1. Morning walks. I’m not going to lie, some mornings I’d rather stay in bed. And it’s getting darker and colder out there, little by little, day by day. And this year it won’t be as golden as fall usually is because of the extra rain we had all summer long. And this past week, my bum knee was achy and cranky. And Ringo, as always, is determined to eat every stick, dead thing, abandoned food item, and horse apple we encounter on the trail. And yet, every morning walk is such good medicine.

2. Cancelled plans. Knowing I am heading to Oregon on Monday made me very careful with my energy this week. I had to cancel a few things in order to give myself some space. It was such a relief. In what seems like “related news,” I also made a deal with myself to stay off social media altogether while I’m in Oregon, to be more present, so I took Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube off my phone. Don’t worry, I downloaded the first season of Deadloch and the final season of Sex Education, checked out a new book from the library, and have a few podcast episodes and a playlist, all downloaded so I don’t have to pay for data overages again on this trip, (there’s no wireless at my parent’s house).

3. Practice. It both comforts me, is a soft place to land, and strengthens me, provides support. Because of it, I’m soft enough to stay open to what is, and strong enough to stay with it.

4. Pie. With the exception of two, these are all pies Eric has made. Google images shared this with me this morning and it made me realize there hasn’t been nearly enough pie this summer.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Oh, how I am going to miss them while I’m gone. And yet, knowing they’ll be here waiting for me when I get back helps. 

Bonus joy: Books that aren’t necessarily prize worthy but are so fun to read, writing with my wild-ish sangha, poetry, chocolate zucchini bread, a big glass of cold clean water, the chance to start over again, practicing yoga with Red Sage, glue stick, scissors, other people’s dogs, peach flavored Kefir, The Other Black Girl on Hulu (this was fun), watching Iron Chef and Snapped with Eric, making each other laugh, going to bed early, bird song, ink refills, all of Ringo’s different barks and howls and sighs, that the two lumps we found on Ringo are benign, my brother and niece who are taking such good care of my parents, Mom getting home from stroke rehab, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna, a massage appointment, brunch plans with a dear friend I haven’t see in WAY too long, texting with Chloe’, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.