1. Morning walks. Things are really starting to turn green and come alive. There was lots of owl magic this week, along with a few deer and a tiny bit of snow.

2. Good trouble. And all the good people who are willing to get involved.

3. Tokarski Home. Mom is doing so well there and it’s such a relief. I guess last week when “the twins” (the one set in Mom’s family) were visiting, Mom kept asking them to roll her out of her room and down the hall. When they asked her why, she said, “so I can see Jill.” I miss you too, Mom.

4. Pacing myself. I’ve really practiced this recently, trying to honor my limits. It can be hard because other people get disappointed and I have a long history of making sure everyone else is okay even when I’m not.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here. With spring on its way, Ringo and Eric spend lots of time lounging in the yard, which reminds me to do the same.

Bonus joy: Texting with Chris, listening to podcasts, eating good food, a big glass of clean cold water, Pilates, yoga at Red Sage and Raintree, getting in the pool and the sauna, the hydromassage chair, plantain chips and dip, KIND nut clusters, marionberry flavored gummies, stretching, grocery shopping, poets and poetry, libraries and librarians, comedy, true crime, books from the library for my Kindle, daffodils and forsythia, yellow, other people’s kids and dogs, how soft new grass is, all the different kinds of bread, down blankets and pillows, my Shakti mat, my weighted blanket, the way cats purr, horses, bonsai trees, tiny brass animals, flowers in the bathroom, naps, a warm shower, houseplants, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. Morning walks. This week we saw the horses, some deer, and a flock of wild turkeys, which Ringo squealed at, sounded like a monkey — it was very exciting for him. We also had one particularly glorious sunrise. 

2. Practice. I published a post yesterday that reaffirmed for me that when I’m writing in my journal and practicing with my Friday morning group, that’s “real” writing that can add up to something shareable. This week, I meditated and did yoga on my own, and it felt just right.

3. A quiet week. I needed it, so I let myself have it. Other than a Pilates class on Sunday and a much needed trip to the grocery store and lunch out with Eric, I mostly stayed home — which just so happens to be my favorite place.

4. How well Mom is doing. It felt a bit like whiplash to go from “she only has another week or two” to her doing so well, but I am so grateful for it. Whatever time she has left, I’m glad she’ll be spending it at Tokarski Home. She’s been getting lots of visitors and eating good food and getting lots of rest and they are taking such good care of her there. When I was texting with my brother the other day, he told her I said “hi” and she told him she wished I was there. I wish I was too, wish I could be two places at once.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Ringo got to meet the neighbor’s dog the other day — so cute! He’s been spending a lot of time in the backyard since it’s been so nice. He lounges in the sun until he gets too hot, then moves to the shade, and when he cools off, goes to a sunny spot again until he gets too warm and has to find the shade again, over and over and over. Everything is getting so green and we have our first flower bloom. Eric and I keep telling each other how glad we are that I’m home.

Bonus joy: Reese’s eggs (I’m a big fan of way more peanut butter filling than chocolate), getting the laundry done, pay day, watching TV, listening to podcasts, sitting in the backyard with Eric and Ringo, texting with my brother, more light, grocery shopping, Pilates, a warm shower, clean sheets, KIND nut clusters, waffles and pancakes, strawberries, carrots, comedy, poetry and poets, libraries and librarians, the riot of bird song in the morning, things blooming and budding and turning green, worms, two new birdfeeders (let’s see if I can keep the squirrels out), Ringo “singing” (howling), old pictures, my Shakti mat, my infrared heating pad, down pillows and blankets, that particular color of blue, the sky, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.