Friends, I’ve been telling Matthew that this year feels apocalyptic even before the fires started in LA. The terrorist attack in New Orleans and the exploding Tesla in Las Vegas were ominous enough; now the South has frozen over and fires are devastating LA. We laid to rest the president who was arguably the most Christ-like in our history and are about to inaugurate one who is his polar opposite in every way.
I don’t know how you’re feeling, but I’m taking things one day at a time.
I have continued thinking about what I need to feel my best and am still finding ways to sprinkle those activities throughout the week. Here’s what I did this weekend to bolster myself for this week:
This weekend I worked at the library, walked, read, knitted a bit, and cooked a ton of food (more about this cooking thing in future posts). It snowed very lightly almost all day on Saturday, which was a lovely sight. Bronwyn had Covid last week* and felt much better by the weekend, so we spent a lot of time outside around the fire pit, throwing frisbees, and playing hide & seek in the woods behind our house. All of those activities helped fill my bucket for the week to come, which includes a few items that I’ve been dreading for months.
We also watched a ton of football. I was bummed that the Texas Longhorns lost their game on Friday night but what a season! I’m not a huge football fan but enjoy the playoffs and am continually amazed by what the players are able to do. I’ve never been athletic so it’s always amazing to see athletes in their prime.
This week I expect to at least begin a binge of the newest season of All Creatures Great and Small. I am thrilled that it’s back and am excited about the opportunity to use my PBS Passport to its fullest advantage with this comforting show.
So it’s not much, but finding joy is all about the little things and I did my best to identify those this weekend. How about you? How was your weekend? How are you coping with this new year?
I hope your week gets off to a good start and you’re able to find some joy in the little things, despite all of the chaos in the world around us. Please, take good care.
*Bronwyn was the only one of us to catch the bug at our Christmas gathering. She’s the youngest and has had fewer Covid boosters than the four of us, so I’m wondering if that’s why she fell ill?
The Cozy Burrow 
Good morning!
I am at a loss right now at how unsettling the world feels right now.
We had a small family dinner last night and sadly some started up on politics…Canadian here…in the future I will be very clear to all in the future that is off the table!!!
Personally, all the craziness is scary with so much disinformation swirlying about. Integrity is certainly a lacking trait esp in leadership. So…
I have been focusing more and more on my well-being with self care …physically and mentally and trying really hard to focus on the positive and in my own way speaking up for what I believe in…which is taking care of one another and being kind and respectful. Now that most of our is covered with enough snow I will get outside more and enjoy more nature and fresh air which I am extremely thankful for 💗
So glad that your whole family wasn’t hit with Covid and that you have done your best to keep everyone safe and well!!!
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Family and politics are a difficult combination right now, aren’t they? And I agree about all of the disinformation about. It’s like we’re all dealing with a different set of facts and it feels impossible to reconcile.
Good work focusing on what you have control over – taking care of yourself! Enjoy getting out in the snow. I know my daily walks have been so important to me lately! Take care!!
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Finding joy and meaning in the small, simple things is so nourishing. And we certainly do need nourishment for whatever lies ahead. Onward, friend!
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Yes – the coming years are going to be difficult. But we all have each other!
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Watching so many people “obey in advance” is very disheartening. It is indeed wildly depressing to consume any news (though I did watch President Carter’s funeral… it was so lovely, the perfect balm for those of us who follow his example)
I am so glad that Bronwyn is feeling better!
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It is SO disheartening, Kat. And it makes me want to throw up!! And yes – President Carter’s funeral was such a great reminder of the good in the world.
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Glad to read Bronwyn is feeling better.
I have been in such a funk after the November election that I decided to take a longish break from blogging. Somehow, with the way this country is going, I just didn’t have the heart to write about life on the edge of the woods. Slowly, I a m getting back into it.
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I’m so glad to hear from your, Laurie. I totally understand the need to take a blogging break after the election – it was a tough one. And I’m looking forward to learning about what you’ve been up to since then. Just remember that you’re not alone – there are so many of us struggling with the reality of the next four years. ❤️
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You are not alone in recognizing those threads. So many people I know are in a place of uncertainty and even despair. Asking yourself what you need or how you want to feel seems a very grounding practice. And I am so sorry that your little one got sick but also happy that she is on the mend and the rest of you escaped it. Walk on!
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Thank you, Juliann. I am very relieved that the illness was so isolated this time. And thank you for the encouragement!
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I’m truly worried about the state of our country and our world, between what people are doing and what climate change is doing to all of us. But I’m determined not to give in and to do what I can to make this place better. I know my efforts are a drop in the bucket, but if we all do what we can, I have to believe it’ll make a difference.
I’m sorry Bronwyn got the ‘vid but I’m glad she’s on the mend and the rest of you stayed healthy! And I have to tell you that we were rooting for Texas (mainly because we can’t stand Ohio State) and were sorry to see them lose.
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Yes! My mood vacillates between despair and hopelessness, but I’m hoping that will even out soon. Little drops can fill an ocean! And all of our efforts, combined, can make some kind of difference.
I’m so glad you were rooting for the Longhorns and I’m sorry they couldn’t give you a win. AND I’m excited about Arch Manning as the lead quarterback next year but am so thankful for Quinn Ewers’s years of service to the team 🙂 But they haven’t won the championship since my senior year and I’m ready for another one.
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I am choosing to cope by staying offline as much as possible, and not using social media. This is a challenge but I remind myself often how much better I feel when I am present in the real world. I am not looking forward to what is happening next Monday (especially living in the DC area), but January 20th is and always will be my younger daughter’s birthday. So, we will celebrate her and keep the news away 🙂
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Happy early birthday to your daughter! That is a much more happy thing to celebrate than the other thing happening that day.
Staying off social media is a great way to moderate our emotions about all of this. There’s only so much of the same headline that I can take!!
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I have been off most social media since Christmas, partly by choice and partly by necessity as our internet connection has not been dependable. It has been a healthy change for me. Also choosing not to watch or read much news, and finding that the big stories still make it to me but I have less anxiety over them. I don’t think our brains were made to take in all problems in all the world, and filtering the quantity has been good.
I made a “daily habit check-in” list of habits that are nourishing to me- yoga, walking, creating, reading, and some household tasks that I want to integrate into my life more. A “check-in” feels less guilt inducing, but it helps me keep in focus what is important to me.
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I’ve been careful about only watching PBS Newshour and it’s made a big difference for me. And, despite it being just an hour a day, they fill it with way more news than an hour of, say, CNN. I feel like I have a better idea about what’s going on in the world now that I’ve made that change. I also try to listen to the BBC news podcast a few times a week. It’s less sensationalized and much more focused on connecting the dots.
I love the idea of a “daily habit check-in”! What a great idea – thank you! And it seems like you and I are focusing on a lot of the same things for self-care. I wish you all the best in 2025!
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My little joys are working on knitting my first ever sweater and drinking hot tea in these cold winter mornings.
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Yay, Gigi! I’m thrilled to hear that you’re knitting! And drinking hot tea is always a balm to my soul. I’ve been enjoying peppermint lately – what is your favorite?
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I love an earl grey! I’m almost finished my first sleeve of this sweater. I love watching the progress come stitch by stitch. In other areas of life, it’s hard to see progress so overtly.
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I’m glad Bronwyn is feeling better. That darn Covid virus. Many of us feel as you describe – all the awfulness swirling around. I think that is why I entered January so slowly and with caution. Thank you for sharing your bits of joy. I do think youngsters have a way of helping me stay in the moment and perhaps yours do that for you. We all need to fill our buckets as we are able. I tend to view activities in the context of nourishment asking, “Does this nourish me?” I hope that isn’t being selfish but I’m no good to anyone else if I don’t take care of myself.
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I don’t think that’s selfish at all, Jane. In fact, I’ve considered “nourish” as my word for this year!
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