By Nancy Dorrans
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
-Hal Borland
“The only constant is change,” as quoted from Greek philosopher Heraclitus. There have been several changes of note in my year so far… Both good and sad, changes on the outside and changes from within.
Climate Change
Seems this year winter may have skipped us, at least here in Maine and Northern New England. February blew in like a lion! Who knows what March will bring? I could try and guess the reason for the change in the weather, but it doesn’t really matter in the end. It will change!
Good Change
Even with the little snow we do have, I have embraced the winter season. I’m continuing to volunteer as a coach with New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) at Loon Mountain, helping people with disabilities learn how to ski. It is very rewarding to volunteer for an organization that offers opportunity and positive change for students and their families! Thank you NEDS.
Sad Change
This January, the sudden death of a friend I’ve known for over twenty-five years brought sorrow but also stirred up cherished memories. Scot had just turned sixty-one. He collapsed while cross-country skiing with his wife and died of a heart attack. This news was a shock and crushing to me and many others in our Loon Mountain community where he had worked for over thirty years. With this sad and sudden change, I am reminded of the five stages of grief which come and go – and not always in the same order.
Scot was doing what he loved with the woman he loved. Some solace leaning towards acceptance. Thank you for being my friend.
Big Change
After 13 years of operation, PelotonLabs closed its doors as a co-working space on February 29th. Liz Trice and Peter Bass opened PelotonLabs as the first large co-working space in Maine. I became a member of Peloton about a decade ago, just as I was venturing out on my own and starting Adventure Marketplace. I know that my business would never have had the successes it has if it wasn’t for my connections and the support I’ve received through this co-working community.
PelotonLabs has been successful in many ways, and I have been witness to much of the success. In a letter to past members Liz Trice writes, “…thousands of people have come through the doors [of PelotonLabs] to enjoy their work, meet others, learn and be inspired… it is personally satisfying to know that I have connected hundreds of people to each other… and created a beautiful space that has inspired people to see possibilities in their own lives.” Thank you, Liz, for believing in me.
Positive Change
I’ve just completed a three-part Radical Kindness course offered through the Merrymeeting Adult Ed program and facilitated by Jeff Edelstein, a public policy mediator, facilitator, civic innovator, and social entrepreneur. His organization, Acts of Kindness Maine (AOK), encompasses a broad range of human values: honesty, courage, generosity, and much more. This course is a powerful three-step approach to Kindness through Awareness, Empowerment, and Action.
What did I learn? To say thank you often, to listen intently, and to see “how kindness can transform your friendships, relationships, families, workplaces, schools, and communities.” Thank you, Jeff.
Change of Scenery
From February 23rd to March 5th my views will be of the Canadian Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. I’m traveling to Alberta, Canada with some skiing friends from Erie, PA. I’m not the organizer this time! This skiing adventure to Banff and Lake Louise was organized by the Western Pennsylvania Ski Council and I’m happy to follow. I’ll be stopping over in Seattle to visit my adventurous travel advisor friend Laura (that I met in Patagonia) on the way home. Looking forward to this majestic change of scenery that will help me recharge!
Change of Season
Spring will come. It always does. And with it will come new growth, warmer days, and undoubtedly other changes, too. I’ll try to embrace them with an open mind and maybe grow a bit more myself!
