SevenSenses

Intuitively moving forward as one and many …

“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
– Confucius

I would describe my family as fairly common. Two parents, some kids, grandparents, pets, dysfunction and dysFUNction, love, hurt, growth, lots of food and a place we call home. Having said that, I would also describe my family as uniquely us, just as every family is. As we journeyed through life we have had amazing times: amazingly fun and amazingly painful. When people would ask me if I had kids a decade ago I would say “Yeah, five.” To which they would reply by raising an eyebrow and saying something like “Wow! You’ve been blessed” and I would say “Yes we have”. When people ask me now if I have kids I reply “Yes … well actually I have four adults and one kid”. In December of this year I will just say “Yeah, five adults”. While for twenty five years I have identified my family as part of my own identity, the truth is, they are their own beings. As they are launching into adulthood, I am so proud of their unique selves. They all bring something special to the world and they all share something special too which is us – the family part of it. They are figuring out the next stage of their life, which is independence, and my husband, John, and I are figuring out the next stage of our lives – also independence!!  I’m sure we will have our form of empty nest; but right now it just feels exciting to look at what’s ahead.

This generation is steeped in financial debt so this is what we are currently managing as a family.  Some of the kids are full on into a corporate path (but none a traditional one- for which I am glad) some service, some figuring it out and others ain’t got no idea! My husband is a current entrepreneur.   I have long held entrepreneurial dreams and my kids have heard the evolution of those dreams along the way.  One day as we were all talking in the kitchen about what each dreamed of, we ideated about  how we could do something that could  combine all our ambitions. We tossed around some ideas and ultimately landed on Seven Senses. We are seven people, uniquely ourselves and uniquely one family. While we haven’t defined what that entity is exactly (or not at all – but it all sounds great around the kitchen island!), this blog is an opportunity for me to simply begin to share some of what makes us seven senses together as well as create a space to share the parts of the whole, the seven lives. I will be posting a monthly blog, and if the spirit so moves them, you may hear a perspective from one of the seven lives that comprise SevenSenses.

In this first blog, let me simply introduce you to the tribe. There’s me, Polly, Mom, wife, leader and follower. I met my husband when I was 20 years old and we were married the month after I turned 23. I was pregnant by Autumn of the year we got married 1989 and lost our first pregnancy by Winter. We lost four more children before we celebrated the birth of Sarah Elisabeth in March 1993. I was raised in a dyed in the wool Democratic family and married my husband, John, a devoted Republican. When I met him he was an officer in the army special forces and working for the family business. Our lives have taken many twists and turns since then and while he would likely say his biggest mistake was getting out of the army, I would say that was our greatest blessing. John was the primary care giver to our amazing family and none of us would be who we are today if he were not the rock, rudder, anchor for us that he has been over the years. The kids call him Ranger John and me Ma’Maw 🤨 so that gives you some insight into pecking order.

Our first born is Sarah Elisabeth, care-giver and planner extraordinaire. She keeps us focused on family. Second born is Allison Lanier, impulsive and keeps us from becoming hermits in our home as she is the only extrovert ( although … it’s all on a spectrum). Catherine Sullivan (Casey) the middle child, came into the world in 15 minutes and we called her Casey on the go-go ever since: determined and loyal beyond measure. Mary Therese (Molly) is number four she appears demure but don’t be fooled: artist, spiritual seeker and down-right practical. Finally John Landon, the fifth and final, only boy who brings an edgy intellect and witty humor that completes the tribe.

We would not any of us be the individuals that we are without the whole of our family. And the family would not be what it is as a whole without any of the individuals that make up “us”. Looking forward to sharing more about Seven Senses, 7 lives as I enter into my second life.