Filled with the spirit of Grace

My Father used to always tease me and say "Well, there's a REASON your middle name isn't Grace!".

According to the naming convention he used (yes, geeksters, a naming convention. I come by it honestly.) there was a high probability that my middle name would have, in fact, been Grace.

After Grace Beekhuis Bell, one of the first women to become Dean of a Medical School, which would later become UC Irvine (see history in the 1960s). As is my way, I aspired to be filled with the spirit of Grace. 

Yesterday I had two amazing conversations which prompted me to realize that the Universe is reminding me to write about how and why I choose Grace as my guiding principle.

First, I had the great privilege of interviewing a rather famous geneticist for a work project. It was one of the most inspiring conversations I have had in a very long time. He encourages his students to always question the underlying assumptions and continue to discover what it is that they are PASSIONATE about. Driven by the burning questions he needs to solve....he refuses to allow himself to be bored. He told me that he has a reputation for being a Contrarian, and then proceeded to explain why it was necessary to play that role in a world where "we've always done it that way" has become SOP. He graciously gave me an hour of his precious time, and I hope there will be further opportunities to brainstorm and collaborate with him.

Later in the afternoon, I was still swooning over the rarified air I had been breathing, and met my dear Daughter and one of her support network professionals to map out the plan for moving things to the new house. We drew maps, took pictures, and measured. There will be a spreadsheet. At one point, she turned to me, teary, and said "You are the Star Trek Mom! Boldly going where no one else goes...." Daughter was in the other room, and came skipping out to say how much she LOVES the new place.

I'd like to think Grace would be proud.

Namaste.

Comments

[Colleen Roe Simmie]

I love this post. You are an inspiration to me.