To Katie K...

Throughout these first 2 months of blogging, I've noticed some days I have the urge to write a posting but can't seem to recall a moment from my day that would inspire any sort of public thank you.  Not that I don't appreciate the small things people do, but there definitely are times when I don't consciously notice the good deeds of others.  Sad, I know.  But true for many of us busy souls.

Fortunately as I walked peacefully through the rain today on my way to the Capitol Hill library, I experienced a small moment of realization.  Why not "smile on" people who touched my life when I was young?  After all, they helped to shape me into the young lady I am today.   

Bear with me then, as I embark on a journey into my past...

Dear Katie K.,

Do you remember how we used to scrounge around our houses for spare change and then walk to the Greenwood Market and buy vegetable alphabet soup?  Or how we'd run around the neighborhood playing Cops and Robbers and cutting through yards with nary a thought to the owners?

I do.  In fact, almost all of my childhood memories of playing with neighbor kids involve you and our silly antics.  I remember climbing trees with you, spending hours in your fort, eating fruit from our mothers' gardens, putting on shows for our families, sneaking you my broccoli when you stayed for dinner, carefully plotting out our route for garage sale weekend and hunting for treasures amongst the junk (though we often ended up with lots and lots of, well, junk).  There are so many happy memories, it would take more than a blog posting to list them all.

Katie, thank you for being one of my first best friends.  I can't think of a time when we ever fought or argued and that in itself speaks volumes.  I appreciate that you always accepted me for me and never thought (or at least, never voiced) that my family was "weird" or embarrassing.

Though we haven't stayed in contact since your family moved away, I will always cherish your friendship.

Warmly,
Your Old Friend Suzanna

To the little guys in my friendship group...

My job is virtually indescribable in that the list of responsibilities that come with the title are ever changing and never ending.  For instance, today I found myself waiting at a Safeway pharmacy to pick up a prescription for a student.  That was certainly not in the job description!

One of my weekly tasks is to teach social skills through group sessions aptly named Friendship Groups.  Over the course of this past school year, I've revised the way I present these lessons and engage students.  In particular, I've added a special ending to each session: a round of compliments.  Elementary aged students rarely spontaneously pay compliments to one another and I felt this was an important exercise to encourage positive interactions between students.  Also, it's pretty sweet to see the look of pride that comes over some of the kiddos because of one nice compliment!

Today, the students made me smile with their simple words of appreciation.  My thank you is to them:

Dear Friday Friendship Group,

Today you paid one another delightful and sincere compliments.

To quote you:

• "I liked how you chewed with your mouth full."
• "You were a good friend today and a good listener and a good friend."
• "I liked how you didn't play with your toy and didn't distract other kids."
• "I liked how you chewed with your mouth closed.  And you're a good friend."
• "I liked that you raised your hand and didn't talk out."

You made your tired social worker smile and for that I am grateful.

Can't wait until next Friday!!

With side hugs and high fives and smelly stickers,

Ms. C

To my yoga instructors...

Dear 8 Limbs Yoga Instructors,

Thank you for making me sweat.
Thank you for making me sore.
Thank you for making me take the time to exercise.
Thank you for making me take the time to just breath.

Namaste!

From,
A freshly showered and reenergized Suz

To an old friend...

Perhaps because of recent episodes of Spring cleaning and the inevitable unearthing of old photographs, lately I've found myself reminiscing of friends gone by... 

Last week I decided to actually extend an invitation to an old "best friend" to catch up over glasses of wine.  We met up at Poco's - a wine bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle - around 6:00 pm on Monday evening.  After the initial, "It's great to see you!  How the heck have you been?," we finally placed our orders for wine and tasty tidbits.  The next 2 hours (yes 2!) were filled with "do you remember when ____" and "can you believe ____!," but more importantly we talked about our experiences of growing up.  We shared stories of hardship from our middle and high school years and though we had remained friends through those times, it was astonishing to discover some of the painful moments we hadn't told one another.  On the other hand, there were also many moments of warmth and understanding that only come from having shared experiences.  

What I realized as I sat across the table from this person who had known me for so long is that there is something special about these early friendships.   Not that you can't have deep friendships and connections with people who never knew you as a child, but there is certainly a level of understanding that comes from having observed someone blossom and grow into their adult selves.  

So...

Dear A.S.,

We've known each other a long time and though we've lost contact for a few of those years, I am appreciative that we can enter back into each other's lives as if no time has passed.  It's amazing how much we have changed, but at the same time how little.  We may not run around in long flowered skirts or play town using such creative names as Mrs. Roast (the grocer), Mrs. Post (the postwoman), and Mrs. Brooke (the librarian - we went far out on that one!), but we can still laugh and find the fun in our antics.

A., it's difficult for me to explain to others how I came to be who I am, but you were witness to many of those formative years.  Thank you for reminding me of why we were friends and of how we can clearly become friends again.

I'm truly looking forward to the many more years of renewed friendship to come.

With Land O'Lakes Hot Chocolate, tea sandwiches, and a separate plate for the crusts (because the logical thing to do is eat them too!),
Your Friend Suzanna

To me...

A few months ago I was asked by my sister to participate in a writing exercise called "I Like Me." This is an exercise that asks you to literally write down all the reasons why you like yourself.

Sounds easy, right?

It was anything but!

It's not often that we are invited to sit down and truly reflect on what makes us wonderful human beings. We feel like we are bragging, egotistical, too self-confident... all horribly negative traits!

When we're constantly confronted with images of "beauty" and "success" on our televisions, magazine covers, and newspapers, it's so easy to compare and find ourselves lacking in some area or another. We forget that it's actually healthy to appreciate and love ourselves for who we are and not for what we have or have not.

So, my friends, the following is an essay I wrote about myself. I changed it to a letter so it would fit the format of this blog. I encourage you to read mine and then take a moment (or ten) to write an "I Like Me" paragraph or two about yourself. You can share it on here as a comment or just bask in the reality that, wow, there are some things you like about yourself!

As a hint... it's sometimes easier to write about yourself in the third person.

Dear Me,

I’ve never met anyone quite like Suz and I mean that in the very best way. When you first see her, you might notice her slightly crooked smile, her cheerful freckles, her laughing eyes, her fabulous taste in shoes, or her curvaceous bod’. And you might already be hooked. But there’s so much more to this quirky young lady (for she still can’t quite get comfortable with calling herself a “woman”) than meets the eye.

The Suz I know appreciates the little things in life and for this I adore her. She’s happier walking Green Lake with a cherished friend and a soy latte in hand than drinking cosmos with rock stars in New York (though she wouldn’t mind doing that too!). I love that Suz is constantly smiling because she’s tickled pink by every day moments – like when a bus driver spontaneously decides to lead passengers in song. Or a stranger compliments her outfit. Or she witnesses a random act of kindness. Or a baby giggles. Or she slips and falls on her bum because she refuses to switch from her cute boots to ones with traction despite warnings of ice on the sidewalks.

I love how Suz enjoys staying in to watch movies or play board games as much as she adores donning her highest heels for a night out on the town. I appreciate that she’s just as comfortable dialoging about racism, oppression, and privilege as chatting about fashion or the antics of actors in sitcoms (How I Met Your Mother, anyone?). She’s quite the adaptable lady.

I love Suz’s passion and compassion. Though she could quite easily have become a psychologist making big bucks with a private practice, she chose social work—a job she describes as “lots of work for little pay” and one in which she earns more karma points than anything else. She's also quite the political activist and is always willing to protest or paint her face or picket to show her support... or lack thereof.

I love how Suz so clearly adores children—babies especially.  I love that she’s stayed in touch with Milo, her “little man,” and how she excitedly tells everyone who will listen about all his cute antics. I love that she always stoops down so she’s eye to eye when conversing with kids and how she never says “no” to a hug from one of her “kiddos.” I love that her favorite songs to sing are lullabies… It’s so obvious she’ll make a great mother someday.

I love that though Suz has been through some incredibly difficult and emotional experiences, they have only made her stronger. She freely admits her stressful childhood made her who she is… but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love how easy it is to make her blush or laugh. I love how she relishes her moments of spontaneity, but at the same time is responsible and organized. I love how she's quite klutzy and rather silly at times--so much so that her friends at USF coined the term "Ooohh Suz moments" in reference to her episodes of pure brainlessness. I love how she’s willing to do just about anything, even her mother’s quirky ideas. Did you know she’s been trained as a clown and a laughter leader?

I love Suz’s need for travel and how she uses her time away as a reminder of why she loves home.

I love that she’s an incredibly supportive and loyal friend.

Of course, Suz definitely has her flaws, but somehow I love her even more for them.

I wouldn’t have her any other way.

Love,

Me

To a good samaritan and a bus driver...

Dear Kind Stranger,

Before stepping onto the bus today, I was confused when it looked like you might be about to walk off. Everyone had already exited and I was given the green light to step aboard. Then you rushed to the front, paused, and leaned out the door.

You called: "Sir, is this your sweatshirt?"

And indeed it was.

Now this moment is certainly worthy of a thank you (thank you!). Not just anyone would take a second out of their busy lives to retrieve a forgotten item and return it to its rightful owner. But the scene that followed is actually what triggered my desire to put this story on "paper":

Dear Bus Driver,

Today you stopped a young man before he could step off the bus. You looked up at him and you said with a smile on your face:

"That was a great thing you did. Your parents did a wonderful job raising you."

The young man smiled and nodded, "Yes, they did."

Thank you, Bus Driver, for taking a moment out of your day to acknowledge someone else's act of kindness. We don't often take the time to appreciate the actions of others, but you did. And you made me smile.

Warmly,

An Appreciative Bus Rider

To a 4th grade teacher...

Dear J.G.,

I found an article in my box at the end of the day yesterday with a note that read:

Suz:

Thought I'd share with my favorite counselor!

J.

Thank you for making my day!

Warmly,

Your "Favorite" Counselor