November | 2024 | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

1. You, kind and gentle reader. This week was a hard one. I’ve been writing a lot about “it,” processing and contemplating and raging and grieving, but don’t really have anything that is ready to post here. What I do want to say now, today, right here is how much I appreciate YOU, how lucky I feel that once I am ready to talk, I have this space and your loving attention. Some of you have been here a really long time and some of you just got here, but just knowing you are “out there” gives me so much comfort, inspires me to keep going, to keep showing up, to not give up. Thank you for that and so many other things. 💕

2. Morning walks. No matter what is going on in the world or my life, walking with Ringo in the early morning while things are still quiet is my medicine. The week started with a gorgeous sky and the final stage of golden trees, and ended with the sky turning gray as a storm was heading our way with our first snow and most of the gold on the ground.

3. Practice. More essential this week than most, and as upset as we all were, it was especially sweet. I have a rotating group of 2-5 people who come to regularly practice with me at Red Sage, and this week we had to open up the second room to make space for the 11 people and one puppy who showed up, all saying, “I really need this today” — which they always say, but this time there was an urgency that normally isn’t present. And my Friday morning writing sangha, which is always such a supportive practice and group, felt extra special too. My morning meditation and writing practice also gave me a safe space to rage and grieve, which was so important. I hope, dear reader, that you have something in your life that supports you when you are strong and when you are struggling.

4. Books, poetry, music, TV, films, comedy, podcasts. They keep me company when I can’t people, they teach me and make me laugh and inspire me and give me comfort.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Extra gratitude here this week as well. Having a safe, stable, soft place to land is so important.

Bonus joy: apple pie oatmeal, gummies, a big glass of cold clean water, down blankets and pillows, reading James Baldwin and then having a discussion about it with other smart and compassionate humans, seeing a show with Eric and plans for two more (we saw The Moth yesterday, and Monday night we’ll see Aimee Mann in Boulder and Tuesday night see her again in Fort Collins), bread, potatoes, clean sheets, clean laundry, a warm shower, other people’s kids and dogs, twinkle lights, animal rescue, hospice care, electric cars and solar panels, plantain chips and dip, Christmas movies, true crime, wool socks and sweaters, peanut butter, snowflakes, keeping the house cool enough that I can wear a hoodie and snuggle under a blanket, cuddling with Eric and Ringo on the couch, hugs, making each other laugh, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. Acknowledge Sadness, But Don’t Let It Cancel Your Joy from The Gurdeep Magazine. This in particular was the reminder I needed, going in to this election week:

“It’s important to recognize that these troubles and problems have been an intrinsic part of the human experience throughout history and will likely persist into the foreseeable future. While we possess the capacity to address and potentially resolve some issues, others lie beyond our sphere of influence, originating from external sources such as governmental decisions, health crises, natural disasters, and various other factors beyond individual control.

However, this acknowledgment of life’s inherent difficulties should not lead us down a path of perpetual sadness and pessimism. Such a mindset can be detrimental to our overall well-being and quality of life.

Instead, it’s imperative to actively and intentionally seek out joy in our daily lives. This pursuit of joy is not a frivolous endeavor, but a necessary component in maintaining emotional equilibrium. Joy serves as a crucial counterweight to life’s challenges, helping to prevent us from slipping into the depths of depression or prolonged despair.”

2. Saying Yes on The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad.

3. Breathe, a poem from Lynn Ungar, another good reminder for this election week. Another good one for this week is Holding Vigil by Alison Luterman.

4. Buddhist Advice for Election Anxiety on Lion’s Roar. “Are you experiencing strong, difficult emotions due to the upcoming election? Four Buddhists offer advice for dealing with despair, anger, grief, and anxiety.”

5. Election Anxiety from Patti Digh.

6. Why you are an artist from Danny Gregory.

7. The Evolution Of Día De Los Muertos.

8. 10 Gentle Reminders and Ideas to Calm Anxiety from Courtney Carver on Be More With Less.

9. If He Wins from Chuck Wendig on Terrible Minds.

10. You’re not burnt out, you’re being burned out.

11. Whether Underwater or Up a Tree, Close-Up Photographer of the Year Delights in the Details.

12. Magic and Whimsy Abound from Shannon Taylor’s Fantastic Watercolor Dioramas.

13. Luther Vandross and the Sound That Could Fill Hearts, or Break Them on The New York Times. (gift link) “He was hounded by a fat-phobic press, but as Dawn Porter’s new documentary shows, he was a transformational presence from the start.”

14. Mirrors on Easels Create the Illusion of Desert Landscape Paintings in California’s Joshua Tree National Park.

15. And finally, this random collection of things I saved on my phone this week.