Uncomfortable.

During our orientation in August, Amy (one of the head honchos at C.A.P.) challenged us with a word for our year at C.A.P. Can you guess what the word was?


(Hint hint, wink, wink, it's uncomfortable)

A pretty interesting and thought-provoking statement that was. Considering that in the weeks leading up to me going to Kentucky for a year, I was a little nervous. More than a little nervous; some might say I was freaking out. I was already uncomfortable when I got here, I knew no one, knew about three things about Kentucky (bourbon, the derby, KFC), and had a little bit of an idea of what I was getting into, but not too much. So, learning that I was supposed to and even challenged to feel this way for a year, and to potentially embrace it? Haha well, I wasn't too big of a fan.

But, she had a good point. Even in the month since I've been here, I've done many things that I would consider as "uncomfortable". Going up to flatrock, and shimmying (and I mean shimmying) between rocks to get up to a top which if you didn't watch it, you might fall to your death (scary stuff, especially for someone who isn't too big a fan of heights). Jumping into a van with only your cellular device, and going shopping with housemates that you've only just met (that story will probably go around for a while). Going on so many spontaneous car trips after only minutes (sometimes seconds) of deliberation, and making up taco puns to exchange at the drive-thru window (if only I could remember them now). Contra dancing, with little-to-no prior dancing experience, and trying not to get dizzy from all the twirling around.

It doesn't help that I seem to have social anxiety, though I suppose I've had that for years, but didn't know it. But the biggest challenge? Being at the food pantry, and shopping with a participant who has had a tough life, and you have no idea how to respond. Considering that for me, stepping up to help a participant can be a challenge; I always think that it'll go badly somehow, though I don't know it could. But, getting bear-hugged on the first day by a participant was pretty sweet. And when you can give recipe advice out, that's pretty swell too.

What's that quote again? "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." We should all keep that in mind.

'til next time, be kind to everyone, and have courage.

Peace out,
Len 😎

Next question: What do I with CAP?

I'm going to guess that this is the next question that people ask. I'll admit, when I got here I was like, "what is a food pantry case worker?" "What does that entail?" Well the short answer is that I help people get food when they don't have enough. If you want the more detailed answer, read on...

Still here? Okay awesome! In reward for your patience and reading on, you'll have the opportunity to see an incredible picture at the end of this post, excitement! 

Anyway, working in a food pantry is hard work. It's a blast, due to my fabulous co-workers, and the volunteers who come in to help, who have become like family. There's Mary (my supervisor), Sherri (Mary's boss), Carolyn (my manager), Brad, Eddie, Kay, Lily, Frank, Brandon, Gwen, Carolyn, and Amanda. They help to make everyday a little more bearable, and keep me laughing, because we're all goofballs. Kay came back after not being in for a few weeks, and gave everyone hugs, including us, who she'd only met once. That's what I love about being here: people aren't so reserved, they show affection.

On the other end of things, working with a a pallet-jack, moving crates or totes around constantly, unloading and repackaging things, it is hard work. But, I've also learned about teamwork, and not being afraid to ask for help when I need it. And hey, I'll have big muscles again by the end of this CAP year! At least I hope. 😋

The best part for me is of course shopping with our participants, and hearing their stories. I try to make it fun as best I can, and seeing a smile on a participant that is down on their luck is honestly the best feeling. Sometimes it is hard to find a silver lining in some situations, but I certainly try my best. 

So there's a look into my life as a food pantry caseworker, I hope you enjoyed. 😊

Have courage, and be kind to everyone,

Len 😎

Here's some inspiration from my neighbors at Rockcastle

 And, here's the incredible picture I promised before. I even googled "incredible picture", so you know that it's legitimate.

Can't change those roots.

This one is a bit more personal, bear with me here.

Yes, I quoted a Ryan Follese song (I really enjoy that dude's songs), but I think it fits. This is a continuation of my last blog post, because I am self-conscious of having too long of posts (I admit it). 

Anyway, I am proud of my upbringing. It was not perfect by any means, but it taught me a whole lot. And now, a tribute of sorts to my parents and siblings. Think of this as a public thank-you note, because my family is great, and they deserve to know it, as we all do.

Dad,

Thank you for giving me your love of classic rock music. I am so happy when I know the name of a song, and the band, and people are shocked that I know "music beyond my years". You've given me your hard work ethic, even though I still haven't learned the concept of "working smart and not hard". You've taught me to always be polite, and to treat everyone with respect, no matter what their profession or livelihood is. You've taught me to be responsible for my actions, and that honesty truly is the best policy (after telling that I wouldn't have gotten in so much trouble if I hadn't lied 😋). And thank you for giving me a loud voice, and showing me the importance of eye contact, because it has helped me out more than a few times. I am appreciative of all of this, and I feel like I don't tell you nearly enough. So thank you, and I love ya.

Mom,

Thank you for giving me your open mind, and for showing me that everyone is good, even if it's very far deep down sometimes. You've helped me to keep hold of my little-kid self, and that is sometimes my favorite part of myself. Thank you for helping me to be strong, because I think of all that you've been through, and I remind myself that I can get through this. Thank you for being so strong in your faith, because that has helped me to be strong in my faith, even though I'm still trying to find my way, and probably always will be trying. Thank you for being my mom, and when people tell me that I look like you, I do take that as a compliment, because you are beautiful inside and out, and I am happy to be your doppelganger. 😊 I love ya.

Chris,

What is there to say? You've been my best friend since I was four, and I've learned a whole heck of a lot from you. Like Mom, I've learned to importance of keeping my little kid self, and not being afraid of imagining more. You've always been strong in your faith too, and I admire that about you, because I've been drifting more than a little. You're not content with just knowing what you know, you're always looking into different viewpoints, trying to understand the other side. Thanks for putting up with my dramatics over the years, even if sometimes you've just shrugged me off. We've laughed so hard I've started crying I don't know how many times, and I'm grateful for that. You also give the best hugs, even though you got really freaking tall, and I'm not okay with that. Keep doing great at school, and do us (and George Lucas) proud. I love ya. 

Sara, 

I miss you, and wish I could be there for you during your first year at West. But you're stronger than you think, and you can and will get through this. Keep up your sassiness and sarcasm, and, even though you're just like me and will never admit it, you're gorgeous and I wish you'd believe it. I'm here for you, even if I may be 10 hours away. I miss our late night chats, even though they can still totally happen, and I miss laughing so hard at a misunderstood word that we couldn't breathe. Keep up your hilarious facial expressions, and take full advantage of your group of friends. I love you Sar, and you've been the best roommate ever, even if you made me sleep with the lights on half the time. 😋. Keep up being the coolest (and realest) 15 year old. 

Love you all always, 

Helena 😎

Is Kentucky turning me country?

Nah, I wouldn't go that far. Am I a bigger fan of country music now? Well yes, but that's been coming for a few years now. Am I developing more of a country twang? I've only been here two weeks, but I'd like to think so (I've always loved Southern accents).

But this post is more about taking time to step into another person's shoes. This past weekend, my housemates and I went to the Red, White, and Boom country music festival, and all I have to say is "Yee-Haw"! Just kidding, though that was a big part of it. I also have a much higher tolerance for feet ache, haha. It just really fun, listening to country music, some new artists, and remembering again why I love country music. It's about story-telling, hearing how people ended up where they are; the struggles, the heartache, and the pride they have for where they come from. At the end of the day, don't we all have that?

Me, I grew up in the suburbs, but that doesn't define me. I say that I'm from Philly (or at least I had), but that isn't true either. I didn't have the idyllic childhood, and you know what? That's okay, because my upbringing made me into the person that I am today. And I am proud: I came from a little town in Pennsylvania called New Britain (and yes, I know that there are New Britain's everywhere but this one is my town). I grew up in the suburbs, in a place that doesn't have a cute-sy story behind it, but it does have a post office. And a shopping center, where I discovered a thrift store that though it changed locations, it's still a second home to me. It has a park called peace valley which was a refuge when things got crazy at home. But the most important thing? I grew up in a very close-knit family (my immediate family), and though we aren't perfect, there's nothing I'd change for the world. Yeah, depression sucks, and so does anxiety, but (and I know this phrase is so over-used) what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Remember how I was talking about country music and the country lifestyle? Well, I'm not an expert by any means, but for me, country means taking your life for what it is, and being proud of it, no matter where you come from. That's it from me for right now, later y'all.

Be kind to everyone, and in turn, have courage,
Len 😎

A few photos from me, a New Britainian

So, what am I doing in Kentucky again?

Long Story Alert!

I figure most people are wondering exactly what I'm doing in Kentucky and why. So here's the story:

Once upon a time...

Just kidding. 😋 Ever since high school, I've been wanting to do some sort of service project. At one point, I was even considering the navy. I quickly ruled that out, at least for the time being; not being interested in going into combat, but just wanting to join the humanitarian effort. I wanted to join the PeaceCorps instead (anything with peace in the title, I'm most likely going to go for it), and I actually made decent headway on the application before my mom suggested that I look into the AmeriCorps. 

So, what's the AmeriCorps? The AmeriCorps is very similar to the PeaceCorps, in the fact that it is also a service-oriented organization. The difference is that, while the PeaceCorps could send you all over the world hypothetically (and into potentially dangerous spots), the AmeriCorps is strictly based in the "states", and will only send you to places in America. Obviously, this doesn't eliminate the danger aspect, since there is the potential for danger all over, but it's a bit more comfortable of a situation (at least in my mind). So that's why I chose the AmeriCorps, but then there was the issue of picking the program that I wanted to get into. What to choose?

Why did I choose C.A.P.? CAP (Christian Appalachian Project) is mainly based out of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky to be specific, one of the highest poverty-ridden regions in the country. I chose CAP because my mom mentioned it to me on Facebook. I was trying to find a program, and there were so many! CAP is based on 3 pillars: service, community, and spirituality. So, this year I will be learning how to better incorporate these terms into my everyday life. I'm currently living with 3 house mates: lovely ladies that I've already become friends with. I work in the food pantry down the road, as a case worker, helping participants pick up their supplemental food items, and getting to know their stories. 

Another thing is that Father Ralph Beiting was the one who created CAP, and ever since I was 8 or 9, he has been an inspiration to me. If you don't know who he is, look him up; talk about an incredible story! Anyway, he came to visit my church (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart), and did an incredible sermon. I came up to him after mass, and thanked him for the sermon. He asked me for my name and said, "Helena, I don't know what is going on in your life right now, but it is going to be okay. God is watching over you, and will take care of it." Needless to say, he made quite an impact on me, making me even more keen to go to Appalachia. And here I am! 😄

That's about it from me right now, if you want to know more about this organization, it's on Facebook at Christian Appalachian Project, or on instagram at chrisappproj . Until next time. 

Be kind to everyone (in the words of Ellen DeGeneres), and "have courage and be kind",

Len 😎

Potato Horror Story and Spider Fruit

Okay, so that might be a little extreme of a title, but have you smelled rotten potatoes recently? A little too much like a horror story, if you ask me. But hey, if that's the worst thing to happen to me this year, I'm doing pretty well, right?

Yesterday was my first day of work (volunteering with the Grateful Bread food pantry. Nice title, huh? 😋), and it was an interesting first day. First off, I don't like being a newbie, as I've discovered, but everyone treated me like family. Mary and Sherri, our managers, were adorable, and they made us (Zach, Brittni, and I) little signs to welcome us. Brittni and Zach have become like my siblings, and I think we're gonna get along well.

Then, we got to meet and shop for a few clients. This is my favorite part of the job (gee, I wonder why, since I love people), and I met some pretty great people yesterday. There was R.G., a three-year-old who came in with his grandparents, who blew us "some shuga" (kisses), and was a great little helper. There was Thelma, a lady in her 80's who couldn't have been more than 4' 11" inches, and gives me a bear hug for no reason whatsoever.

Then this morning, we tried what we dubbed the "spider fruit". It tasted like a pear, looked like a strawberry with spider legs. And, it was delicious! I think I'm gonna like it here. 😉 Here are some photos for your enjoyment.

Peace out (til next time),
Len 😎

Take Me to Church

I just wanted to write something about my church experience this morning. For me church is a comforting experience because, wherever you go, you feel at home. At least I do. You sing familiar songs, you hear familiar passages from the bible, and you're surrounded by people who (hopefully) have similar beliefs as you do, and are good people. I know that some people have not had this experience, and I am truly sorry for that, and I hope to be able to change the view that some hold on religion. But this post is not about that. This post is about my experience, and why I am growing to love Kentucky, at least this part of Kentucky.

It's very much a small-town feel, and I absolutely love that. You walk past people and you say "Good Morning", and they say it back, and maybe even say it before you do. We were at church this morning, and immediately, we are greeted, and the congregation is asked if anyone is new, and if so, where are they from. A few people volunteered (me not being one of them, I am ashamed to say), and we even celebrated a few birthdays! It was wonderful, and pretty relaxed. Considering that I come from a relatively relaxed parish, it was nice to experience that in a different state. That's all for now, keep up the love guys! 

Oh, and if you would like my address, let me know and I'll gladly oblige. I do love receiving mail. 😉

Peace out,

Len 😎

Day One

I never really know what I'm going to write until I write it ( makes sense, huh? 😋), so here goes nothing.

For the past few weeks, as going to CAP became more real and more overwhelming, I've been going into what I call "freak-out mode". Basically, I didn't want to leave my life behind, and start something new. It's like they say, "life begins at the end of your comfort zone." But, who the heck wants to leave something called a comfort zone? So, I started trying to hang out with people like crazy, spending time with my family (love y'all!), and try not to think about doing something that absolutely terrified me. I even contemplated applying to Temple, which sounded really sweet at the time (and still kinda does, to be honest). Anyway, I did it. I'm here. Whoop whoop!

But....now what?

And that my friends, is where I'm at currently. I already unpacked, did that as soon as I could (check out the lovely pics at the end of the post, please and thank you 😎), but now I have all this free time. At least, until dinner, and then tomorrow, when real life starts. It's just weird right now, having all this quiet, all this "me" time. What is a girl to do? I guess I'm just gonna try to keep figuring that out; doing all the stuff that I've been putting off until a later time. 

Welcome to this adventure with me! We'll see where CAP takes me. TTFN, ta ta for now. 

Peace out,

Len

TGIF

Hey y'all,

 Just sayin'. Enjoy your weekend!

A little inspiration on this Tuesday.

Hey y'all,

You know how I said I was going to make this blog a little bit of inspiration for us all? Okay, maybe I didn't say those exact words, but that's what I'm hoping this blog will become.

Anyway, since it is still January, I figure I can still talk about resolutions, right? We haven't become lost causes yet, right? I'm assuming you said right to that, so I'm going to keep going with this. One of my resolutions this year is to be more active, and to stay in shape. Yes, I can hear you all saying, "here we go again, with this staying in shape mumbo jumbo", but I'm trying here.

My two friends and I have recently gotten into the "active craze" as I'm dubbing it, and I just got an email this morning from one of the apps that I installed on my phone a while back, called Charity Miles. This isn't a lecture about staying active, and walking all the time, because let's face it, it's freaking cold outside! This is a post about a saying in the email that got me thinking: Walk with a cause in your heart. Everyday. Corny I know, but think about it, what if we did everything with a cause in our hearts? Might inspire us a little bit, don't you think? Yes, I know, I'm being a bit idealistic here, but hey, that's what I do. So, today, try to do things with a cause or purpose in your heart. And who knows, it might help.

Oh and here's a little motivation for today, in case you need a little extra. Until next time.

Peace out,

Len 😀

The Simple Life.

Hey y'all,

I was at mass the other day (meaning Monday), and the priest spoke to us about John the Baptist living "the simple life". He was perfectly fine with doing his thing, and living in Jesus' shadow a little bit. And this message got me thinking, "how many of us are content with living in someone else's shadow?" Not too many, I wouldn't think. In our society, it's very much stressed that we be the big shots all the time In our society, it's very much stressed that we be the big shots all the time, and be our own person. I know I'm like this quite a bit, I want to be the person that makes things happen, who wants to change the world. But you know, maybe, and I'm learning this slowly, I need to start with right where I am, and go from there. This is a bit of a spiritual post (if you hadn't already figured that out), because my faith puts me at ease, and makes it easier for me to be who I am. And maybe let someone else have the spotlight, every now and then. 

  

So anyway, living simply. How do we go about this? I mean, we could just get rid of everything that we own, and live like hobos, but are we ready for this? Most likely not. But we could start with giving things away that we don't use anymore, and trying to downsize a little bit. I know this has been my goal for quite a while now, and I'm still working on it. I have a little paper on my dresser mirror that says "If it doesn't nourish your soul, then get rid of it." Now that might be a little dramatic, but I'm still trying to abide by it. And I can't help but think of Gilmore Girls, and Emily Gilmore saying, "I should get rid of it if it doesn't bring me joy." Now, the person who advised her turned out to be a kook, but still. doesn't that sound like a good way to live? Within reason, we can't get rid of taxes and bills, but shouldn't everything that surrounds us give us joy? Just something to think about. I'm one of those weird people who wants to have all of her belongings fit in a backpack, but yet doesn't want to stop shopping.  

  

Remember how I was talking about just taking problems one step at a time. Well, there is a prayer that resonates with me, and I'm going to share it here. It's called the Serenity Prayer, and hopefully it'll help y'all like it helps me.  

  

  

  

 Peace out, 

Len 😎 

2017 musings (in other words, my thoughts)

Hey y'all,

When coming up with this blog, I've been thinking about the many (many) things that I want to cover. Basically, as silly and corny as it may sound, I really do want to try to make this community a more positive place, and I want to spotlight that people who are doing that very thing on a day-to-day basis.

But anyway, reflections for 2017. It seems kinda obligatory, but there are some things that I want to do better in the coming year. For one thing, I do want to be more healthy, and more active. For another thing, I want to be more organized, which for me, is no small feat. I'm one of those people who says that they're going to do something, then promptly forgets about it. So, on the topic of reflections and resolutions, I want to bring up a few ideas and organizations out there that have really helped me lately.

Bullet journals: I just found out about bullet journals a few months ago, and I was really interested. I still don't fully know what they are, mine is very bare-boned. Basically, I make myself a calendar in my journal (or notebook, as I call mine), and fill in my day-to-day activities (like volunteering and pet-sitting). Very basic. Then, I do a daily to-do list, and put in more things as they come into my head. I also like to put little boxes next to all of my tasks, and put checkmarks when I've completed things. It makes me feel very accomplished. My favorite part is decorating my "notebook" though. I get cute stickers, or just cut out pictures, and stick 'em in. This journaling has been very helpful for me, so I hope it will be for you as well. I'll include some pictures of mine at the bottom of this posting if any of y'all are interested as well.

Thrift stores: I'm a big fan of thrift stores, if there's anything that you should know about me. I especially like In Full Swing in Doylestown (or dtown, if you're a local), mostly because I volunteer there (hint hint, come visit me!). But yeah, if you're like me, and concerned about where your clothes come from. Plus, they benefit A Woman's Place, a domestic violence prevention organization. But anyway, I'll stop tooting their horn now. But seriously, check out thrift stores. They are great, and you can really find one of a kind things there.

As promised, pictures of my bullet "notebook" in case any of you want to make yourself one.

Daily to-do list

 Monthly calendar

I need to customize everything

Peace out,

Len 😏