I meant to post here all month. The past few weeks were busy and emotion-filled. The election left me feeling disappointed, angry, and confused. How can we all see the world so differently?
Lately, I've been craving books, interviews, and words from north stars like Gregory Boyle, Ada Limon, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Tara Brach, and Nicholas Kristoff. I'm turning to the notion of active hope and have pledged to dig into work and community efforts even more. While I recognize that most everything is out of our control, my plan for the future is to find my role in this collective transition and live with intentionality and purpose.
Here are a few internet findings that have brought me a sense of peace and belonging:
+ The power of small groups.
+ Wildflower patches FTW!
+ Appreciated Oliver Burkeman's take on moving forward.
+ My Low Frequency playlist has been on repeat, plus this one with chill, nervous system regulating tunes.
+ Stress baked these cookies a handful of times. (Cook for 14 minutes)
+ More hope and human connection in divided times.
+ Just finished Greg Boyle's new book which was perfectly timed.
+ On gratitude and being in sacred relationship with life.
I'll leave you with a few words from the great, Margaret Renkl: So for me, there will be more watchful stillness. More walks in the woods to watch the still heron standing one-legged in the shallows; to watch the still deer, waiting to see if I mean them harm; to watch the stillness of the red-eared sliders, resting on the sunny log, and the stillness of the wood duck, whose stillness is on the surface only; to linger in the stillness of the lake itself, a perfect mirror giving back the sky.
There will be more books and more poetry and more time with friends and more afternoons sitting on a bench and watching the leaves fall. I will be fighting with all that I am, but I will also be reminding myself again and again not to wait for the world to give me a reason to sigh with relief. I will give myself respite. I will remember not to keep waiting for sweetness and rest to arrive on their own.