You might know that I walk most days of the week, and I try to take a different route each time to keep things interesting for me and the dogs. Today, we enjoyed a walk around the Reservoir on a beautiful fall morning, the temperature warm in the sun and cool in the shade, dappled … Continue reading Yes, I’m Smiling at You!
Category: Joy
Use anticipation to build the good.
Before you try a new restaurant, do you check out the menu online? As a vegetarian, I always make sure a new place will have good veggie options. If someone else suggested the meet-up, I need to know if I should snack beforehand. Checking out the menu in advance has another value: it builds anticipation. … Continue reading Use anticipation to build the good.
Do you have ANTs?
Hi, I’m Siv (“See-v”) and I struggle with negative thinking. That might seem like a vulnerable thing to write, but I suspect I’m not alone. I won’t ask for a show of hands, but I wonder if you relate. I snapped this selfie before a special occasion. I deleted it the next day when my … Continue reading Do you have ANTs?
A Ladybug Migration
Have you ever noticed that you tend to see one ladybug at a time? It will land on you, or near you, and you might put out a finger to let it crawl on you for a while before kindly depositing it on a plant. Recently, I witnessed a ladybug migration. I went outside for … Continue reading A Ladybug Migration
Taking Risks
I faced my fears. I’ve been afraid of heights since childhood, a learned fear from my mom - also afraid of heights - who constantly yanked me back or warned me against getting too close to anything high-up, railings in particular. On our anniversary, Dave gave me a card with a sentiment about adventuring through … Continue reading Taking Risks
Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell
My mom died on February 4, 2023. Though she’d been declining over the past three years, when she left us it felt like a devastating earthquake, complete with aftershocks. Six weeks later, my sister organized a gathering Mom would have enjoyed: a garden party and lunch with her inner circle of dear friends. She arranged … Continue reading Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell
Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups
We’re keeping things simple this season. It’s December 15 and we haven’t yet finished decorating our house for Christmas. The tree is up and lit, as it has been for about two weeks, but no decorations. We’ve hung wreaths outdoors and in. Our year-round home decor is green, and with candles burning in the kitchen … Continue reading Keeping Things Simple & Sunday Soups
Add De-Light
Our Christmas lights went up the weekend before Thanksgiving, earlier than ever before. I noticed that a few neighbors had lights up and my heart sang in response. Holiday lights added delight and I wanted more. I also noticed that I couldn’t open a single email that had Thanksgiving in the subject line. As a … Continue reading Add De-Light
Resilience
A tree in our neighborhood speaks to me of resilience. Its roots had grown under the fence so that they had to cut space for them, yet its canopy had withered. They called a tree company to cut it down. I always hate to see a tree go, but they didn’t cut it down completely. … Continue reading Resilience
Why Smile?
To make eye contact and smile is a kind of prayer, and it changes you. - Anne Lamott Lamott’s quote about the power of smiling has been on my mind most mornings when I walk my dogs past others in our neighborhood: the gaggle of women, the power pairs, the man who limps alongside his … Continue reading Why Smile?