Let’s write a message to ourselves and the PLIX community in the future… in Sept 2025!
- What’s on your mind today?
- Where do you hope to be in your life by Sept 2025?
- Share a message of encouragement for others!
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It feels like just yesterday we were all meeting for the first time and now our PLIX Ambassadorship is over formally … but I feel like many of us will still be PLIX Ambassadors at heart by continuing to share about PLIX to our colleagues and using what we’ve learned in this cohort and the wonderful program resources at our libraries.
I hope this summer gives me clarity professionally on where I want to be, and that by September 2025, I’ll be able to have said I was able to meet up with some of you awesome folks in person at the ALA conference. 
Future PLIX Ambassadors, don’t be afraid to try, and throw your hat into the ring for any opportunities in this program … you might be surprised at the outcome!
Best wishes all the way from Hawaii. 
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What’s on your mind today?
I was honored to be selected to be a part of this dynamic group. I loved the facilitation, creativity, and camaraderie. It was energizing to be surrounded by people who lead with curiosity and care. Being part of PLIX reminded me how joyful it is to learn, explore, and build alongside others.
Where do you hope to be in your life by Sept 2025?
Single and self-sufficient—confident in my independence and continuing to pursue meaningful, interesting work that connects people, sparks imagination, and supports community growth.
Share a message of encouragement for others!
Let it go. Be a kid again. Stay curious. Play more. Trust yourself. The best things often come when we release control and just show up as we are.
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It was so exciting and validating to be a part of this group. I feel much more confident facilitating programs. I was using a lot of tools that we practiced but didn’t have the language. Part of this program was helping with imposter syndrome. I know what I am doing and it is great to have a toolbox that validates that I can do this. I also feel less overwhelmed by STEAM programs because I don’t have to be the expert, I am a guide into the teens’ own curiosity and confidence.
By September 2025, I really hope that I am not burnt out by summer reading but instead motivated and excited about what is happening next. I hope that I have had a successful summer and come out stories about fantastic program facilitation!
Future PLIX Ambassador, you don’t need to be an expert in STEM but instead the guide for your programs attendees to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” because it becomes an opportunity to say “Let’s figure that out together.” Have fun!
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What’s on my mind today?
“Bob Ross was wrong. Everybody can’t paint.” Musician, painter, actor, director, producer, and general personality John Lurie makes this controversial declaration in his HBO show “Painting with John,” and while I’m a big fan of Lurie, when I first heard it, I almost turned the show off. I’m glad I didn’t, though, because he clarifies:
…It’s very optimistic to think everybody can. I think that everybody can paint when they’re young. In fact most of the best paintings I’ve ever seen were put on the refrigerator with a magnet. And I think most of us, maybe all of us, when we’re three, four, five, six, seven, we can all… we’re all artists, we all have that thing. And in a lot of people it gets pounded out of you, or you, you know, the adult part of your mind tells you to drop that, which might be the way to go. I don’t know. I know that my parents did something with me and my brother and sister that… that nurtured that thing, that kept it alive, that protected it, that made us go into our adult life… with both music, and my sister dances, and… and… and in painting to keep that sort of child-like wonderment thing. And… I think it’s really important. I mean… in my case they may have gone too far and, uh, I’m still searching for my inner adult… But… I could never quite figure out how they did it.
So, short version, what’s on my mind today is how important it is to me to nurture that thing. Whether I’m supporting adults who want to nurture it in their kids, or whether I’m being that adult. I feel like this PLIX cohort really helped me fight back against the attempts to pound the thing out of me, and supported me in my attempts to nurture the thing in myself and others. It is optimistic to think everyone can paint, and I guess that makes me an optimist.
Where do I hope to be in my life in September?
I’m in the midst of a kitchen remodel! My kitchen was very sad when I moved in, and I’ve just been making updates when I can for the last almost 2.5 years. Two months ago, I had an old fridge with no drawers and a freezer door that didn’t close all the way; now I have a functioning, energy-efficient fridge that even dispenses ice and water from the freezer door. This past Wednesday, my kitchen had four (4!!!) drawers, two full-size wall cabinets, and a little wall cabinet above the sink. Since then, my dad and I have added six drawers, three wall cabinets, a base cabinet (previously unheard of in my kitchen), and TWO corner base cabinets - one with a lazy susan, which I feel like we as a society should find a better name for. For my Sims playing friends, I started last week with two squares of countertop; I added, like, 5 or 6. It’s incredible. Come September, the whole room will, with any luck, be rewired, re-plumbed, re-ventilated, and repainted, with updated backsplash, counters, and floors. Wish me luck (and patience)!
Share a message of encouragement for others!
Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the patience and grace you afford to others. Keep your heart and mind open, and don’t forget to look for the helpers.
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- What’s on your mind today?
I’m feeling a little more organized at work and have some enthusiasm for taking on a little more. After the last few months, though, I am concentrating on one thing at a time and being more realistic.
In my personal life I am finding a little more hope in action. I am in the last throes of getting my nonprofit supporting LGBTQIA+ folks in my area. We are planning or annual Pride event and people are showing up. I should never forget that I am not alone in my fights and that I am surrounded but wonderful people who will give help…if I ask.
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Where do you hope to be in your life by Sept 2025?
I hope to be starting a new year of Makespace goodness with a possible badging system in place. I also hope to have the bandwidth to be able to delegate more things to my volunteers, especially relying on the community expertise to offer more programming in areas that are not my expertise. (Sewists, I’m looking at you.) -
Share a message of encouragement for others!
Never have been more assured and reassured that community is the answer to all of the things that try stop us or bring us down. your community is out there and ready to go!
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