Heading into the last year of my twenties with Schmidt on my mind:
Today is the one year anniversary of starting this newsletter. How cool is that?
I never made it to Japan. Maybe I’ll write about why someday, but that day is not today.
I’m back to having short-ish hair and it feels amazing.
Last weekend we picked the spot where we plan to say ‘I do’ in just over a year. My heart is constantly bursting at its seams.
Re-reading my birthday letter from last year feels funny. Usually I love a good reflective moment on my birthday, but this year I’m pretty depleted; as a result, this letter might include more pictures than actual coherent thoughts. We shall see.
Miraculously I have today off from classes. What a gift to be able to sleep in and go for brunch with my honey.
This is the first year that I’ve started to have some feelings come up around aging. What have I even done with my life the past twenty-nine years? I’m working on reframing the judgmental tone of my thoughts.
My spirit was broken during my first teaching practicum. I’m currently working on rebuilding it.
This song will always remind me of the afternoon I drove home from my practicum school for the last time. I danced around my living room for an hour, releasing all of the built-up tension that resulted from the weeks of perpetual panic attacks.
I’m now writing this newsletter from the passenger seat of our car in rush hour traffic on our way to spend the next 24 hours with my family. My sister has a track meet tomorrow and I can’t wait to cheer her on.
I also can’t wait to start slowly curating pieces for our picnic wedding reception. I can’t wait to start looking for the simple, airy, elegant, and comfortable dress that I will marry the love of my life in. Inspo for the reception:
People, conversations, moments. I’m grateful for the good ones.
I’m constantly reminded of and rooted in what truly matters in this life.
I will never not love the feeling of taking my shoes off and letting my feet feel the ground beneath me.
If, in this moment, I had to choose one food to eat for the rest of my life it would hands down be almond croissants (thank you
for this hehe).Despite what I said about my first teaching practicum in regards to my spirit, my students were true gems. They blew me away with the creativity and vulnerability in their final projects.
Did I mention how good brunch was this morning? Thank you again, Sweetie.
My little microbes inhabiting my microbiome are very happy these days and that’s pretty neat. The fact that in the depths of my depression my physical body didn’t give out on me speaks volumes.
I wish there was a better system for hang drying our sheets. I’m dreaming of a little porch or backyard with room for a clothesline. How darling would that be? Also wallpapered bathrooms??? Yes please.
For so long I’ve considered writing to be my thing. Lately I’ve been leaning more into spoken word. I’d like to spend more time dabbling in it. Watched this one several times (and shared it with my practicum class) and it gives me chills every time:
It feels good to be writing this stream of consciousness. I’ve got lots of tangled, deep, reflective and raw thoughts swirling around in my brain, but they feel better kept close for now.
I have been noticing my once black and white way of thinking has grown significantly more nuanced, tender, and patient. It feels good; it feels more in alignment with how I want to move through the world, with how I want to show up for myself and for others.
We slept through the northern lights. We tried again the following night along with hundreds of others.
I love art. I love being inspired by young folks (any and all folks, really).
I deeply love this man.
I’m grateful for the reminders of how far I’ve come in my fitness (and overall wellness). I’m constantly amazed by my resilient heart, mind, and body.
I was craving a juicy hot dog so badly the other day that I considered actually going camping to make that happen (and I hate camping). As if I somehow manifested it, my friend from school threw an impromptu birthday bbq (with hot dogs!!!!) and I was relieved of the burden of considering camping as the solution to my hot dog craving.
Now that I’m at the end of my list, I’m reminded of how good it feels to create in this format. It’s been exactly two months since my last letter — I guess I missed it. Here’s hoping I have the time & capacity to do a little more of it soon.
We are nearing our destination (mom’s house before heading for tapas). Happy birthday to me! And a very happy Sunday to you, wherever you are.