1. Morning walks. I did two this week, am aiming for three next. We’ve had a true Colorado spring this past week, with some days up to 78 degrees and some days of snow. Ringo has arthritis in his elbows and was feeling pretty stiff yesterday, so this next week’s walks will most likely be slower and shorter, and that’s fine by me.
Beaver! Image by EricBabies! Image by EricImage by EricImage by Eric
2. Practice. Keeping me sane, enabling me to stay here.
3. Brunch with Cynthia and Chloe’. Cynthia was on a road trip that would bring her our way, so she was able to stop and visit. We’ve been writing together for years, but had never met each other in person. My Friday morning wild-ish writing sangha is one of the most powerful practices I have and I’m so grateful for the other humans who continue to practice with me.
Pizza and image by Eric
4. Good food. I am still learning how to feed myself because the “little me” whose access was restricted in the name of “health” and because of scarcity, and the younger me who made her own choice to restrict because she thought that made her “healthy” and “good” and maybe even attractive, are both SO hungry, still. It’s a delicate balance, between them and the me now, and I’m still figuring it out.
5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Only a few more weeks until we pack up the car and head to Oregon for a bit. I am dreaming of the beach, where we’ll be for most of our stay, just the three of us, exactly how I like it.
The first time baby Ringo saw the ocean“Can I haz some pancake?”
Bonus joy: clean sheets, naps, listening to podcasts, cooking, writing in the early morning with my HappyLight and a warm cup of green tea, boundaries, giving myself permission to let go, stained glass when the light hits it, snow covered blooms, gummies, getting in the pool and sauna, going out to eat, comedy, good movies and TV on streaming, good kids in our neighborhood we can hire to do yardwork and water the plants when we are away, getting to see Chloe’ in person THREE times in one week, how much Ringo LOVES her (almost as much as me), new tires on my car, stickers, yoga (feels so good after a long break), mantra practice, meditation practice, dreaming that both my mom and dad recovered and were living their lives like they did 20 years ago, good surgery outcomes for two of my aunts, quiet, how peaceful and comfortable my home feels to me, endless opportunities to start over, photo magnets, Pancho complaining in the background as Chloe’ read, Indy being adopted by a member of his original person’s family, animal rescues and rescuers, hospice nurses and aides, the joy of picking which book to read next, hoodies, wool socks, down pillows and blankets, caramelized onions, paprika, fresh chicken eggs, a warm shower, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.
1. Faith Ringgold, quilt and visual artist, dies at 93. “Ringgold also created paintings, sculptures, performance art and children’s books. Her work focused on Black life, feminine life and the crossroads between the two.”
15. “Everything Is an Invitation” with David Whyte on the Sounds True One podcast. “In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with David about his writing career, his creative approach to leadership, and the conversation with life to which we are all constantly invited. Tami and David discuss the willingness to have courageous conversations; the generativity of ‘a well-felt sadness’; reframing regret; the seven steps of invitational leadership; “robust vulnerability” and choosing the path we really care about; anguish, anxiety, and being OK with the unknown; letting go; ‘apprenticing ourselves to our own disappearance’; and more.”
23. Who decides what violence is?“We’re told from birth that violence is only present in the last act, in the final domino that falls. When we learn about crime we’re told to focus on the robbery, but never on why someone might turn to theft. It’s always the actions of an individual that we’re told to judge, and never their circumstances, or the system they live under, or the policies that have shaped their life. And we need to break that cycle, that approach, urgently. Because the truth is that the biggest offenders are wearing suits; they’re often in boardrooms or state houses. The companies that pushed Oxycodone on America have hurt more people and made more money than any drug dealer. Police forces have killed more people in the United States than any gang. Policies around evictions and climate and health care have hurt infinitely more people than any criminal mastermind could ever conceive of.” Which reminds me of this quote from Desmond Tutu:
24. Life lessons: Isabella Tree on what life so far has taught her. “Writer and farmer Isabella Tree helped kickstart the rewilding revolution in Britain. She talks about man’s hubris, her most revitalising habit and what makes her feel optimistic.”
25. The Only Way Forward from Frederick Joseph. “Reflecting on our efforts to support migrant mothers and families.”
28. The Dumbphone Boom Is Realon The New Yorker. “The growing dumbphone fervor may be motivated, in part, by the discourse around child safety online. Parents are increasingly confronted with evidence that sites like Instagram and TikTok intentionally try to hook their children. Using those sites can increase teens’ anxiety and lower their self-esteem, according to some studies, and smartphones make it so that kids are logged on constantly. Why should this situation be any healthier for adults? After almost two decades with iPhones, the public seems to be experiencing a collective ennui with digital life. So many hours of each day are lived through our portable, glowing screens, but the Internet isn’t even fun anymore. We lack the self-control to wean ourselves off, so we crave devices that actively prevent us from getting sucked into them. That means opting out of the prevailing technology and into what Cal Newport, a contributing writer for The New Yorker, has called a more considered ‘digital minimalism.'”
35. A Room Alive! Making Comics Together, “a short documentary exploring and showcasing UW-Madison’s Comics Room and the community it has inspired–featuring interviews with Lynda Barry, Jeff Butler, and Julia Tanenbaum.”
37. Working With Your Hands Is Good for Your Brainon The New York Times. (gift link) “Activities like writing, gardening and knitting can improve your cognition and mood. Tapping, typing and scrolling? Less so.”
39. What I Do When I Face Boredom. “In times when I find myself confronted with feelings of boredom, I make a conscious choice to let it happen. Instead of seeking immediate distractions, I allow my mind to experience this emotion.”
Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray) 