Today I did something I rarely do – I said, “thank you, but no”. Dizzy with vertigo, Aleknagik Lake School's 3rd, 4th & 5th grade teacher called in sick, and I was given a choice – to acquiesce to substituting out of the overwhelming sense of duty and obligation that I felt, or, to hold onto my initial intention to rest, write and sip sweet raspberry zinger. After a lot of internal back and forth banter – which we, women, can tend to be infamous for – I chose the latter, and am in earnest, guiltily grateful for it.

The juxtaposition of these two words – guilty and grateful – seems all too strange. But it's exactly how I felt, and I think it's how women especially, can feel when we choose ourselves over fulfilling what we deem to be “a more important need” – why is this? Why do we, women, sometimes waffle, waver and wonder ourselves frustratingly silly with angst? Is this tendency imbibed from cultural values, imprinted upon us from childhood, and/or simply intrinsically a part of our intended being?

This post does not seek to answer questions raised, but instead, provide a platform of inquiry. There's too much concern with answers, anyway, and not enough significance given to colorful discourse in all of its multifaceted forms. It's through conversation – listening and sharing – that we are granted an opportunity to develop greater tolerance and compassion, appreciation and gratitude for the kaleidoscopic world that we live in.

Stereotypes, which ultimately place overarching value systems on one idea or another, flatten the dimensional dynamism and voluminous quality of life – and pigeonhole, limit, classify, as well as reduce the vastness of life's incredible and unique awesomeness, so to make everything fit inside a boxed understanding of what is, and what can be. But, life is a prism of possibilities, really – refracting a spectrum of hues that shade, tint, highlight and blend together to form the wonderful wonderment existing inside and all around us.

Let us tap into this wonderment today by becoming more in touch with ourselves, and additionally, more in touch with others. Ask yourself – what do I notice? What is the story going on inside of me, and how does it affect the story going on outside of me? Allow time to listen to yourself, take the risk to share your experiences – insights, discoveries and inquiries, and give the gift of your open and undivided attention to hear another version of life's story. This is Elise, signing out from Aleknagik, Alaska.