Guess who’s back?! I never intended to step away from the blog forever, but I definitely needed a break to gather myself and my thoughts. I have a general idea of what direction I want to take the blog in, however, I’m leaving the pressure off of myself to post on a certain day or time. I want it to be a little more laid back and not as heavy in the head, as I felt like it was before. I’m planning to reserve most of that for Monthly Medleys, something new I’ll be doing. Otherwise, I want this to be a place where the simple things in life are celebrated, food is gathered around, gardens are tended to, favorite books are shared, and the future of the earth is cared about. If you enjoy what you read here, please follow along so you can get email updates sent to you when a new blog post is up.
Happenings
Well, this month I apparently turned a whole year older in just a day’s time. Crazy how that happens. I have to admit that this is the first year I actually felt like I was aging. The creases on my forehead are becoming more and more permanent and instead of having one hip that’s not quite right, I have two. I take a slew of vitamins daily and I get excited for the New York Times to drop their crossword puzzle and sudokus for the following day. If that’s not enough, I also now view all teenagers as kids and don’t understand their trends, phrases, or music. Oh, to still be young, but not quite as young as you used to be.
Not much else has really been going on this month for me. I’m without a job and my life feels a lot like moving from one spot in my home to the next and switching from one app to another. I had planned to search for a new job this year, since I knew I would be graduating in May, but I didn’t expect there to be a pandemic and for the areas I’d like to work in to be pretty much MIA and shutdown. Yet, I’m still applying and hopeful that something good will come of this. This year is without a doubt a test in endurance, motivation, and the ability to keep our heads up. Hang in there, folks.
Speaking of hanging in there, I’ve come to the realization that I hit a downswing in the fall. Perhaps it’s turning older, yet not feeling ready for “grown-up” things and dreaming up all of the things I’d like to do in life that makes me want to throw caution to the wind and be as recklessly indulgent and myself as I can be. Maybe it’s the natural tendency to start moving inward, both physically and mentally, as the seasons change and nature seems to slow down. Either way, I want to spend my time somewhere beautiful, eating charcuterie and good chocolate, sipping wine, clipping things I find inspiring out of magazines, and writing in my journal. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, keeping a journal is a true blessing. I was able to discover that this feeling is actually a yearly trend by going back to journals past and seeing this is typical for me this time of year. Invest in a journal and then invest a little bit of time actually using it. Trust me.
Some Food For Thought
I was laying in bed one night struggling to sleep and started thinking about how everything moves in cycles. Seasons, plants, the moon, water, women’s bodies, etc. Heck, women are basically in a new season every week, which isn’t one bit confusing or exhausting for them or anyone they’re around. Trust me. It felt profound to me, though, that women are almost mini earths, moving in seasons and bringing forth life. Do you feel that insight too are am I alone here? I also find it interesting how many cycles go unnoticed or unappreciated. We eat food year round that should be seasonal and rarely pay attention to the moon’s phases unless it’s full, bright, and probably in our face. We know when we’re in Scorpio season, but not where the stars are at during that time. How far we’ve come from our ancestral roots. I want to be better at living in sync with the rhythms of life and nature. Anyone with me?
One last, food for thought. I was discussing the difference between a hobby and a passion with a few people and ended up Googling the difference. Go figure. I feel like it’s worth sharing, though. What I came across was that a hobby was something done for fun, whereas a passion is something done to feel whole. Does that feel like it hits the nail on the head to anyone else?
Rundown of November 2020
Currently harvesting…peppers and carrots.
Reading…Think like a Monk by Jay Shetty.
Listening to…Darien Olien Podcast, who you might know from Down to Earth with Zac Efron on Netflix. He has episodes talking about fatal conveniences, which I’m both curious about and terrified of. I did enjoy this one about shoes here. Armchair Expert Podcast. They’re not new, but some favorites are Matthew McConaughey’s episode here and Dax talking about his relapse here. Thanks Jeff for getting me hooked on this podcast!
Using and enjoying…The 5 Minute Journal app. (Click here for Apple and here for Android).
Wondering…where to find motivation to workout when you’ve grown to accept and appreciate your body as is and aren’t chasing a visual fitness indicator i.e. weight, aesthetic, etc. Help!
Honestly…grateful for the many years my family gathered around the TV to watch Alex Trebek on Jeopardy!
Finding humor in…rewatching The Office.
Hoping…to continue being mindful about how I spend my money and what values it supports i.e. more natural, more eco-friendly, small businesses, etc.
Honesty, Humor & Hope 