progress over perfection
good enough is good enough
I keep this calendar in my closet that I note what I did that day in terms of habits I’m trying to build/maintain (items on there lately if I’m honest: movement, sitting, steps, push ups, cold shower). It is satisfying to look back at the week or month and see those habits add up. Jerry Seinfeld famously does this and uses it to keep himself writing, telling himself “don’t break the chain” to keep the momentum moving, and many productivity types recommend something similar.
Originally, when I first started keeping a calendar in the closet, I was firmly in the Seinfeld camp, but then I would feel badly when I inevitably would break the chain about something. Then I would fall into all-or-nothing thinking that tends to leave me wanting to say “the-hell-with-it” for the rest of the day or week or month.
So then I adopted a little system for my habit building calendar that probably only makes sense to me, and I try to practice gratitude at the end of the month for the ways in which I cared for my body, mind, and spirit - whether the whole calendar is full of hash marks or only three days are full.
I’ve been noticing that, in this weird quasi-quarantine thing that we find ourselves in, I’ve been cycling through several days of “productivity” whether its work or these habits or gardening/stuff around the house, followed by several days of malaise. My little calendar system shows the pattern, as does my body. I can’t seem to keep the momentum going. I’ve admittedly lost some structure since Covid started: I’m only teaching four yoga classes a month instead of 12-15; I don’t go to an office anymore; our kids weren’t in school (or really anywhere but home) for six months. On the one hand, I have more margin to do the things I want and need to do each week, but it somehow feels like the days go by more quickly with less to show for them.
I was reminded of this post from last August when I seem to be preaching to myself the same message as this email. In re-reading it, I’m wondering if this cycling is just human (or at least Sara) nature. Nature is always in process after all, sometimes, like these fall days, in the process of letting go, dying, and resting. It would make sense that we’re always in process too - since we are, after all, not just a part of nature, but actual nature as well.
Here is what I’m trying to remind myself - on repeat some weeks:
It’s okay. Of course, you’re feeling off-kilter - anyone who is paying attention to what is going on in the world is at least a little bit exhausted and grieving. It’s a season. This too shall pass. You’re doing your best.
So consider this little note me whispering those words above in your ear too, just in case you need to hear them as much as I do.
Rants & Raves
Mice. Grant and I are going backpacking next week as a belated 40th birthday celebration. He went to get our (very pricey) backpacks down out of the storage only to find that mice had somehow gotten in the “mice-resistant” storage containers. They pretty much ruined the straps on mine and ate up his handy little side pockets. So consider this a two-fer: a rant about damn mice eating things and a rave for Osprey backpacks and their lifetime warranty even for things like this. My backpack was a 25+ year-old Kelty, so I’m upgrading to a Osprey too. Side note: everyone we’ve told this story to told us to store things with moth balls and bits of Irish Spring soap - a memo that Grant and I both obviously missed in the how-to-be-an-adult class that I’m passing onto you in case you missed it too.
This chopper. I wrote about this for my August WILL post here, but it has risen to new levels of obsession over the last month because I’ve been putting up so. many. peppers. It makes chopping peppers way easier - and way prettier too. Not that I really care about that, but, as the kids say, it is really satisfying to see all of the pretty, perfectly chopped rainbow of pieces in my jars and freezer.
Natural Vitality Calm in Raspberry Lemon flavor. Grant and I take this magnesium because of some testing our doctor did a few years ago, and I use the spray in the shower still. But I bought some of this powder stuff when school started because I thought it would be an easy way to 1) get the kids their magnesium and 2) be a nice way for them to wind-down before bed. But then Grant and I tried it, and it has now become a whole family ritual on most nights. The bubbles make me happy, it tastes like dessert, and even if it’s just mental, it helps tell my brain that it’s time for bed.
Anti-abortion voters calling themselves pro-life. I have heard from several family members in the last few weeks who supposedly “can’t stand Trump,” but are voting for him because the “Democrats murder babies.” If you’re calling yourself pro-life, but you vote for an administration who puts kids in cages, supports the death penalty and reinstated federal executions, is suing to deny healthcare to millions, has a horrible environmental record, and supports astronomical military spending, my two cents is that you should call yourself anti-abortion or pro-birth, not pro-life.
The facts are that in a two-party system, there is no truly pro-life party. With only two options, voters are forced to choose which party supports policies that are truly pro-life, not just anti-abortion. I did a whole Instagram rant on this if you want to watch, but I really encourage people whose number one voting priority is abortion to read just these two-ish things before casting your vote:
Taking a look at the true state of the pro-life argument in America by the conservative/libertarian and Christian commentator, David French.
Read up on the history of the anti-abortion movement. It isn’t what you think, most likely. (If you’d rather listen, this podcast episode is excellent)
And just one more for you Catholics: read this.
End rant.
Worth sharing this week
This lovely article from the Sunday Soother with some great tools to add to your toolbox depending on what is coming up for you during this season. She has some great recommendations based on what you’re struggling with. I had totally fallen off the future self journaling bandwagon - and this was a good kick in the pants to get back on. I plan on returning to this post often.
This mantra of sorts - to be the thermostat not the thermometer - is so much easier said than done, but I wrote it out and taped it on my mirror because I need the daily reminder that my temperature sets the tone for the day.
In the name of taking you down with me, I have been sucked into some shopping therapy as a way of not dealing with my stress about the state of things (not recommending this as a coping strategy, just owning up to it). Enter the Gee Thanks Just Bought It pod/Instagram. I have bought and loved the following so far: these overalls and this popcorn thing so the kids can make popcorn on their own without risk of burning the house down on the stove. They also do $2 Thursdays to various nonprofits around the country, and it has been a fun way to join with like-minded people to help out worthy organizations.
Seasonal view of the week
Less light means I catch more sunrises. Alternately, I could just wake up with the sunrise, but that ability seems to elude me.
Cheers to cutting yourselves more breaks in the week ahead!
Sara