Just Say NO-vember

As the holidays approach this year, I realize that my dread of the season has significantly lessened (perhaps a silver lining of estrangement) but my habit of reviewing the blessings in my life (you can read about that here and here) is entrenched. This year, in addition to the evergreen items on my gratitude list (my gorgeous sanctuary, my continued solvency, my progress in healing and thriving), there’s plenty to add to the list:

Complete recovery from last year’s back injury and continued strengthening

An epic annual visit from my traveling companion

Increased snuggle time with and appreciation of my crazy little dog

Finishing and publishing my book

Stimulating and restorative trips to Puerto Rico, New England, and Europe

Days and nights spent creating and laughing with the CWP

A burgeoning new friendship

A growing sense of self-acceptance, which has brought a growing ability to decouple my worth from my

productivity

A growing sense of community, which has helped to endure our current hellscape

This year, in addition to celebrating my good fortune, I’ve decided that I’m also going to observe NO-vember. While I generally prefer to err on the side of positivity, I’m going to brazenly say no as often as possible (I’m already a week behind so I’ve got some catching up to do).

No to holiday traditions that feel like colonoscopy prep.

No to anything involving the word should.

No to all the prescriptions required to become a thin, gorgeous, 106-year-old.

No to procrastination (I’m going to just make the appointment, do the chore, fix the thing).

No to unsolicited advice.

No to the f**king raccoon that is trying to colonize my swimming pool.

No to social commitments that drain instead of nurture.

No to clickbait and manufactured outrage about current events.

No to my inner taskmaster.

No to not speaking up.

No to despair.                                                                                                                                       

Of course, all of this no is going to leave me plenty of time to say yes to what’s important:

Yes to spending time with beloveds doing things that bring joy.

Yes to creating and truly connecting.

Yes to spontaneous exploration and filling the well.

Yes to paying attention to what I truly need to thrive and making sure that I get it.

Yes to hope.

Happy NO-vember.

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Thanks for reading. Is there something you’ll say NO to this month?

GOOD THINGS

Spontaneous joy. After agreeing that we desperately needed to do something fun, my favorite person (the CWP) and I spent most of a recent day following where the spirit moved us. There was a long visit to a crystal shop we rarely get to, a stop at a wildly creative chocolate factory, and some fabulous discoveries at the newly renovated library. We ushered in the evening with a walk to our go-to Italian restaurant, where we people-watched and luxuriated in the light breeze from our sidewalk table while sharing our dinners and our hearts.