By Heather Nelson It’s April 19, Patriot’s Day in Boston, and nearly three weeks into the baseball season. I’m not over-reacting, but THE RED SOX have the best record in the American League. You read that right. And the Yankees… well, they’ve secured the worst record (so far) in the American League. So far, I’m…
Author: heather.nelson
Celebrating Six Months of Marriage
by Heather Nelson 181 days ago, I officially became a DeJong. I didn’t know six months ago what time would bring Brandon and me. In October, Covid-19 numbers were rising (again) and I — and probably many others — feared another shutdown. He and I held our breath hoping our wedding wouldn’t turn into a…
Accepting White Privilege
By Heather Nelson Last night I cried. I couldn’t stop replaying in my head the events of the last few weeks (months, years) in my head. Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Philando Castile. John Crawford. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. And so many more. We’ve become numb to it. Almost blind….
Perspectives from Quarantine
By Heather Nelson It’s been two months since Covid-19 upended our lives. It stole March Madness from us. It postponed baseball season. And it nearly robbed Liverpool’s league title. For some, it ended the school year. Or created unemployment. Or added to a list of mental health issues. I won’t lie — this time has…
To my beloved Granny, Kathleen Enzolera
By Heather Nelson This is the eulogy I shared at my Granny’s funeral on February 10, 2020. Kathleen “Kathy” Enzolera — Born October 22, 1947; died February 3, 2020. Nurse, sister, mother, grandmother. A woman of faith. A bookworm. A friend. The best “sick” days were spent at Granny’s. The kind of sick days when…
Are carbs bad for you? and other things: a story of prioritizing personal well-being
By Heather Nelson Note: this article is part of a series. Heather shares her journey into a healthy lifestyle — body and mind — and invites you to take part in your own. If you’re thinking about or have thoughts of suicide or are concerned about someone you know or just need someone to talk…
Are carbs bad for you? and other things: learning to live an authentic, healthy life
By Heather Nelson Note: this article is part of a series. Heather shares her journey into a healthy lifestyle — body and mind — and invites you to take part in your own. If you’re thinking about or have thoughts of suicide or are concerned about someone you know or just need someone to talk…
How to set attainable New Year’s Resolutions
By Heather Nelson 3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR! Confetti blasts and couples kiss as midnight strikes on New Year’s Day. The dawn of a new year, and a new slate, await. And with that new slate comes a series of “resolutions” that one sets each year — and likely forgets within a week of reciting. If January…
The Road to 26.2: Why I Run
By Heather Nelson Here’s some of the responses I’ve got since committing to running a marathon: “You’re crazy!” “I get bored after running a mile!” “Well…good luck!” “A marathon?! Really?!” The words of encouragement and well wishes make the 26.2 miles seem more real, daunting. I’ve started to feel more pressure, and I thought to…
The Road to 26.2
By Heather Nelson I signed up for my first marathon. That’s right — 26.2 miles. The full thing. It’s been a dream of mine (what? I know…) to run one since I learned of the Boston Marathon in 2005. I was 12, then. The Duck Boat Tour took us down Boylston Street, the tour guide…
Heather Nelson 