Reminders

This week was unremarkable on its face. Just me doing the things I usually do, beginning to wonder if I was stagnating. With a little reflection, though, I realized that in my everyday rounds this week, the Universe provided me with a number of sweet reminders of some of the important lessons that have so enhanced my life.

I was reminded of the importance of speaking my truth even in cases where I’m afraid it will cause conflict or discomfort. I was reminded that twinges of envy are really a map for me to explore what I want more of in my life. I was reminded of the importance of flexibility and positivity in problem solving. I was reminded that I deserve the same care that I offer to others. And I was reminded, more than once, that feelings are transitory.

In my book, a pretty remarkable week after all.

Ways I Found Joy This Week

Receiving beautiful, thoughtful, fun birthday gifts from the CWP

Fielding lots of birthday wishes via calls, texts, and email

Reading an amazing, detailed review of my book

Celebrating my birthday with the CWP at the perfect escapist movie

Moseying through the largest art festival in South Florida on a gorgeous day, enjoying the people (and dog) watching as much as the art

Sipping coffee and nibbling on a croissant while reading a book on the patio of a nearby French bakery

Laughing and chatting over dinner al fresco at an Italian restaurant on a gorgeous evening

Getting back to my favorite yoga class after a two-week hiatus

Things I Learned This Week

About a teenager in Spain using recycled plastic water bottles to create hundreds of insulated dog houses for street animals

That vaquero, the Spanish word for cowboy, is the origin of our American “buckaroo”

Quotes That Resonated This Week

The present is all we have to live in. Or to lose.

Marcus Aurelius

Our civilization is suffering profound wounds because of the wholesale abandonment of reading by contemporary society.

Werner Herzog

What I Watched This Week

Love on the Spectrum (Netflix). The whole season was full of heartwarming interactions and beautiful examples of how to regulate emotions. The finale moved me to tears. Highly recommend.

The Predator of Seville (Netflix). A chilling true crime documentary about a tour operator who preyed on young women studying abroad for years. Absolutely loved the stubbornness and determination of one of his victims who finally brought him down.

You, Me, and Tuscany (theater). Seems I’ve spent most of my life pining for Italy, so this was a perfect birthday gift. And who cares if it’s predictable when you get to feast your eyes on the magnificent scenery and food and enjoy the unerring portrait of village life.

The Pitt (Hulu). Caught up on Season 2 and eagerly awaiting tonight’s finale.

Wuthering Heights (2011 version—Plex or Kanopy). Decided to celebrate making it through the first part of the book by treating ourselves to this beautiful adaptation. An aside: would also not have lasted one week on the moors.

The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson (Netflix). Another true crime entry that was truly disheartening. Incomprehensible choices led to an irrational, brazen murder and aftermath. Not for the faint of heart.

Will Trent (Hulu). Love this diverse cast.

American Godfathers: The Five Families (Netflix). A fascinating look at the establishment of the Mafia in America, its Sicilian roots, and its evolution as the years passed. Lots of great historical footage.

What I Read This Week

When I Kill You, by B.A. Paris. One of my favorite domestic thriller authors has done it again in this page turner about obsession and regret.

The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards, by Jessica Waite. A stunningly courageous memoir of a wife discovering a number of dark secrets after her husband’s sudden death. Beautifully written, with moments of humor amid the heartbreak. An incisive exploration of grief and an incredibly inspiring embrace of compassion.

Wild Dark Shore, by Charlotte McConaghy. A woman washes ashore on a small island near Antarctica whose only inhabitants are the lighthouse keeper and his three children. A communications failure means they’re completely stranded for at least 6 weeks, and everybody seems to have a secret. Beautifully written; I can see why this was on every roundup of best books last year.

And still hanging in there with Wuthering Heights  and The Indifferent Stars Above (and increasingly convinced of my initial assessment that I wouldn’t have lasted long during the days of the great migration).

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Thanks for reading!