I'm not pretending to be a big football fan. I was a rabid Flyers fan though when I was into watching professional sports regularly. It's not exactly the football in Philadelphia that inspires me—it's the love. When I lived in different places, people would turn their head to me and say, "Really?"
I'd nod, "Really." I never forgot or downplayed my roots. It's not the easiest city, but it is the one and the people that grew me.
These moments are the closest things cities get to a community-wide culture. Community is everything, having something that moves through generations is hidden in the black and the green. I taught my son the Fly Eagles Fly song so he could contribute to the palpable, electric joy and tribal mentality that rises from the cells of Philadelphians when the Birds get this close to something big.
"Devotion is a thing handed down through generations."
See, four months after my only son was born they won the Super Bowl, and it was like every ounce of my childhood, including the very real presence of those that had passed to the other side, were tangible. I wasn't the only one. So many Philadelphians have called forth their, father, uncle, stepdad, mother, who would've "love to have seen this." The win, the songs, they joy were all soundtracks of stories that have been braided through decades of my life through time and space. It was a reminder of the force that is a city united, of what the human Spirit is capable of—when we seem to be more divided than ever. It is also the birth of the country many of us are from that reading this, no matter where we disagree these are the roots. I'll celebrate waves of belief and unity wherever I can find them.
I don't know what sports are really like in other towns. I know that Philly has a tough (and well earned) rep, but I also know polarity, and in the depth of the roughness, there is also a city that right now is everyone's best friend. I purposefully took my son into a Wawa with an Eagles jersey and told him to say, "Go Birds," and ten people turned around and said it right back to him. It's not about the football; it's about the love.
We extended Sit & Write new start date is February 18th. Learn more and connect here. We will upcoming announcements. I'm cooking up some live in person writing workshops & retreats this summer...let me know if that speaks to you.
I have loved supporting women around the world united in a mission to share their brilliance. It is so much more than writing. It's about climbing over doubt and standing by your craft. Every writer came to a moment to claim her worth and the validity in writing what her heart was calling her towards. There is much power in following the heart's call and leaning into purpose. It's about love. It's about trusting our worth and believing in it.
If you are on the fence, I wouldn't wait to write. If you want to chat, send me a dm. Claudine and I did a recent chat on common Q & A's and I've included that below.
Wherever this finds you look for the love, and be one of the fans to cheer another on when they have the courage to share their joy.
With love,
Kate
P.s.
Go Birds.
Curious Writing & Publishing a Book?
This episode with Claudine Wolk & me is for you!
Inspiration
Fabulous Episode on How to Look For a Partner with The Dating Counselor, Loni Harmon
This was my solo-cast thoughts, after the game. Surprisingly, it's about parenting and it is something I can carry forward from Jalen Hurts, a 24-year old quarterback with a lot of mental acuity. Not so coincidentally I heard the Kelce brothers talking about their Mom and how even though one of the brothers lost, "I was crying tears of joy after the Superbowl because my Mom had her moment."
There is still a lot of love in the air, even with the sadness of a lost. #itsaphilllything #mothers
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pgUnh3toD4swgVyrWftwG?si=df455607d5a74655