Life Lately: May 2022
Earlier this week, I was on the phone with my mom. Lately, most of our conversations seem to center around how utterly exhausted I am. I was trying to explain that it went beyond the physical and mental, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then, a little later I realized - it is my spirit, that is weary. Like many, I have watched nonstop horrific news unfold, with the recent shootings, racist violence, war, natural disasters, and more - while also navigating oh so many challenges in my little corner of the world. My spirit - my soul - is tired.
As I reflect on the past two months (Yep, I missed my April Life Lately update!) and think about what’s ahead, I am holding many feelings at once: sadness, joy, gratitude, fear, loneliness, skepticism, optimism, and more. Through it all, I am trying to put hope front and center. I have been listening to an audiobook of The Book of Hope, by Jane Goodall. Hope, she says - is a survival tactic. And that feels oh so important right now. As always, I find writing to be one of the most grounding acts for me, so here I am. Here’s a few notes on my Life Lately, and what’s coming up next.
Watching/Listening/Reading: In addition to The Book of Hope, I have just about finished The Book of Cold Cases, and I have ordered far too many library books in an attempt to double down on my summer reading. I am listening to the most recent season of Counter Clock, another favorite from the audiochuck family. I’m watching the final season of Grace and Frankie, and a whole lot of HGTV and Food Network - my “comfort TV”.
Gardening Update: When we moved into our house, almost a year ago, I was thrilled to see a huge garden. Last summer, I was pregnant and couldn’t garden, so I dreamt of my future vegetable garden (my lovely neighbor and mom did plant some last year, so we did have a decent harvest). Thanks to a powerful new rototiller and some tireless work, my garden has been planted. It includes: tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, at least 6 types of peppers (including hot!), beans, zucchini, radishes, beets, carrots, sunflowers and more. I’m SO excited to see what the summer will bring, and can’t wait to donate to our new community fridge and gift plenty of veggies to my neighbors and local friends.
Spirit: As I think about how to help my weary spirit, I have decided that June will be a month of nurturing and resting it. A few years ago, I went to a women’s retreat at Kripalu. Our retreat leader, Karen Drucker, sang a song that weekend, that I find myself coming back to, time and time again: I will be gentle with myself. I am going to focus on practicing yoga, writing more, meditating daily, gardening, and moving slowly.
101 in 1001: I feel like progress has been far slower than I would like, but I am giving myself lots of grace. I planted a vegetable garden, bought coffee for one stranger (4 more to go!), and tried 10 new central MA restaurants. My goal is that by the end of the summer, I will have completed 20 things on my list.
Highlight of the Month: I finally got to meet my nephew! My sister and her husband visited MA for a few weeks, and while my kids were sick much of the time (meaning we had less time all together), we did get a few precious days and it was such a joy to watch our kids together.
