Sunday Salon ---Self-Care

Self-Care: After Kamala Harris' loss in the Presidential election on Tuesday I went into a tailspin of sadness and fear. In order to not go to a very, very dark place, I decided to be very purposeful about my self-care. This post features a few things that have helped this week.

No Social media: The day after the election and a sleepless night, I decided to avoid all social media and TV news or commentary. This blog didn't count, since I could just focus on books and book reviews.

Communication with family and safe people only: You may have noticed I didn't write a post-election blogpost. I didn't have the heart to try being positive after the loss. I couldn't even manage calling my sister or mom until very late in the day on Wednesday. When we did speak, we talked briefly, cried together, and hung up. I wasn't ready to dissect the loss. I checked in with my daughters to see how they were doing. Hugs helped.

Physical activity: During an hour of physical therapy I could blissfully forget about politics. Dog-walks helped recenter my soul.

The After Party: For the past six weeks Don and I have attended a class at church called "The After Party." The focus is on better Christian communication around politics. Our last class was Wednesday, the day after. Being with other Christians and talking about the "hows" (relationships) instead of the "whats" (policy differences) was helpful. Our prayer closing this session helped, too. So was meeting with our pastor after the class ended, where I felt heard and was able to express some of my deepest fears. I was reminded again and again that even in the deepest, darkest moments God is there. 

Beloved community: The Women's Bible Study met on Thursday as per usual. Many (most? all?) were very worried and upset about the election results. Instead of descending into a crying session, however, we focused most of our attention on our lesson and let the scripture speak to us. It did. I am not sure if every gal left our study session feeling better, but I bet they felt supported. I did. 

Getting outside: The sun was shining on Thursday afternoon, so we decided to spend an hour outside cutting back the rose bushes and emptying the summer flower pots. The sun on our shoulders and in our eyes felt good and healthy. So did finishing those necessary tasks of preparing the yard for winter. I harvested the last of the flowers and made the arrangements you see in the photo above.

TV viewing: Sports are safe to watch. So are Rom-Com movies, soap-making videos, and Pointless game show reruns on YouTube. Don and I started the 4th season of The Chosen last week, and we watched two more episodes this week. If you aren't familiar with the series, it portrays the life of Jesus and his disciples. In an episode I watched this week the disciple Matthew - who is portrayed as neurodivergent on the show - talks to a Roman soldier whose life isn't going well. Matthew says "Often I wake up and I think about all the things which confuse me or worry about my problems, then I remember I have only one job -- to follow Jesus and everything else falls into place." I've thought back on this conversation many times this week. It puts things into a different perspective for me. 

Ian's soldier is in the middle (blue background)

Veterans Day: Our grandson Ian, age 7, called us on Thursday to invite us to attend the Veterans Day assembly at his school on Friday. Don is a veteran and Ian had recently expressed how proud he is of his grandpa for his service. The assembly was precious from start to finish. In my 37 years of teaching and attending the required assemblies at schools where I worked I never attended one as sweet and meaningful as this one. Both Don and I have spent many happy moments recalling the event. In a week of devastating news, this assembly was a highlight, a bright light beaming out of the darkness.

Football and family: We spent another weekend in Oregon, attending the football game and visiting with family before and afterwards. My brother and his wife were up from California and we hadn't seen them since summer. My cousin and his wife joined my sister and her husband at Mom's home, as per usual. The game was fine (Ducks won) but the fellowship was even better. We didn't talk politics at all in the large room, saving those conversations for later in smaller groups.

Minestrone soup: We made a huge pot of minestrone soup to enjoy with our family after the game. Eating healthy has never felt so important as this week. Here is the recipe if you'd like to try it.  Thanks Carol for bringing this one to our attention.

Books: Surprise, surprise. When one unplugs there is more time available for reading and listening to audiobooks. I've finished these books since election day last Tuesday:

• Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan. A National Book Award finalist in the Young People's Literature category. This middle grade book details the long, lasting effects of the forced "incarceration" of Indian children in Indian Schools in Canada. This story could have been written about what also happened in the US. Based on the author's family story, Buffalo Dreamer is a short book and a quick read. Print. (Novellas in November)
• The Postman Always Rings Twice by James. M. Cain. A classic novella set in California in the 1930s. This was my Classics Club spin selection. Audio. (Novellas in November)
• How to Be Both by Ali Smith. A previous Women's Prize winner. This book is also on the NYT Best Books of the Century list. Audio.
• The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy. One of three novellas Don and I listened to on our trip to Oregon and back this weekend. A classic musing on what's important in life. Audio. (Novellas in November)
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells. My daughter has listened to all the books in this series -- The Murderbot Diaries -- and she recommended them to me. A Sci-Fi award winning novella. Audio. (Novellas in November)
• The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. A ghost/horror story which has spawned a host of books and movies about creepy children. A classic. Audio. (Novellas in November)
• Orbital by Samantha Harvey. A Sci-Fi selection picked by the hosts of Novellas in November for a read along. This meditation on planet earth originates from a unique location -- The Space Station. Print. (Novellas in November)

Scripture: This verse has been running through my head all week. I'll close with these words today and my prayer that you also are taking care of yourself right now.

Philippians 4:8.  Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

-Anne