1. Morning walks. Being out as the sun is rising is magic, medicine.

2. Good food. Pecan tarts (first batch made by Eric, second one by his mom), toffee from Dana, cinnamon swirl bread, breakfast burritos, oranges, strawberries, raspberries, cheese, the buffet at Mount Everest Café, and all the good things we are going to cook for our Christmas dinner.

3. Practice. Meditation, yoga asana, and writing as practice keep me sane and soft, tender and strong.

4. Reading. The other thing that keeps me sane and soft, tender and strong.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. The main things that keep me sane and soft, tender and strong.

Bonus joy: hanging out with Chloe’, baby Franny, doing yoga at Red Sage, aqua aerobics, sitting in the sauna, the hydromassage chair, watching Christmas movies while wrapping presents, talking about James Baldwin and eating cookies and petting big dogs, figuring out and completing things that have lingered and bothered me for far too long, a massage with Dana, true crime documentaries, listening to podcasts, comedy and comedians, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, music and musicians, artists and their art, other people’s dogs and kids and holiday lights, writing with my Friday morning sangha, making each other laugh, twinkle lights, sunshine (even when I’m desperate for snow), cuddling with Ringo on the couch, texting with Chris, sharing reels with Kari and Shellie and Carrie, making art, blankets, down pillows, headlamps, school pictures of my dad when he was so little and heartbreakingly cute, how well Hendrix and Warren can talk now, naps, blackout shades, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.