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Attitude of Gratitude: There’s a Lot to be Grateful for in my Life

A favorite lunch spot along Maine's rocky coast in Bar Harbor. Uninvited seagulls never fail to join us. — A favorite lunch spot along Maine’s rocky coast in Bar Harbor. Uninvited seagulls never fail to join us.

Faceboook is overflowing with gratitude challenges. People are challenging their friends, family, and colleagues to identify those things in their lives for which they’re grateful. My friend, Maura Halkiotis, challenged me to identify and post three things I’m grateful for each day for five days. I altered the challenge a bit: here’s my list – all 15 in one day, no particular order except for number 15 (no skipping ahead).

Laughter. Listening to a child’s infectious giggle or an adult’s belly laugh stops me in my tracks and immediately puts a smile on my face.
Coffee Shops. Working out of my home as a consultant has given me a great appreciation of coffee shops – even though I’ve ditched coffee for green tea. These satellite offices provide a place for me to meet with clients; allow me to be in a room with people when I’ve spent too much time alone; and, of course, there’s always a great cup of tea or snack awaiting.
Friends and Family. There is nothing like sharing successes and setbacks with people I love and respect. I’m blessed to have family and friends who open their hearts and homes to my husband and me; and I’m especially grateful for those of you who share your children’s worlds with us.
My preferred mode of travel takes me through the marshes of Cape Cod.
My Bike. My pink bike has taken me places I never imagined I’d travel. And, yes, I’m grateful each of those 30 gears to power me over hills and through trails.
Water, Water Everywhere. Beaches, marshes, lakes are mesmerizing. I feel lucky every day to live in the beautiful State of Maine. The rocky coast is a stunning backdrop for a good life.
Second Chances. We can all use a do-over every now and again.
Living in a Country Where Disagreements / Debate Take Place. While our country certainly has its issues, there’s no place in the world I’d rather live. Disagreements can be debated publicly; political change takes place seamlessly; in spite of disagreements, there is a sense of compassion (most of the time) that transcends politics.
Generosity and Philanthropy. Working in the nonprofit sector allowed me to see on a daily basis how dedicated people are to helping those in need. The generosity of people to share their time, talent, and financial resources is truly heart-warming.
Public Spaces. Imagine a world without public beaches, parks, or museums. No thank you.
Pioneers. I’m so grateful for those bold pioneers who turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and forge a new path.
My Health. I’ve been researching the relationship(s) surrounding lifestyle and cancer for close to three years now. I’m grateful every day to be healthy, sometimes in spite of my choices, and sometimes because of my choices.
Loud Music. Whether I’m cooking in my kitchen or driving my car, a loud blast of music can change the shape of the day.
Artists. Creativity provided by artists – photographers, painters, singers, musicians, etc. – opens our eyes to new possibilities and perspectives.
Social Media. The power and ease of connecting has never been greater since social media entered our world. Personal and professional lives collide, multi-generational conversations bloom, and the world is a better place for it.
John Nelson. I saved the best for last. I’m grateful every minute of every day that John is in my life. Lucky me to have a husband who is my best cheerleader, sounding board, and friend.

This was a valuable exercise for me to complete. While it may sound a bit contrived, developing an attitude of gratitude can change the way you see the world AND the way the world sees you. So give it a shot: I encourage (or should I say challenge) you to take a few minutes and think about those people / places / things that make you smile even when you’re trying your hardest to be cranky. Don’t let anyone else write your story; it’s yours to tell.

Attitude of Gratitude: There’s a Lot to be Grateful for in my Life was last modified: September 18th, 2014 by Deb Nelson

Yarmouth Clam Festival: Still Fresh After 49 Years

The weather gods were looking out for the organizers of the 49^th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival last weekend. Perhaps the unseasonably cool temperatures and lack of humidity were Mother Nature’s way of acknowledging a job well done.

The town of 8,300 along Maine’s southern coast prepares to welcome 100,000 to its village every year to celebrate in a clamtastic way. The Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce is tasked with organizing this annual three-day event and making sure there’s something of interest for the young, the old, and everyone in between.

While the parade is a staple with its fire trucks and wild Shriners, the theme changes every year to give it a fresh look. Bands come and go as our music tastes change, and the artists and crafts people change up as well. Steamer was added as the festival mascot in 2004; he wanders through the festival all weekend, posing with anyone who wants to get a photo. Steamer and selfies go together like lime rickeys and sweet potato fries.

I’ve been attending this festival for 19 years, since moving from Massachusetts to Yarmouth. And each year, the festival succeeds in entertaining the masses. Festival attractions include a parade, 5-mile road race, professional bike race, diaper derby, clam shucking contest, firefighters’ muster, craft show, fine arts show, carnival, live music, fireworks, and more.

There’s also a food court featuring clams, clams, and more clams. No worries, though, if clams aren’t part of your diet; there’s a little something for everyone at the food court, where the vendors are Yarmouth nonprofits raising funds to do good work.

While lots of favorites returned to the craft show, this was the first year I noticed Shibumi Silks. A unique addition to the show, Shibumi offered festival goers the opportunity to create their own silk scarves. Events change up over the years as well. The canoe race now accommodates canoes and SUPs. The variety of shows pretty much guarantees there’s never a dull moment from start to finish at the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Congrats to the Chamber and its many volunteers for putting on a good show! 2015 will mark the 50^th anniversary of the clam festival. The Yarmouth Clam Festival is always the third weekend in July, and is always worth attending. I hope to see you next year July 17 – 19 on Yarmouth’s Main Street!

Yarmouth Clam Festival: Still Fresh After 49 Years was last modified: July 23rd, 2014 by Deb Nelson

Staycation: Reflect, Recharge and Reconnect Close to Home

Southern Maine proved to be the perfect setting for an end-of-summer staycation for my husband and me. First up: beaches, of course, since we find nothing more relaxing than a multi-day beach tour. Mother Nature cooperated, providing beautiful sunny days for the entire week, as we visited old favorites and added one more to our list:

The week began with a couple of visits to Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth – a small, comfortable beach enjoyed primarily by families. Kettle Cove is a great spot to read, chat and reconnect with your inner child while
This sand castle is about to become a happy memory as the tide moves in at Kennebunk Beach.

watching kids squeal with delight at nature’s gifts: sand, waves, and tidal pools.
If you’re looking for a beach with more legroom, meander down the road a bit to Crescent Beach State Park. There’s plenty of room to spread out and take a long head-clearing walk at this beach.
Heading north, we made our first visit to Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg. Arriving mid-day, we avoided the waiting line we’ve heard greets early morning arrivals. Firmly planted in our beach chairs after a long walk along the shoreline, we witnessed a family of seven sharing their lunch with brazen seagulls. We’ve seen seagulls before, but not like this: these gulls are well-practiced in securing their next meal! And, yes, we were grateful they weren’t interested in the grapes we surreptitiously snacked on over the course of the afternoon.
Timing is everything when visiting Kennebunk Beach, as the sidewalk is the only place to park your chair or blanket at high tide. Arrive a few hours ahead of the tide, however, and you’ll be rewarded with a great beach experience as experts and novices surf the waves, sand sculptures take shape throughout the day, and peals of laughter erupt from every corner of the beach.
Last, but certainly not least on our tour, was Ogunquit Beach. One of our favorite beaches, there is always a lot of activity to take in here: suddenly everyone is a kid again! Good intentions of reading were quickly replaced by a walk on the beach, jumping into the waves, and a catnap.

While we were based out of our home for most of the week, we spent a couple of days at the Kennebunkport Inn, where the staff’s attention to service was top notch very day, all day. The recently renovated patio was the ideal spot to watch the sunset following a bike ride along the rocky coast. The staff also graciously found us outdoor seating at their restaurant, One Dock, when we were late to make a reservation. Our meals were stellar, and service once again exceeded our expectations. And, since Kennebunkport offers up so many great restaurants, we had to visit a couple of favorites: Bandaloop and Old Vines. We’ve always felt right at home upon entering both of these spots that are filled with good food, good wine, and good friends.

With a week of lounging on the beach and exploring the restaurant scene here and there, we found plenty of time to add some exercise to the mix: a few scenic bike rides, a couple of runs in Portland, and perhaps best of all, joining two 15-year-old girls for a standup paddle board lesson. During our staycation we slowed down the pace to appreciate what’s right in our own backyard and, like Dorothy, found there’s no place like home.

Staycation: Reflect, Recharge and Reconnect Close to Home was last modified: September 6th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

My Relationship with the Red Sox: 45 Years and Going Strong

Ortiz and Salti

Who would have thought that one of the longest-standing relationships in my life would be with the Red Sox – those boys of summer who, for decades, came oh-so-close to winning it all?

My first memories of the Red Sox date back to 1967 when my parents were building our house. With the frame complete and flooring in place, a television set took center stage so that we could track the progress of The Impossible Dream season. My heroes that summer included:

Jim Lonborg
Mike Andrews
George Scott
Reggie Smith
Carl Yastrzemski
Dick Williams

Soon enough, they were replaced by Fisk, Lynn, and Rice. I wore my Red Sox heart on my sleeve with a t-shirt that proclaimed: Pitchers Pay the Price When They Face Jim Rice.

Each and every April no matter the make-up of the team, there would be a loss that struck my father as particularly disastrous prompting the annual declaration, “That’s it: the season’s over!” Of course, he’d continue to follow the Sox, only to have his heart broken year after year as that World Series win remained outside the grasp of the Sox. When 2004 brought that sweet victory, my brother placed a 2004 World Champions Banner at my father’s gravesite – I’m sure he loved it!

Last weekend, experiencing a game at Fenway Park in first-row seats transformed my husband and me into 10-year-old kids. We saw every Sox player on deck as they prepared to face Atlanta’s pitching staff:

Pedroia, the serious one
Saltalamacchia, apparently unaware anyone else was in the park
Middlebrooks, undaunted by the pressure of taking the spot of a seasoned veteran
Ortiz, looking like a kid himself while the pitchers seemed intimidated by his mere presence

Rainbow at Fenway Perhaps more exciting than the game itself, each of the two young boys sitting next to us scored a ball from the field – high fives for all! The game began with a rainbow and ended with a Red Sox win. Fans went crazy, staying until the final out – even though the win left our Sox tied for last place. Somewhere I think I heard my father saying, “Wait ‘til next year!”

My Relationship with the Red Sox: 45 Years and Going Strong was last modified: June 26th, 2012 by Deb Nelson

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