As the holidays approach, I'm celebrating all of the little things that have gone well for me this week. Doing my best to offer grace when it’s not possible. If you're reading, may my writing serve to celebrate you and whatever little joy and beauty you've found or created in your life as well. We're doing this together. If you're in need of support or a spontaneous dinner friend, please reach out. You are loved. You are enough. (This includes you, my dear future Melanie.)

Things I've done well the week of 11/15:

  • Scrubbed clean a cast iron pot that had burnt chicken soup scalded to the bottom (I forgot it was on the stove during a work meeting)
  • Bought a hostess present for a Friendsgiving I am attending this weekend
  • Facilitated a focus group with Alameda County vendors hours after learning my friend was in the ICU
  • Scheduled a booster shot
  • Reviewed my expenses for the past five months; identified 3 online subscriptions to cancel (and did one already)
  • Delivered a talk about procurement with confidence to a room of Oakland leaders and City Councilmembers
  • Carried and setup a new mattress and bed frame that the manufacturer said would take two people to assemble (or $200 to hire out); did not hurt my back
  • Asked a friend to a spontaneous Wednesday meal that ended up being delicious
  • Cleaned 4-5 plastic takeout containers of food waste and triumphantly put them in the recycle (after checking that the recycling plant would take it)
  • Washed 40 pieces of silverware after not having any spoons this whole week
  • Bought fresh blood orange juice, tomatoes, and apple cider at the farmer’s market; utilized push cart sent by Ellen with love
  • Splurged on dry flower wreaths for the holidays
  • Forgave myself for the lack of spoons, for not jumping to the hospital, and for eating during a few intermittent fasting windows
  • Planned a family trip to Los Angeles, and confirmed that I would be in attendance at my family’s Thanksgiving meal
  • Upon finding no seating outdoors at Precita Park Cafe, turned a few packing crates and one wooden pallet into a makeshift table with two friends
  • Sent two friends messages of support for various crises
  • Donated to the dream of a Palestinian mindfulness center
  • Attended a BIPOC writing group on Monday that I'd been curious about for awhile; made it to an open mic in San Francisco even though I was tired (and learned about another in-person writing group!)
  • Held and stayed curious about many moments of anxiety; walked through some meditation exercises to take good care
  • Participated in two morning movement sessions with a friend; attended an in-person Qigong class