Restore your spirit.

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Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing. — T.S. Eliot

As I write this, a banditry of chickadees (that’s their plural noun!) is ravaging our bird feeder. They fly back to their little hollows in the trees, storing piles of food for later, because they know they’ll need this nourishment to sustain themselves.

This year has stripped us bare and brought us into our depths. Now we’re in the season of stillness: the time after things have ended, and before things begin.

What has sustained your spirit this year?

It’s a good time to make a list of what nourishes your soul, and make sure you have enough of it.

Here’s my list:

My writing group, and our daily Zoom church

Voxer and Whats App chats with friends

Mary Lattimore on Spotify

The Enneagram

The teachings of Ruth King and Resmaa Menakem

Taking really, really good care of my plants

This podcast with Jonathan Goldstein

Removing the Instagram app from my phone

This beet, oat, and prune smoothie by Anna Jones

Non-linear time

Lemon zest, in everything

Jillian Michaels’ fitness app

The OA (on Netflix)

Canoeing and camping

Sparkly fountain pen ink

Paperblanks journals

Stickers

Talking and listening to trees

Getting reading glasses

My tarot deck

Watching and mapping the moon, the stars, and the planets

Tasting and appreciating new varieties of these locally-roasted coffee beans

Cooking with the wild herbs and weeds that grow in my yard

Reading N. K. Jemisin, Naomi Novik, V. E. Schwab, Charlotte Wood, and Nnedi Okorafor

This song by Toni Jones

My word of the year: acceptance


My wish for the new year:

That we have time and permission to feel quiet, even for just one part of every day. That we learn how to accept stillness, so we can rest, release, and restore our spirit. And that we all receive more of what sustains us.

love,


Photo credit (top): Ellen Jantzen, To Time and Life, from eyebuyart.com

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using one of these links, I may earn a commission. I only recommend books or products I trust.


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4 comments

Megan Ryan
 

What sustained my spirit this year. My list: I read a lot of books, all genres One I found inspiring called - Don't sweat the small stuff by: Richard Carlson Listening to music always cheered me up Playing with sons latch hooking kits learning to knitt Drawing with my 7 year old Learning a new language (Spanish) Teaching my 3 year old French while relearning it. I use Duolingo app for myself. Flash cards and Youtube for my son Taking a online librarian course Relaxing by our fireplace and drinking my coffee every morning Zoom meeting with family Party app with Friends Walking my dog or Going to dog park Taking care of my plants Playing board games with my husband Baking Trying out new recipes Adult coloring books Word searches I even tried adult maze books Yoga My punching bag Treadmill
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Janet Stobie
 

What has enriched my life and energy in 2020? Morning meditation and prayer Journal writing Family especially great grand baby Riley & parents who live with us My loving husband Tom Helping granddaughter with school and drinking tea with her Writing my blog Conversations with friends Walking the trails close to home Ice Capps from Tim Hortons
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Mary N Taitt
 

LOVE and friendship, conversation, nature, outdoors, time outside, writing, reading, painting, art, trees, birds, flowers, meditation, poetry, camping, walks, photography, beauty, celebration, silence, my husband, my children, my grandchildren, giving gifts. and so much more. <3 :)
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Tessie
 

What has sustained your spirit this year? - Doing "The Artist's Way" with a group of wonderful ladies that became new friends - Being able to share an hour once a week with them over Zoom - Cooking healthy and tasty food every day all year for myself and my family - Helping my daughter with her school work - Taking care of our home and garden - Finding beauty in small things - Writing in my journal in the mornings - My Thursday morning writing group - Playing piano - Teaching online - Creating a new loving, lasting relationship with my partner - Making nice plans for the future
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