New Beginnings

There’s something about the change of seasons that I find really energizing. It doesn’t even matter which season we’re talking about–something about them makes me feel like new beginnings are always presenting themselves. Now, with spring upon us, I find myself planning a garden and looking forward to warmer evenings. Here in Texas, spring is one of the times of year when we can actually sit outside and enjoy ourselves. (Give it another six weeks and I’ll be groaning about the heat.)

All this in spite of the fact that, just two weeks ago, I found myself in one of those dark places that it’s sometimes hard to feel your way out of. You know what I’m talking about, right? Those moments when you question every decision you’ve ever made. When you feel like your life is such a mess, it can’t possibly be made right again. When you wonder why you’ve taken it upon yourself to believe you could actually accomplish something. Anything, for that matter.

I don’t know what turned things around, but I’m pretty sure the change of seasons played a role. The longer days and lighter evenings certainly help. So does the fact that, not quite two years after I started writing this blog, She Dwells is growing like crazy. I gain new followers on Facebook and Twitter almost every day. The whole point of writing this blog is to provide encouragement to women, like me, who are struggling with the various challenges life presents. Knowing that people find my words encouraging enough to come back to read them on a regular basis means more than I can say.

So–in the spirit of welcoming the newcomers–I’m going to use today’s post to start fresh and tell you a little about myself.

The Basics: I grew up in Boise, Idaho, went to college in northern Idaho, and left the Pacific Northwest when I started graduate school. I’ve lived all over the Midwest (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri) and now live outside of San Antonio, Texas. I never imagined Texas would be the place where I’d land, but my family has been here for 16 years and I see no signs that we’ll be moving. Strange as it sometimes feels to say this, I think of myself as a Texan.

Family: One husband, two children, two cats, two dogs. Both of my children are in college; my daughter will graduate in May.

Work: I’m a professor of English and Women’s Studies (as you may have guessed, if you’ve been reading my Feminist Friday series.) I’m also a freelance writer and a novelist.

Favorite foods: Thai food in general, but Pad Thai and Gang Massaman in particular. I also love Mexican food, which explains why I’ve been so happy living in South Texas.

Favorite drinks: coffee in the morning, Diet Coke with vanilla in the afternoon. We’re regulars at our local Sonic.

Favorite book: I’m an English professor, so I have a different answer to this question every time someone asks–and I’m pretty sure that means I don’t actually have a favorite.

Favorite movie: I’ll watch The Shawshank Redemption anytime I come across it on TV.

For Fun: I like to cook, garden, crochet, write, draw, take long walks, and read. I’m a major league homebody.

Bad habits: Worry. Having impossibly high expectations. Impulsiveness–mostly when I get fed up with feeling worried.

Travel: I’m conflicted about this because, as I’ve already stated, I love to be at home–but I also really enjoy exploring new places. (It’s the getting there that I’m not so crazy about. I don’t do well in situations where I have very little control.) My most recent trips have been to London and Antigua. I’d like to visit Iceland.

Biggest accomplishment: Earning my Ph.D. while raising two children with my husband. Our daughter was not quite a year old when we started our doctoral programs; our son came along at the end of our second year of graduate school. Those years are pretty much a blur, but we had a lot of fun and everyone survived. Having small children gave me a very clear reason for finishing my degree and moving forward with my career.

Something you might not expect: I love watching basketball. Since we moved to Texas, I’ve become a hardcore Spurs fan–and now I’m a little fanatical about March Madness, too. It’s an interest I share with my son, which makes it all the more special.

Pet Peeve: People who are oblivious to the consequences of their behavior. This ranges from people who drive dangerously, to people who make insulting jokes, to people who block the aisle at the grocery store. If we all spent a little more time thinking about how our behavior might impact others, the world would be a much more pleasant place.

If you’re a regular reader of She Dwells, I hope you’ve learned something new about me and that you’ll keep coming back to see what’s new on the blog. If you’re new to the She Dwells community, let me know what we have in common!