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

1. Morning walks. This week they were dark and cold, but also quiet and beautiful.

2. Practice. I’ve been feeling some big grief around losing my Buddhist sangha, am trying to find my way back in to the Open Heart Project Sangha, missing my yoga sangha, and feeling deep joy and gratitude for my writing sangha.

3. Naps. In the afternoon, it’s been my habit to go into my dark bedroom (blackout shades are the best) to rest, reset my nervous system. This week so far, there were two days I didn’t get to and today isn’t looking good either, and it is making me realized how absolutely necessary that time is for me, for now.

4. Kitchen counter love notes. Sometimes when your tender little heart is feeling raw, the smallest thing can comfort you.

5. My tiny family. Eric has been going in to his office on campus to work and even though I miss him, it also feels nice to have the dog and the house all to myself.

Bonus joy: soft chewy fresh bread, dog sighs, how sweet Ringo can be, what a punk Ringo can be, hanging out and writing with Mikalina, texting funny memes to Chloe’, texting with my mom and brother, snow, how the birds keep on coming even though we have to keep moving the feeder because of the greedy squirrels, clementines, having all the laundry done, payday, clean sheets, graphic novels, good books, good TV, good movies, podcasts, sunshine in the deepest part of winter, the sound of the dishwasher, the hum of the furnace, a warm shower, a big glass of cold clean water, gummies, having my car paid off, massage, getting in the pool, sitting in the infrared sauna with Eric, making Eric laugh, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.

1. Morning walks. If I want to take pictures, I have to wait and go a bit later so we don’t miss the sunrise altogether. Even so, I can feel the light rising, can feel that there’s more of it each day — which seems like a metaphor for this moment, this season: the light is returning.

2. Practice. I just got done wild writing with my Friday morning group led by Laurie Wagner. I’m so glad that after a momentary delusion, a short break, thinking I could do without it, I was able to get back in when I understood it was essential.

3. Poetry. For a long time, I didn’t fully understand its magic, its medicine. Now I do, and was so happy to see that truth represented during the inauguration ceremony, of which Amanda Gorman was the best and brightest. “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” May this be “who we are.”

4. Nourishment, in all its various forms, that which feeds, that which cherishes.

5. My tiny family. Every night before dinner, Eric peels clementines for me to eat. When Ringo rolls over on his back so I can pet his belly, it seems like there could be nothing better.

Bonus joy: hanging out and writing with Mikalina, getting my office tidied, hot coffee, donut holes, a good mask (comfort and coverage), sitting in the infrared sauna with Eric, cooking with Eric, laundry, clean sheets, that corner of the couch, good TV (sometimes that means something dumb and easy), podcasts, books, music, stretching, turning the heat down because it feels good to pile on the blankets, gummy vitamins, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.