1. Morning walks. I’m in charge of all the walking for the next few days while Eric is in Oregon visiting with his parents. I’m so grateful my knees are doing better and I can walk without completely wrecking myself.
2. Blooms. Our vegetable garden did not love the cool, wet, long spring we had, but the flowers and strawberries sure did.
3. Being able to rest. Just when I think I’m starting to get my energy back, I get knocked flat again. Burnout is no joke.
4. Practice and joyful movement. These are the two things I can consistently do, and are helping me to feel better.
After a fitness class at the gym, my face was as shiny and red as the car I parked next to
Sam likes to “help” me meditate
5. My tiny family. Even though he’s not here, I can text Eric whenever I want, and the boys have been good company.
He carried her for two miles this morning
Bonus joy: Good food, going to bed early, good TV (watching HGTV’s Good Bones), a big glass of cold clean water, Ricola Lemon Mint throat drops, Wild Writing with Laurie and Mikalina and Chloe’, getting a tour of Carrie’s garden, knowing I can even when it’s hard, teaching yoga, aqua aerobics, sitting in the sauna, Pilates, air conditioning.
2. Wisdom from Jena Schwartz, a few lines from her most recent newsletter: “As I sat down with my coffee, these are the words that floated down: What we can do. I thought it would be a list. The list wound up having just one item: 1. Be present.” Amen.
3. You Will Lose Everything by Jeff Foster, which Laurie Wagner reminded me of at exactly the moment I needed to hear it again.
12. Mary Lambert: Grief Creature on Kickstarter. “Grief Creature is my life’s work, my masterpiece, a break-up album to shame, an ode to mental illness, a love letter to hope.”
21. If Meditation Is Not Your Thing, Try a Walk in the Woods. “Hiking is a near-perfect combination of elements known to relax us, raise our alertness, elevate our self-esteem, and physically prepare us for true rest afterward.” Even better, adopt a dog and take them with you.