I've become a big fan of Jamie Ridler over the last year or so; she offers up questions and ideas in a way that I find often really resonates with me.
Since it's NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month) and I'm going to make a good faith effort to post daily for the next 30 days, I obviously need some material to work with- but I don't want it to be inconsistent with the sort of things that I usually put here. Fortunately, Jamie has dedicated November to Nourishment and has set me up with a few questions to think about. Lest you think I'm just answering these questions to blog/ blurt, that's not the case. These questions resonated with me and some of the questions I'm asking myself these days about ambition versus rest, yes versus no, pushing versus recharging. IN other words, they're timely.
Some ways to nourish my emotional self are:
- to spend time weekly connecting with a friend who has "earned the right to hear my story." In turn, I want that friend to view me as someone who has earned the right to hear their story.
- to get my meditation practice in. That reminder to breathe also reminds me to just observe my emotions rather than getting caught in spin-cycles with them.
- to laugh. Again, not just for the sake of laughing but because I find unbridled joy in something.
- to not be afraid of the uglier emotions when they happen. To sit with them and know them for what they are.
- to practice trusting, getting into that place that feels unstable.
- to revel in being in that comfortable emotional space that feels like a cozy old blanket.
- to say no to those things that don't align with my aspirational self. It's better to say no than resent doing something I really don't want to do.
- to maintain gratitude for something, no matter how seemingly small, every day. Yes, there are days that gratitude for Livvie and Tucker and Belle! may be all I'm up for. That's okay, as long as I remember to be grateful.
- to not get bogged down in the "stories" that aren't productive and that just make me anxious/ angry/ frustrated. This often means a LONG, thoughtful Livvie walk, which is constructive in multiple ways
- music, music, and more music. I forget how driven I am by really good songs and amazing musicians. It's almost something I can't have too much of in my life.
So ends Day 2, friends. Rest well, and if you have ideas to add I would love to hear them.
Now listening: Drew Kennedy "The Poet at 33"
Labels: NaBloPoMo