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

1. Morning walks. Just like most of the country, we had extra cold temperatures and more snow, so Ringo spent most of the week either not walking (Monday morning was -11 degrees!) or running with Eric, but there was one day where it was 21 degrees and less than an inch of new snow had fallen, so I got to go with.

2. Making something that doesn’t have to be anything. I’ve enlisted my dear friend Mikalina to help me get back in touch with my intuition, my creative wisdom, that thing that inspires everything else. I’ve lost touch with it, (thanks burnout, thanks COVID-19, thanks capitalism), and to do the work I want to do, live the life I want, I need to get that connection back. Mikalina is giving me creative homework each week and it’s softening and unlocking something I’ve missed SO MUCH.

3. Practice. This week I remembered that practice isn’t about making or doing something good or correct but rather showing up, making space for what might arise. It’s not about getting it right, but about seeing where it goes.

4. Comfort. Naps in a dark room cuddled under a down blanket. Hot coffee with tiny marshmallows in one of my favorite mugs. That corner of the couch with the pillows and a blanket. Birds in the feeder. A warm shower and clean pjs. Clean laundry. Sitting in the sauna with Eric. The feel of Ringo’s soft fur and warm body. The sound of a dog sigh. Stretching. Clementines. Watching Antiques Roadshow with Eric. Taking the Facebook app off my phone and staying off altogether for three whole days. Reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

5. My tiny family. Sure, I’ve experienced some bad luck, disappointment, and other really bad stuff in my life, but my tiny family is my version of winning the lottery.

Bonus joy: Friday morning Wild Writing, the four dogs that live across the street, grocery pickup, sunshine, writing and hanging out with Mikalina, good books, podcasts, comedy, new sheets, Eric and Ringo napping together on the couch, “singing” with Ringo, that at least while he’s the only dog Ringo has all the toys all over, Girl Scout Thin Mints, soft chewy bread, toasted walnuts, texting with my mom and brother and Chloe’, fingernail clippers, scissors, stick glue, Zoom, birthdays, knowing your people are safe, dog rescue, electricity, clean water, snow tires, swimming pools.

1. Morning walks. As much of the country seems to right now, we are getting super cold temperatures and snow this week. And, as always, the days that are the coldest and darkest and seem like they would be some of the worst walks are actually the best — it’s so beautiful and quiet and it feels like for just a bit, we have the whole world to ourselves.

2. Wild writing. I love this practice so much, and end up falling in love with everyone who does it with me. And I was realizing the other day that just like meditation and yoga asana, it follows you off the page (the cushion, the mat) and in to the world, cultivates your capacity to show up and stay with what is.

3. My tiny house. I am so content, so comfortable here, and that takes on a whole new weight — here at the end of the world, in the middle of nowhere.

4. Comfort. My friend Shellie sent me a coffee mug recently and it’s become one of my favorites. I love the irregular shape, the single word reminder, and the constant comfort of the person who sent it.

5. My tiny family. I am enjoying it being just the three of us, even as I miss Sam like crazy.

Bonus joy: the grumpy look Ringo gets on his face when he knows I’m trying to take his picture — such a teenager!, cuddling with Ringo on the couch at night (because now that it’s so cold, he wants to steal my heat), grocery pickup, the pool, sitting in the sauna with Eric, double masks, snow, my flower from Mikalina about to bloom, hanging out and writing with Mikalina, those floaty moments just before I fall asleep, naps, gummies, oatmeal cookie bars, clementines, getting the laundry done, new sheets, clean sheets, a warm shower, eye drops, libraries, soft chewy bread, peanut butter, snow tires, seatbelts and airbags, down blankets and pillows, naps, podcasts, carpet, warm socks, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.