Monthly Archives: February 2023

Something Good

1. Seven Ways to Have a Healthier Relationship With Stress“A new book by renowned stress researcher Elissa Epel explains how stress affects our bodies at the cellular level and how to manage it better.”

2. 7 Writing Hacks Every Writer Must Know“Want to write better and quicker? These tips and tricks from the pros will help make the process much easier.”

3. Imagine being loved anyway“I am convinced more than ever that trust is built not because you are loved, but because someone loved you anyway. They loved you when you were angry, or messy, or cranky or a total and complete pain in the ass. They loved you when you forgot, or remembered—when you said it or when you didn’t say it. They didn’t love you because you could do it—they loved you anyway, even when you couldn’t.”

4. Bruce’s Beach Was Hailed as a Reparations Model. Then the Family Sold Iton The New York Times. “The Bruce family won the return of oceanfront land near Los Angeles seized nearly a century ago. Their decision to sell for $20 million set off a different debate about reparations.”

5. I Was Interviewed While Nearly Naked: And that wasn’t the most vulnerable part! from Andrea Gibson. Even if you don’t read the article, watch the video: How Cancer Transformed My Crushing Anxiety Into Boundless Bliss | Andrea Gibson | What’s Underneath. And if you’ve never seen one of these interviews before, check out the whole series. It’s really great.

6. On Being with Krista Tippett: Ada Limón “To Be Made Whole”“An electric conversation with Ada Limón‘s wisdom and her poetry — a refreshing, full-body experience of how this way with words and sound and silence teaches us about being human at all times, but especially now. With an unexpected and exuberant mix of gravity and laughter — laughter of delight, and of blessed relief — this conversation holds not only what we have traversed these last years, but how we live forward.”

7. This Black Cemetery Was Left In Ruins–And It’s Not The Only One“In Potomac, MD., a 150-year-old Black cemetery for former slaves and freed Black people became a dumping ground.”

8. Michelle Yeoh on her Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. “The film with the most Oscar nominations this year, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ became a surprise, breakout hit for audiences and critics. The movie’s star, Michelle Yeoh, has already nabbed a Golden Globe and now has a chance to make history as the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress.”

9. Registered dietitian shares 5 common myths about nutrition and food“These popular nutrition myths may be misguiding your food choices. Here are five bogus myths to ditch immediately for a healthier diet, according to an expert.”

10. I Had One Month Of Bliss After My Daughter’s Birth. Then My Husband’s Health Began To Deteriorate — Rapidly.

11. Your Body Knows You’re Burned Out on The New York Times. “Here’s how to recognize the physical symptoms of work-related stress — and what to do about them.”

12. Rest Before Worry a comic from Connie Sun.

13. My horses absolutely love to go on adventure walks with me(video)

14. The week I spent with our son Henry after he died“Grief makes you do some seemingly weird things. Or maybe grief makes us behave in a way that is our truest self, because every impulse I had felt completely organic.”

15. America, Right-Wing Censors and the ‘Battle for the Next Century’ on The New York Times. “This is the New Right’s strategic plan: a relentless push to re-establish and strengthen the straight, cis, patriarchal, white supremacist power structure.”

16. The Best Fruit for Your Gut Health, According to a Gastroenterologist.

17. Photos capture rare snowfall on the Oregon coastIn related news, Drone Footage of Tractor Trailers Stuck on I-5 North.

18. Some Of The Most Iconic Photographs Ever Taken.

19. Boulder fox inspires new album by Leftover Salmon’s Andy Thorn.

20. Mom asks if 10-year-old’s first composition can be played, then musicians around the world give their take.

21. The Death Of A Pet Should Be Taken More Seriously By Counselors“Disregarding the severity of pet bereavement can represent a barrier in the healing process.”

22. A Photographer Who Found Instagram Fame for His Striking Portraits Has Confessed His Images Were Actually A.I.-Generated.

23. High-Profile Art Couple Offers Worst Job Ever on The New York Times. “Wanted: Caretaker for child, dogs, chef, nannies, landscapers, housekeeper and guests. A detailed rundown of irritating tasks is the talk of the art-world underclass.”

24. How Long Is Writing Supposed to Take? “Some books take years to write, others months. Can we learn to accept the inefficiency and unpredictability of writing?”

25. Dense Ecosystems with Flowing Water Sources Packed in Vintage Luggage by Kathleen Vance.

26. Newspapers have dropped the ‘Dilbert’ comic strip after a racist rant by its creator“Well hello, consequences to my actions.” What an idiot.

27. How to help young people limit screen time — and feel better about how they look.

28. Buddhism’s “Five Remembrances” Are Wake-Up Calls for Us All on Lion’s Roar. “Perfectly clear, compassionate, and concise, the ‘Five Remembrances’ are Buddhism at its very best. Koun Franz explains.”

29. Bear: A Soulful Illustrated Meditation on Life with and Liberation from Depression.

30. Running With Hank“How my daughter’s rambunctious mutt saved my sanity while she was lost to the darkness.” Some day I will have a dog named Hank.

31. Good stuff from Seth Godin: The reality of chasing pop, and Promo creep, and Checking the date.

32. Writer’s Block: Fact or Fiction? “What we mean when we say we can’t write, and what to do when it happens” from Summer Brennan.

33. How to Get Rid of Negative Thoughts on Be More With Less by Tammy Strobel.

34. Loud Quitting from Lisa Congdon on Instagram.

35. The Tyranny of Faux Self-Care“A bath bomb will not cure….pretty much anything.”

36. 9 Ways Introverts Can Improve Their Emotional Health.

37. 21 Plants That Are Safe for Cats and Dogs.

38. How To Be More Present & Live In The Moment, From Experts“Practicing mindful awareness in the present moment is a skill. Not only are we navigating our neurobiology, but we also have obstacles in the form of social media, difficult emotions, and other distractions that can pull us out of the present. The good news is that we have research-backed ways to help us become more present with ourselves and each other. The benefits of being more present in our lives are enormous and worth every try.”

39. 50 Little Rituals That Will Keep You Happy, Healthy, and Inspired.

40. Beauty and Terror“It’s hard to hold both when you are healing—both the beauty and the terror. There are some moments of healing that are so difficult. So massive. Those giant cloud domes filled with lightening. All the pain you experience lighting up as you bring your attention to it.”

Gratitude

1. Morning walks. Once again this week we had snow and morning temperatures that were below zero, so I only got to go on one walk. The rest of the days, Ringo ran with Eric and a few mornings were so cold even that wasn’t an option. The day I got to go was gorgeous. I’ve been going a bit earlier to still be able to catch the sunrise and be out before most people, to feel like we have the whole world to ourselves for a bit.

2. So many canceled plans. I felt a real need for some space this week, unscheduled time, and thought how nice it would be to “take the week off.” Then the week started and things got canceled left and right without me needing to do a thing. I really needed it and had some good rest as well as got some good work done.

3. Trying new recipes. And how easy that is with so many good recipe websites. I’m currently looking for ways to get lots of fiber and vegetables in recipes that are satisfying in all the ways. They don’t always turn out how you’d hoped, and sometimes they prove to be something you’d never make again, but I enjoy and appreciate the process. I’m grateful for the content creators who share recipes, for the internet that gives me access, and for the privilege that gives me the ability to find and pay for the ingredients and cooking utensils and appliances and electricity I need.

4. Writing. I’m trying a new approach to working on “The Book”, which is turning in to as many as five books as I make my way, and it’s really been helping. I tend to immerse myself in a project 110%, don’t take the breaks I need or pace myself and end up confused or burnt out, and I have old lingering perfectionist tendencies. It’s all or nothing. Not only does this make the process difficult, uncomfortable, and no fun, it means I’m not getting much accomplished other than beating myself up. I started offering myself some grace this past week — “you only have to write for an hour and a half and try to get 500 words, then stop and do something else, and if you can’t work on it every single day, that’s okay.” These short bursts have keep things fresh and more interesting for me, less like homework or a chore. I also keep reminding myself that I’m learning something new and that takes time and a lot of mistakes, that it’s all part of the process.

5. My tiny family, tiny home, tiny life. Sitting on the couch with Eric talking about all the important things and nothing at all, watching Antiques Roadshow together, cooking together, taking care of each other, laughing at Ringo and making each other laugh. 

Bonus joy: new spices, snow days, sitting in the sauna with Eric, swimming laps at the pool, the hydromassage chair, training with Shelby and the gang, texting with Chris and Chloe’ and Mom, sharing Instagram reels with Mikalina and Shellie, meditating early in the morning, the new flannel sheets I got (so soft!), stickers, raspberries, albacore tuna, cucumbers, walnuts, salt and sugar and pepper, citrus, clean sheets, a big glass of cool clean water, a warm shower, soft towels, down pillows and blankets, a warm dog, opening all the windows for a bit to let some fresh air in even when it’s cold outside, cupcakes and muffins, gummy supplements, borrowing eBooks from the library, having lost things worth grieving, the promise of our garden, birds in the feeder, the chance to start over and begin again, listening to podcasts and audiobooks and music, flowers, trees, houseplants (seriously, the amount of effort required is so small compared to the joy they give), Insight timer, my moon lamp, poetry and poets, reading in bed while Eric and Ringo sleep.