Goodness Weekly 3.3.25

“May you find the good in your day, tuck it into your heart, and work to replicate it. May you always know: you are enough.”
-Rebecka Peterson

What’s Good

Local artist Karla Kopalli's project "Nature/Nurture" invites women to shape clay into caracolas, representing their contributions to the community. She recently invited our staff at Sunset Ridge Collective, and the baristas at One Another Coffee to participate in this collection. We are now part of the 260 caracolas symbolizing the nurturing power of women.

See Karla's art performance this Saturday, March 8th, at 2 PM in Confluence Park, celebrating International Women's Day.

Enough Good Things

Jess Lowry, Executive Director, Sunset Ridge Collective

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by hardworking, strong women. My mother was a stay-at-home mom who worked tirelessly to care for my brother & I, my dad who traveled most weeks, and our home. I saw aunts who cared for their families while holding careers, a grandmother who gave herself to her church community, a great-grandmother who cared for her wheelchair bound blind husband with the most beautiful smile on her face.

oday, there are so many women around me who inspire me, challenge me, and encourage me that we don’t have time in this little message. I witness compassion, care, strength, resilience, presence, and an unending commitment to bringing hope and beauty to their corner of the world.

At the same time, there’s also a common theme that I hear–how can I get this right? How can I be better? What is the thing I need to figure out?

I can’t speak for the male experience, but I know from all of the women in my life there is an inner dialogue of pressure to be better, to be more, to do more, to get it right.

I recently read this poem by Jess Janz and it resonated deeply with me–
In the impossible reality of what it means to do all this living, we cling to the ritual of remembering what is good, which is many things, enough things, enough good things to get us moving.
We greet the morning. We greet our broken hearts. We greet the tasks that chatter even before coffee.
We greet the wild, painful gift of being a person in a body that is somehow here, somehow feeling, somehow alive in an absurd and aching world.

I think a little of the secret might be right here…enough good things.

It’s not about getting it all right, figuring it all out–but perhaps recognizing there are enough good things. Good things that we put into the world, good things that surround us in our ordinary mundane lives. Enough good things to get up in the morning and live all over again today.

Just as you are, you are enough.
The good you create is enough.
The small acts of love you are doing is enough.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day we honor all of the good things that the women in our lives put into the world.

If you’re a woman reading this, my hope is that you take even just a moment from what you are carrying to set it down, take a deep breath, and honor the good things in your life.

If you have women to honor in your life, take a moment to share the good things that they have created and remind them that they are seen and they are valued.

Thank you for continuing to show up, for enough good things.

Love,
Jess

This Week

Wednesday, March 5th, 7 PM, Ash Wednesday Service in the Chapel

Second Saturday - Happy International Women’s Day!

8 AM - 1 PM, One Another Coffee featuring Plantaqueria Vegan Tacos
9 AM, Yoga in the park with Nyx Wellness
9 AM - 1 PM, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
10 AM, Fermentation Workshop, Register Here
10:15 AM, Storytime with Miss Anastasia

Coming Up…

Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org

Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, Community First Food Pantry, and Betty’s Co.