Happiness and gratitude are all tangled up in one another. You need to know, and know intentionally, what makes you happy and what makes you grateful. In the every day, these things fill you up with light. In the hard days, these things are a refuge. It becomes a to-do list. I love my family so I call my family. I love baths so I draw myself a bath and light a candle. It’s hard to conjure light when we’re in the dark so we need to keep some bottled from the bright days. Make a list, save it away, use it well.
Fitness: What’s Working For Me
I talked about a few things I began last year (my year of Rhythm) that finally got me in a routine for fitness that I’ve been able to hold … longer than I’ve held one in a long time. Everyone’s different, but I wanted to expand and share what’s working for me.
Cathartic Cleaning
Pick up the strewn sweaters. Recycle the emptied La Croix and Diet Coke cans on the counter. Wash the dishes in the sink. Put the facewash and hairbrush and makeup bag back in the big. Take a washcloth and wipe the surfaces clean. Straighten the pillows. Straighten the bed. Straighten the world you can control.
Thought-Spiral Treatment Method
Directions: Apply liberally to troublesome thoughts that stick, ooze, and batter. Most effective when used with self-compassion and a good night’s sleep. Acknowledge the thought, […]
Being Easy to Please
When I say easy to please, I don’t mean for the big things and I don’t mean settling. I think we should demand the best for ourselves in love, respect, and human dignity. I think we should rally and work and get better and better. I mean, when you can, find happiness in small moments.
The Moderation Ring
My mom wore my great grandfather’s golden ring for most of her life
Design Your Downtime
I believe in designing my downtime. I’ve spent plenty of days aimless, without plans, looking up from the TV to see that ten hours have […]
The Magic of Anticipation
There is magic in anticipation. My dad would always say “hunger is the best sauce” (mostly to get us to stop whining before dinner) but there is a larger truth there. For me, looking forward to something is half the pleasure. It’s why I like having plans: whether it’s for vacations a year in advance or a simple self-agenda for my weekend.
Working Through Work Fuck-Ups
Yesterday, I discovered a mistake in my work so exasperating that I ended up in frustrated tears. It was a legacy mistake, something I didn’t do myself but had been affecting my world for a few years without me knowing. Because I didn’t know. And it’s my responsibility to know. Three years ago, there was a question that didn’t get asked and it’s going to have some sucky consequences.
The Time to Inhale
Brené Brown is the closest example I have to a spiritual master. Her research on shame, vulnerability, belonging, and leadership moves my life. I watch […]