🌷 Finding Balance
Welcoming Spring and Saying Yes to Little Things🌷
March brought the Spring Solstice and the change in seasons. Atypical of New England, early Spring has been filled with warm sunshine and gentle chilly breezes. Or maybe it’s typical New England weather, and it just took me seven years to get used to it.
Ironically, I find myself longing for days like those in March three years ago. Who could have guessed that I would look back on that first pandemic year as the “good old days?” With an empty calendar, we were free to spend uninterrupted time with one another, deepen our relationships with each other, discover unknown nature paths, and learn a little more about the things we love. Yes, those days were hard—filled with disappointments and lost communities—but for our little family of four, 2020 will go down in history as one of our favorite years together.
Here we are, three years later, and I still can’t quite figure out how to strike the right balance between saying yes and saying no. I reflected on this in March of last year too; will March forever be the month where I reminisce and wonder how to take the best things of pandemic life and implement them into normal life?
Reiki Healing
When I discovered my favorite yoga teacher offers reiki healing sessions, I contacted her right away. Just before we moved to Massachusetts, I visited my favorite chiropractor for an energy clearing session. Although it was not reiki, it was similar in many ways, and I’ve been longing to find the right healer ever since. I had my first session last week, and I left feeling refreshed, renewed, and with a creative vigor I thought I’d never be able to find. I can’t wait to go again next month.
At-home Manicures
I splurge on one or two new nail colors every season. I figure buying nail polish is much cheaper than going to a salon, and a good nail color brightens up my mood with just one glance. This Spring I’m loving Essie’s mrs always-right and Sally Hansen’s color foil in Rose Beam.
Tiny Family Adventures
We get very little family time these days, so when one of the girls has a competition weekend, I’m taking full advantage of the excuse to plan an adventure. We had a fun weekend in Rhode Island earlier this month, and we head to Portland Maine tonight. I can’t wait to visit Portland Head Light and walk around Old Port.
Artist Dates
I signed my girls up for an art class at the MFA and am so excited to have some time to wander the museum alone while they learn about art from teachers who know far more about art than I. Good art gives me so much creative inspiration, and I’m thrilled to say yes to myself in this way this Spring.
Reading What Feels Good
Until just a few years ago, I had not read any classic literature. I somehow managed to get through high school and college without reading any of the books on everyone’s “should read” list. I’ve been working my way through standard classics, like Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, The Wind in the Willows, any and all Jane Austen, and even Shakespeare.
But. (You knew there was a but, right?)
This season in my life calls for easy reads. Books that feel warm and cozy, even when the subject is tough. Books that are easy to read, have modern language, and leave you feeling like the characters are your very best friend. I’m counting down the days until the new Emily Henry and Jessica Martin books release. Until then, I’m loving the Emily series, Independence, Weyward (which is crazy cheap right now), and The Reading List.
Not even a year ago, I talked with my 4th grader about a school shooting in Texas. Yesterday, I had to have a similar conversation with my 3rd grader. Why the hell are we still talking about school shootings? How many lives have to be lost before leaders do something that actually makes a difference?
Our farm share is mostly root veggies these days, so I was thrilled to discover this recipe for Roasted Root Vegetable Pot Pie. The gravy is sop-it-up-good.
This is the time of year when we grocery shop from the freezer so it can be defrosted before our Summer share begins in June. There’s a lot of corn, and this Leek, Corn and Greens Flatbread is such a fun way to eat it. I used arugula, because that’s what was at the farm. The leftovers make an excellent breakfast.
I made a version of these Beef Bulgogi Bowls last week and they were so good. I sautéed cabbage with the carrots to give it a little more heft.
I am in awe over this essay about mothers and sourdough.
I love how this essay reminds us it’s okay to write slowly.
One of my favorite children’s book authors is being memorialized in stamp form. And so is Toni Morrison!
I highly recommend this poem, Breath & Bone.
A fascinating argument about teenagers, women and mental health.
This game is weirdly addictive.
Best friends opening a bookshop together? This is my ultimate dream.
A fascinating look at how authors create character names.
I am so thrilled to share that my review of The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood is in the most recent issue of Literary Mama.
Church is back to normal, but I still love these ideas for remembering Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter as a family. We’ll miss Palm Sunday worship for a dance competition, but I’m looking forward to reading the story together from our AirBnB. And family foot washing on Maundy Thursday continues to be a favorite annual event.
Here’s a quick list of things published on the blog since last month’s newsletter:
And for Substack Insiders, I shared a story about my favorite freezer staple (and included a recipe!). Have you become an Insider yet?
Remember the breath prayer? It’s a meditative form of prayer where you choose two lines to meditate on and breathe through them. On the inhale, you pray the first line. One the exhale, you pray the second. Repeat as many times as you’d like.
As you go on your way this month, I invite you to breathe this prayer taken from Joshua 1:9.
INHALE—Be strong and courageous
EXHALE—God will be with you wherever you go
Until next month,
I’m so curious about this idea of reflecting on the pandemic every March. I feel this as well. Perhaps this is a good thing. Like a new New Year.