1. Morning walks. As predicted, with the snow and colder weather, a few walks were postponed and at least one didn’t happen at all. And yet, when we did get out, it was so beautiful. I love how quiet it is on the trails when the ground is covered in snow. There are fewer people and animals and bikes out, but also everything is muffled by the blanket of white, except for the crunch of it underfoot.

2. Practice. Red Sage yoga got cancelled because they accidentally scheduled appointments in both the big rooms so we didn’t have a space (and outside wasn’t an option). My Friday morning writing sangha was much needed this week and didn’t disappoint. I got two new tiny brass horses, one mama and one baby, for my meditation shrine to represent Eric’s mom and his sister, both gone now.

3. Good food. I met with a nutritionist this week. My ED is acting up because I’m holding space for so much and it’s so heavy and it felt like I needed some support in that area. Add in Hashimoto’s, menopause, arthritis, and an overactive nervous system, and it’s easy to get off balance and hard to find my way back. I did discover a new take out place and am currently obsessed with their Spicy Sesame bowl — Jasmine Rice, Gochujang (sesame, soy, sugar), Seared Chicken Breast, Caramelized Onion, Roasted Broccoli, Shredded Carrot, Purple Cabbage, Spicy Vegan Kimchi, Green Onion, Cilantro, Gochujang Mayo (soy), Sesame Seeds. It is SO delicious and satisfying.

4. My brother. He has taken on so much in the past year and a half. He already has his own tiny family, two daughters and two grandkids, that he takes such good care of, and then our mom and dad got added to that caretaking, and while it’s been hard for him, so complicated and exhausting sometimes, he keeps showing up, no matter what. This week in particular, my mom’s caretaking situation fell apart in a pretty spectacular way, so he’s been caring for mom and his two grandkids, 6 and 4 years old. I’m helping as much as I can from a distance, in part getting things going for moving my mom to a care facility because keeping her at home is no longer workable and never was sustainable. I’m so sad and worried about all the things, hoping as hard as I can that it all comes together and works out, but in this, because of him, I’m not in it alone.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I am SO lucky to have this refuge, this safe place, this comfort and joy and love. I am very aware that not everyone is so lucky and I never take it for granted. 

Bonus joy: training one last time with Shelby (she got a new job, yay for her and boo for me), texting with Chloe’ and Chris, having options, candles and twinkle lights, tiny brass animals (still not entirely sure why I’m so obsessed), pistachios, a warm mug of green tea, the banana bread Kerri gave us, peanut butter and chocolate, acupuncture, aqua aerobics, sitting in the sauna, snow tires, poetry and poets, libraries and librarians, comedy, true crime, listening to podcasts, down blankets and pillows and coats, online ordering, sharing videos with Shellie and Kari, other people’s dogs and kids, a massage with Dana, naps, hugs in the kitchen, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.