1. Morning walks. We were at peak darkness this week, so we’d be almost home before turning off our headlamps.

2. Rest. Whether it’s a nap, sleeping in, or simply sitting on the couch doing nothing but cuddling and looking at the twinkle lights — tis the season.

3. Comfort food. This week was a mix of old standards and new recipes.

4. Celebrating the season with friends. Training with Shelby and the gang, trading gifts and sharing stories with Dana, practicing yoga at Red Sage (and challenging ourselves to rename every pose something holiday themed, making each other laugh and falling over), playing games and eating snacks with the D&D crowd, sharing memes and reels with Carrie and Shellie, writing with my wildish sangha, and daily check-ins with Chloe’. 

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. There’s no place I’d rather be, no one I’d rather be with.

Bonus joy: the garlic cheddar biscuits Eric made that are so good I keep asking him to make more, chickadees at the bird feeder, all the packages I sent arriving (mostly) intact, plans for a quiet few days, the chance to start over, Andrea Gibson, Jeff Oaks and his dog Andy (rest in peace, together forever), good books, Christmas movies and music, other people’s dogs and kids, “uninstall app,” audiobooks, listening to podcasts, lowering the bar even more, Percy’s bark, fresh eggs from Chloe’s chickens, that the cookies I sent for Lia’s birthday barely lasted 24 hours because they were so good, peanut butter (I may have a problem…), good neighbors, Christmas lights on other people’s houses, twinkle lights and candles and fireplaces, snow, a big glass of clean cold water, being finished with the laundry, my Red Rebel “you are someone’s good medicine” hoodie, other people’s joy, other people’s grief, a warm shower and clean pjs, good socks, down blankets and pillows and jackets, comedy, science fiction, books from the library on my Kindle, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.