1. A quiet, cozy Christmas. It was just what I needed this time around. We took some pictures, opened presents, ate good food, napped, texted with family and friends, and watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

2. Morning walks. Since Eric is on break, he’s been going with Ringo and I on our days. It can be hard for him because we don’t run so he gets pretty cold. On today’s walk, there was a lot of jogging in place and dropping and doing push ups to stay warm. On another walk, Eric and I were talking too much, which made Ringo feel like he wasn’t getting enough attention so there was a lot of thrashing the leash, which is his way of filing a complaint on a walk. This morning, we found a labyrinth someone had made next to the river. Ringo didn’t understand how it worked.

3. Practicing yoga at Red Sage. I wish more of the humans who work there had time to come on a more regular basis, but the “regulars” I have are super fun. One told me yesterday that, “I don’t even like yoga, but I come because I like the way you teach it.”

I recommended a “new year’s resolution” to them at the beginning of our last class, whether they are the kind of person who makes them or not, and I’d like to share it with you, kind and gentle reader: “be a better friend to yourself.” No matter what other goals you set or wishes you make, I’m pretty sure if you start from that place, you are WAY more likely to get what you need, to get you where you want to go (or stay).

4. Rest. Instead of beating myself up for all the things, I’m giving myself permission to slow down. This morning, I was reading some of Shelby Forsythia’s book “Your Grief, Your Way,” and she said, “Take a deep breath and remember that you have just lived through one of life’s hardest and most devastating experiences, the death of a loved one. You cannot be who you were, at least not right away. Start by surviving, then shift your focus to thriving.” 

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here.

Bonus joy: leftovers, those garlic biscuits Eric has been making, aqua aerobics, sitting in the sauna with Eric, so many new books, listening to podcasts, clean sheets, a warm shower, my infrared heating pad, the purple iris stained glass panel Eric got me for Christmas, the purple mums he brought home for me from the grocery store, purple, dark chocolate covered almonds, the coconut bonbons Eric made using my grandma’s recipe, the tiny tarts his mom made and sent us, texting with Chris and Mom and Chloe’, that Instagram reel of the wolves sleeping in the snow, crows, the sound of our furnace, a soft baggy hoodie, down pillows and blankets and coats, writing in front of my HappyLight in the morning with a cup of tea and a snack, cousins, twinkle lights, the chance to start over again, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep. 

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.