Weekly Roundup 48: Life Happens

Hi there! Life happened to me this week, so instead of a post, you get a couple of seasonal pictures and a promise that I will be back next week with a better effort.

Take care!

Weekly Roundup 47: 12/12

Yes, we've reached the last month of the year, the twelfth of twelve. I do like the feeling of a dozen months that can be neatly split into halves of six. Like an egg carton. 

January is named for Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, whose two faces look simultaneously at past and future. But I don't like to look back when the month of January arrives. I prefer for the New Year to feel like it's brimming with forward momentum. So I do my retrospection in December.

I have already identified some very specific disappointments courtesy of 2024, but this year I also learned some lessons about the importance of pivoting, of staying nimble and realistic in regard to expectations. I tried to embrace a new mantra (which I guess I borrowed from Frozen, despite having never seen it): Let. It. Go.

As my husband could tell you, it's a work in progress.

So am I. So are we all, really.

As we stampede toward Christmas and New Years, I will try to make space for some quiet moments to be generous with myself about how this year played out on the large and small scales. And I'll try back off on the overthinking and my ever-so-slight tendency to be controlling.

December is already shaping up to be a the speediest month of the year--kind of like the anchor leg at the end of a relay. In the words of Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." 

See you next week!

Weekly Roundup 46: Happy Thanksgiving!

A classic for #TBT tomorrow. No matter who's at your table or what you're eating, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Weekly Roundup 45: Breathe

As we close in on the busyness of the holiday season, I'd like to remind everyone to set aside time each day and breathe.

Just breathe.

If you like, try meditation breathing patterns such as 4-7-8 breathing or box breathing. Here are others to choose from. 

But all you really need to do is get quiet and attend to your natural breath. 

Go outside if possible, as being in nature has additional benefits for mental and physical health. 

Sit or stand with your feet firmly planted, so you're grounded. Close your eyes if it's safe to do so.

And breathe. 

Feel the air come in and go out. 

That's it!

Spas and massages are great, but they're also expensive and time-consuming. Mindful breathing is free, and you can do it anytime, anywhere. Along with stress reduction, you might experience increased energy, improved focus, pain reduction, better sleep, and even boosted immune system function.

And did I mention it's free?

Take care, friends. See you next week!

Weekly Roundup 44: Sigh...

Nope, not a sigh of relief.

I tend not to get political on this blog because there are other places for that. But let it be known that as I proudly voted for Kamala, I also voted against misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, religious extremism, an American oligarchy, and the general lack of truth and decency that pervade politics and society.

You all know how that turned out.   

It was clear to me before November 6 that regardless of the issues, this election was really about anger. Men and women are angry, sometimes for different reasons, but history has shown that a man's anger trumps (I use that word intentionally) a woman's anger every time. I hope I'm wrong, but it seems that a woman's anger is taken seriously only when it is expressed in support of an angry man. (Women can be righteous, but we can't be right? Is that how it is?)

We have an uncertain road ahead. Please remember that we are strong and resilient. Please take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please reach out to your community when you need a shoulder. And please, please be very selective about how much media you consume. We've all reached saturation point after this year (and the years before), and it's absolutely fine to step away from the churn.

Take good care, and I'll see you next week.

Weekly Roundup 43: Election Day

I'm writing this on the afternoon of November 5, Election Day. It's too early for any real results, so I'm trying to keep my mind occupied and my spirits up. This has been an election like no other in my lifetime, and almost everyone I know has felt the impact on their mental, emotional--and sometimes physical--health.

Frankly, there's a lot to be upset about, not the least of which is the rampant misogyny. But as Denzel Washington said, "It is impossible to be grateful and hateful at the same time." So today, I choose grateful.

Thank you to election officials and poll workers who uphold this country's standard of free and fair elections.

Thank you to everyone who took the high road and refrained from sharing disparaging, insulting, and demeaning content.

Thank you to everyone who believes that all registered voters deserve to cast their ballots in safety and without unreasonable inconvenience.

Thank you to everyone who helped their friends, family, and community members exercise their right to vote.

Thank you to everyone who fact-checked and sought out reputable, trustworthy sources of information.

Thank you to everyone who was willing to think instead of simply react.

Thank you to everyone who made me laugh, including SNL and The Daily Show.

Thank you to pets, houseplants, and autumn leaves, thank you to tea, chocolate, and long walks, thank you to my husband, friends, and family for helping me keep my sanity.

And thank you to everyone across the country who submitted artwork for new voting stickers, including the one above, designed by Julia, a 12th grader from Loveland, Colorado. (See other great examples, including the Michigan Werewolf, here.)

I don't know what the next days, weeks, and months will bring, but here's hoping we can all Keep Calm-ala and Carry On-ala.

Weekly Roundup 42: Pebbling

As evidence that medium-sized flightless birds can teach humans something about relationships, please consider the concept of pebbling.

This "love language" that's all over social media began with literal stones. Gentoo penguins often mate for life. During breeding season, the male will select a perfect little pebble and present it to the female. Once accepted, it becomes part of the rocky nest the birds will build on the ground together.

Even with (or maybe because of?) all the words humans have at our disposal, communication can be a tricky thing. Enter the metaphorical pebble. These small tokens of kindness, affection, and love might include texting a funny .gif or meme, sending a card, buying a coffee, collecting some beautiful autumn leaves, recommending a good book, and, yes, finding a smooth, pretty stone...anything that says "I'm thinking of you and want to brighten your day."

A lot of people in the world right now seem to be trying to convince us it's okay to treat each other badly. I do not agree. So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to try focus more on the pebbles and less on...well, you know, that other stuff.

Halloween is tomorrow! However you choose to celebrate, or not, I hope you have a safe and fun holiday and get only the best candy in your trick or treat bag.