17:59] The French go on strike a lot [19:52] Work...
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Molly’s Been Dead for 10 Years
A Thousand Tiny Steps
My mom is moving into what has been my office for years, another Molly birthday went by without her here, I’m exhausted from a lack of support, and I’m trying to find myself through it all. So if you also don’t know what you’re doing? Hi, I’m Barb! Join the club. Key Takeaways: [0:00] I bought my house 26 years ago [2:17] We’re moving my mom into my old office and it’s a lotta work [4:20] Molly’s been dead for 10 years [5:26] There’s a shift in the air [7:45] These past 18 months I’ve had to put myself aside for others [9:38] What’s next...
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Not Ready to Step Aside
A Thousand Tiny Steps
I’ve been thinking a lot about aging… and purpose… and what it means to still matter. This is where I’m at right now. Connect with me: Transcript: This is a man with an incredibly high IQ who helped thousands of children in his years as an educator. When I called him up to thank him, he cried, and he said, it's just so nice to feel needed. My good friend David, it's like he's fighting an uphill battle all the time. And, and he remembers that aspect of himself. He is definitely still wanting to contribute to society. He was super helpful with me last...
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He Didn't Know Me
A Thousand Tiny Steps
I didn’t know what to do. This is a story about the first time I realized something wasn’t right… and how long that moment stays with you. Connect with me: Transcript: It was a sunny summer afternoon in 1979. I was wearing a gold polyester uniform. I was a waitress at Weeks Family Restaurant. It was my first actual real job, and I loved it. Interacting with people, talking to people you would never talk to. I loved the people I worked with. As I looked toward the front of the restaurant, I saw a gentleman come in and sit at the counter. So I went down to...
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Underestimated, Overlooked, and Outcast
A Thousand Tiny Steps
As I watched Colin Kaepernick’s documentary, I thought about the times in my life I felt rejected, times I felt underestimated by the men in my life, and the times I felt outcast by different groups and like I’m constantly walking a path trying to find the right one. Key Takeaways: [2:18] Colin Kaepernick's documentary: rejection is not failure, but calibration [4:09] Colin being adopted and feeling like a second choice [6:02] I feel like a second choice in many ways [8:43] What does recalibration and rejection even mean? [12:37] Trust your power, even when...
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What Street Am I On?
A Thousand Tiny Steps
I read the most wonderful piece of writing that is short, but so impactful because in five chapters it made me think through all the crap in my life that hasn’t gone well, but also to the future and what I could do with it. As I continue into March, I do so with trepidation - and perhaps, just a little hope. Key Takeaways: [1:08] Missing Gracie, keeping time, the CrossFit Open, weight gain, and my newsletter [4:47] An autobiography in five chapters [6:46] Chapter one: traumatic things that have hobbled me [7:43] Chapter two: my weight gain [9:10] Chapter three: my...
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Life Gives More Questions Than Answers
A Thousand Tiny Steps
It’s crazy to think about how many people I’ve connected with and I’ll never meet them. How many times I’ll stand in a subway, wonder if I knew a person from school, and never find out. Because life doesn’t always give us answers, but it always gives us choices. Which ones are right and wrong? Well, I’ll be here with you as I find out. Key Takeaways: [1:23] Is it about the destination or the journey? [3:17] I’m just left pondering and ruminating [6:08] The show Ripple is so reflective of my life right now [11:46] Thinking of how we’re connected to...
info_outlineThis week, I’m throwing away toxic gratitude and playing Would You Rather because we all need some fun in our lives. I contemplate knowing when vs knowing how I would die, someone seeing all of my photos or all of my texts, and so many other ponderings.
Key Takeaways:
[0:28] Throwing away toxic gratitude and playing would you rather
[3:17] See a little into the future or a lot?
[3:53] The ability to read minds or move things?
[4:25] Sing or dance to every song you hear?
[4:45] Jail or coma for 5 years?
[5:15] Chronically under or overdressed?
[5:35] Lose my sight or my memories?
[5:55] Universal respect or unlimited power?
[6:29] No internet or no air conditioning?
[7:09] Never be able to go out in the day or night?
[7:30] Personal maid or chef?
[7:46] Lead star in a movie that bombs or extra in an Oscar winning one?
[8:34] Only text in emoji or not text at all?
[8:47] Same socks or same underwear for a week?
[9:04] Sing off with Ariana Grande or Rihanna?
[9:25] Alone in a forest or a real haunted house?
[9:52] Child every year for 20 years or no kids at all?
[10:24] Gassy on a first date or your wedding night?
[10:46] Hunt for your own meat or never eat meat again?
[11:05] People spread lies about you or terrible truths?
[11:58] Best at something no one respects or average at something they do?
[12:42] Travel the world for free for a year or have $50,000?
[13:27] Mullet for a year or bald for 6 months?
[13:51] Go back to the past to see dead people or the future to meet grandkids?
[14:05] Stay physically how you are forever or financially?
[14:32] No phone for a month or no bathing for a month?
[14:52] Change the outcome of the last election or decide the next election?
[15:27] Lose the ability to read or lose the ability to speak?
[15:58] Beautiful and stupid or unattractive and smart?
[16:25] Always stuck in traffic but find the perfect parking spot or the opposite?
[16:57] Go on tour with Elton John or Cher?
[17:20] Win the lottery and spend it in a day or triple your current salary forever?
[17:52] Hear a comforting lie or an uncomfortable truth?
[18:03] Someone sees all your photos or all your texts?
[18:21] 4th of July with Taylor Swift or Christmas Eve with Mariah Carey?
[19:13] Peaceful life in a small cabin or drama filled in a mansion?
[19:35] Be invisible or fly?
[19:50] Be the leader on Earth or start another colony on another planet?
[20:11] Back to kindergarten with all my knowledge or know everything now?
[22:04] Read minds or predict the future?
[22:13] Be an unknown superhero or famous villain?
[22:48] Have a third eye or a third ear?
[23:13] Wake up naked in a forest 5 miles from home or in your underwear at work?
[23:52] Be reincarnated as a fly or just stop existing when dead?
[24:11] Close any open door or be unable to open any closed door?
[24:32] Work alongside Dwight or Homer?
[24:55] Punished for a crime you didn’t commit or credit stolen for a major accomplishment of yours?
[25:20] Celine or Eminem perform the soundtrack to your life?
[25:38] Bathe in dish water or wash dishes in bath water?
[25:50] Have your own theme park or zoo?
[26:05] Know when or how you’re going to die?
[26:21] Home with no electricity or home with no running water?
[26:43] Tea with Queen Elizabeth or beer with Prince Harry?
[27:08] Live the same day over for a year or take 3 years off your life?
[27:39] Finding balance, gratitude, and what would you rather?
Connect with Barb: