Currently September 2018
Goodbye September, HELLO OCTOBER!
This month was a busy one. It also felt kinda long? We’re back into school. We’re into the swing of things! My brother and his wife moved to San Francisco. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Cooper had a few baseball tournaments that took us away for a few weekends. I had quite a few social commitments, met my dad’s girlfriend and worked myself out of a funk. Being around positive people HELPS.
My grief doesn’t take up as much space in my brain as it used to. But when it hits, IT HITS. One of the side effects of sharing my journey online is that I get a lot of messages from people dealing with a loss as well. I am so honored that I am able to help someone else’s journey by sharing mine. It’s just that sometimes I find myself pulled back into grief (after having a period of feeling OK) when someone messages me about their grief. It’s a good problem to have, I guess. Focusing on helping others helps. We all need to be reminded that our life on this Earth is limited. Let’s not waste it.
Inspired By:
FRIENDS + FAMILY
Working online and being connected to social media can make me feel confused about being connected to reality. The more time I spend online, the more I feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Spending more time offline and connecting with others has been a really important shift in my life. We are in such a weird space with our country. A lot of people are hurting. A lot of trauma is resurfacing. Injustice prevails. Where is our anchor?
What I know for sure is that people are seeking connection.
THIS MONTH I REMEMBERED THAT I MUST:
Find a way to gather.
Have a meaningful conversation, even if it there’s potential for it to go south.
Protect/manage my energy with/for other people
THIS MONTH I WAS REMINDED THAT:
No one will ever know if you need help if you never ask for it.
Use your voice. Talk is therapy.
Sometimes saying something you’ve been carrying around in your brain out loud to a bunch of strangers can be liberating.
Events that shaped my month:
Went to an inner circle of women hosted by my friend Becca.
It was my first real inner circle!
Finally met my friend Tammi in person in Pt. Reyes.
She has been a real gift in my life.
Our conversations about grief helped me move through a rough patch.
I am so thankful for her spirit. My Mom would have really liked her, I’m sure.
I am inspired by her daily gratitude practice and how it has helped shape her sobriety.
Larkin is E L E C T R I C. Our first meeting was at Candytopia. Her voice is one of a kind.
Saying yes to gathering around firepits in pajamas with friends and cozy blankets.
Thank you, Lisa & Nicole!
Friday night wine & the McQueen documentary.
That movie messed my brain up for a bit.
Baseball keeps us busy.
Wine + food at Signorello on a Friday with Emma!
Also, I got back into Bullet Journaling this month. Started a new one and am loving the process again. I abandoned the journal for a clipboard and now like the fact that I can take the journal with me wherever I go instead of leaving the clipboard at home when I really need it.
You can read more about the Bullet Journal Classes I took with Skillshare here.
Watching:
Better Call Saul– up to date! This show is better than Breaking Bad in my opinion.
Things we watched on Netflix this month:
OZARK– sad it’s over! We enjoyed our binge. Excited to see what develops next season. I am typing this without giving you any spoilers. Worry not.
Lady Gaga Five Foot Two– watched this last year a few months before my Mom died. Had it on in the background the other night while I was working. It made me start listening to the Joanne album again and I’m thankful for it.
McQueen- this one really messed with my brain as I said. The mind of an artist is complex. So much darkness comes with success. A true talent and visionary with a fascinating story.
AMY- Oof. This one was also heavy but I loved it. She had such a gift. I didn’t know much about her life before fame and what her path of success was like. Such a shame she didn’t get to spend more time here on Earth.
Dying to Know– A documentary about Tim Leary & Ram Dass. It was nice to time travel to the past and remember how different life was during their heyday.
Reading:
How to Break Up with Your Phone
-I have spent more time hanging out with people this month and we watched a lot of TV so I don’t have much time allocated to reading lately.
Thinking About:
Traveling to Santa Fe! I am going there for my friend’s wedding and I am so excited to have lady friend time with my friends Lisa & Andrea.
Listening To:
This album is keeping me sane.
This song has been my latest pump jam.
Dream Life:
I’ve been sleeping solidly. My brain is working out equations. Most of my dreams are dealing with logistics. How do things work? I think I’m in Oregon/and grocery shopping in my dreams too.
I also have been dreaming that there’s a spirit in my room. I’m not sure if it’s really happening or if it’s just a dream but YEAH.
Eating/Drinking:
Lots of bread!
Made two loaves so far with a levain starter. Took a bread baking class with my sister at The Civic Kitchen.
Made my mom’s lemon chicken and her salad for my dad’s girlfriend. Life is so weird!
And then I made sausage soup in the same week!
Put Lemon Garlic Roasted Shrimp into the rotation!
Goat cheese & Spinach pasta for weeknight dinnering.
Crispy Italian Fries FTW!
My bro brought me over this loot from his garden!
Cousin Josh came up from San Diego to spend time with us.
I made him Baked Spaghetti.
Had a few dinners with my family in the city. This salad at Il Pollaio was one of my favorites.
I also made my mom’s Pasta Fagioli soup.
Grief is the weirdest. It made me miss her and then also so happy.
September Self Portrait:
Look! I bring salads to potlucks!
Now it’s October and I have a 10 year old!
WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??!!!
How was your September? What are you looking forward to this October?
