This morning, my day started with Paloma asking me to give her "Unicorn Hair" - a YouTube tutorial given by an animated Barbie and her little sister Chelsea. Seeing my daughter's desire to be creative within moments of her eyes opening to a new day warmed my heart. That is an energy that I want to encourage for sure.
Moments after said Unicorn Hair was complete (and then collapsed, and then stabilizing changes were made), I opened my Facebook memories to see my blog post from three years ago this day, when I wrote about my trip to New York City. To relive those memories through pictures and words, made me feel like I was still on high from that spectacular trip. It was easily one of the Top 3 favorite weekends of my life, behind getting married to Solon, and something else that right now I can't think of because I have only had one cup of coffee.
After making my way downstairs, and getting my morning coffee brewing, (still on Facebook) I see a video of one of my FAVORITE singers, India.Arie, posted by an old high school friend who shares thoughtful, inspirational posts, and encourages the people in his life. The performance of this song was so simplistic, and so beautiful - I had to listen twice - before ultimately sharing it on my page.
Then, as I am sampling the awesome granola that I made yesterday (using a modified version of my friend Kristine's recipe), I scroll through my newsfeed to discover my FAVORITE writer Anne Lamott has just posted her recent TED Talk. Happy Friday to me! Just when I think my soul is filled enough, I sit down with my delicious dark roast, vanilla-coconut-milk-infused cup of coffee in my favorite mug (Thank You Jenni), and I listen to my favorite writer talk about the 12 truths she has learned from life and writing. I am laughing out loud, smiling, and simultaneously getting the urge to write. All before 9:30am.
At this point, I should add that Wednesday and Thursday were recovery days, from what I have dubbed the "Almost Complete Summer of Soul-Filling Tour". It started 3 weeks ago with a 4-day visit from Larel (my sis-in-law) and my nephews, continued with an almost 2-hour conversation with Charissa, continued with a 3-day visit from Becky and her family, and then continued with a 5-day visit from Holly and Makena. And it's not over yet, because this weekend, my amazing Mom-in-law is taking the kids and Solon and I will head up to Healdsburg (one of my favorite NorCal towns) to help my friend Allison G. celebrate her 40th birthday. And next month, I am having a one-on-one trip to Vegas with Christina, all before coming back to AZ at the end of the summer for a family visit. See what I mean by the "Almost Complete Summer of Soul-Filling Tour"? It shaping up to be a full summer.
In her TED Talk, Anne Lamott said several things that resonated with me. One of which she says is the secret to life - "go outside and LOOK UP. The happiest person on earth is the one who learns from nature, the lessons of worship." The kids and I have been spending a lot of time in nature these last few weeks. Soaking in the essence of the Eucalyptus and Redwood trees that surround us. Feeling the gentle mist of the Pacific sea breeze, with the sand beneath our toes. It's free to experience, and it does WONDERS for my breathing and my sanity. You also realize how small you are in the grand scheme of things, which prompts me to not worry so much about what is out of my control, but rather focus my energies on the people and things that are really important to me.
She also says "that when the people we love the most in our lives die, we will never get over these losses, and despite what society says, we're not supposed to. The person will live on fully in our hearts if we don't seal them off." She says the people we lose to death, will also make us laugh at the most inopportune/random times. This happened to me yesterday in Wendy's when I took the kids for an impromptu lunch before our first summer visit to the Public Library. Quincy was sitting down, with his "Son of Baconator" in his hands - and for a brief few moments, I saw my Dad. The way Quincy held the burger perfectly symmetrically, the weight of the 2 small patties and 4 strips of bacon supported equally by his 8-year-old hands, as he raised it to his mouth, took a BIG bite, smiling simultaneously as his eyes somewhat rolled to the back of his head. It was as if that bite was the most decadent morsel he had EVER tasted. It was as if I was watching my Dad, and I literally LOL'd. Even telling the story to my mom late last night, we laughed and cried, because even though we are a state away, she could picture it perfectly.
One of the "truths" that Anne speaks about is our perceptions of each other. She says, "Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy and scared. Even the people who seem to have it most together." I want us all to remember that - it's so important. In this day and age of Social Media, where there are literally dozens of photo-editing apps, and we have the ability to post and edit the things we say until they're perfect, I try to remember that the only thing I can control is how true I stay to myself. Anne says "we should not compare who others are on the outside to who we are on the inside." That is a major disservice to yourself. I am HAPPY 95% of the time - it's a choice that I consciously make every day - and you will see my joy and zest for life in the things I share. I'm a silver-linings, glass is half-full, spread the love and the positive kind of person. But that doesn't mean that the 5% doesn't hurt. It hurts immensely. And thus, I choose to share that too. Because it's real. And some days, and some moments, hurt more than others. But the release of it all into the universe helps me heal. In her talk, Anne says that "every single thing that happens to you is YOURS, and you get to tell it. You're going to feel like hell, if you wake up some day and you never wrote the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart. Your truth, in your own voice." That is all we really have to offer. This is part of my self-care, which coincidentally is another point that she spoke about.
Emotional self-care is something I have down pat. I write, I paint, I cook, I bake, I take long walks with Forrest, and I have deep and meaningful conversations with my husband and my best friends. Physical self-care is something I could definitely put a little more effort into. I certainly love how I feel after working out, and exerting myself, but it is challenging for me to make it a top priority. This is something that I pledge to myself to improve on. I am excited to start playing softball again, this time in a community co-ed league that begins next week. Solon and I need this, and I think it will be great for our kids to watch us play, as I have the fondest memories of watching my Dad in his Pop's League all those years ago. It will fill our souls, revive our spirit - which is so important(!) - and create memories for all involved.
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Highlights from the last few months include:
BEACH REVUE
2nd Grade - Surfin' USA (watch video here)
Kindergarten - This Land Is Your Land (watch video here)
A's Baseball
Mermaids Softball
Saying "See You Later" to our friends Emi and Yaari
who are moving away
Visit from Larel and the nephews/cousins
Visit from Becky, Scott, Noah and Gracyn
Saying "See you later" to Maksim and Dominik (not pictured)
at the park (this was the only picture sent via text before my phone
at the park (this was the only picture sent via text before my phone
fell out of my pocket, and then got stolen)
A visit from Holly and Makena
Until next time...
