My early morning moments with God with my candle on the one side and heater on the other (it's winter in South Africa). Watching the Olympic Games, steal away lunches with my husband - with a sea view, watching whales, my electric blanket, uncomplicated friendships.
I'm so thankful for mine. I think uncomplicated (for me) means that we place no expectations on each other and accept each other for who we are, even on the bad days x
after reading “sticking projects” I paused to think what that might be before I continued reading and came to your correction below the post. In that small pause I came up with two “sticking projects” to do with my daughter before she starts kindergarten on Monday. I had to laugh. Inspiration is everywhere! ☺️
After a humongous selling of the family home, leaving a job after 21 years, and getting rid of many things in order to move to a new state…new build home, and supporting my family to secure employment they enjoy…Rescues or things that are saving my life are beyond important! Thank you Emily for always helping us to name things…it’s a rescue too!💖
Chick-fil-A diet lemonade is a life saver on these 100-109 degree days!
Antique shopping with a friend simply splendid
Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie series (13 of them) wow! What a rescue
My new church…spectacularly refreshing
Gardening in the dark when it’s cooler…delightful!
Now I continue to wait on God for His next steps…💖🙏🏻
My church family - I can walk in that building any day of the week and there will be someone with a smile and a hug who is glad to see me.
Our air conditioner and dehumidifier.
Art screensavers on the TV. It changes the mood of the whole room.
Noise cancelling ear buds - when my husband is exhausted and snoring, I can put those in and sleep in quiet peace right next to him. Magical.
Playing Mario Kart and California Speed with my boys.
Thank you for asking this question. It helps me see the good, and it also helps me to see others name the good in their lives, especially among the hard seasons. I joined because I’m in a hard season, and your writing has helped me process through things and be kinder to myself. So, I’d say your writing on how to ask yourself questions is especially saving my life right now. I’m better at framing the hard stuff with hope. I’m better at seeing the Holy Spirit at work in me. Thank you, Emily.
There are situations I'm concerned about & I wonder about more things than maybe I should. But contentment laced with thankfulness has become a soothing reality, an energizing constancy.
-I'm starting a four month Sabbatical from Pastoral work- right now, this very morning on August 1st.
-I have also chosen to go off of Instagram, right now from July 1st until December 1st, but it's been so life-giving and freeing being away from it all that I don't know if I will go back.
- Tending to, and learning more about, all my houseplants and watching them grow and thrive and flourish. It's such a delight!
I just went to a somatic yoga class last weekend. We didn't do yoga, per se, but the class was about self-acceptance and included some meditations. I'm interested in learning more about somatic healing because it was what I needed. Now I'm trying trauma yoga as a complement to therapy, both talk and art therapy.
Great list. I love thinking about this question regularly with you even if I have never commented. Here are a few things that come to mind for me:
Taking some time off social media. Not sure it is permanent, but I am finding so much space to relax and see myself and my world more clearly.
Releasing my college age daughter. Not jumping up to solve her problems or answer her questions. She asked me how to navigate a social situation recently and I told her to google it and ran out of the room. I know over the years I have given her the answers to many things, including to that social situation, and she is well equipped to become. It is time for me to get out of the way and I am finding freedom in the release.
Re-examining my career. I'm self employed and have spent a couple months asking myself how much time I need to commit to my work, how much I need to be contributing financially and what other areas of my life I feel God calling me to engage in.
Also, Pool days, cabin days, running, reading, sleeping in, being present.
1. Giving myself grace as I "flounder" around a bit after leaving our church of 25+ years last fall...Being okay with not being able to sum-up my faith in a "nutshell."
2. Giving myself grace as I transition into a different type of parenting role now that my youngest graduated high school. It's okay to feel it all.
3. Purging and reorganizing parts of our house to better fit this new stage of life.
4. Intentionally planning meet-ups with friends who really "get" me.
5. Coffee, reading and journaling of some type most mornings.
It's reassuring to ponder my list of things that are providing me salvation and mercies every day: -I'm finding new connections with long time (nurse) coworkers as we began a "secret garden soil mates" garden club.
-ROSES! There's so many facets of delight and I am receiving and learning from these truly botanical angels.
-I've returned to my previous church with a grateful heart for regular practice of partaking of the true Bread of life.
-My senior fitness classes at the gym. Fridays the music is often the oldies and I get super thrilled and exuberant when I hear CCR's "Down on the Corner"!
-I'm excited about an invitation to the upcoming "Autumn Soiree" at my local Grace Rose Farm!
--Sorry (not sorry) that I rabbit-hole down almost every link you put in these posts. I just ordered The First Advent in Palestine off a thrift bookstore site. Thrifting (especially books) is one thing that's saving my life right now.
--Going barefoot as often as possible. Why do we stop going barefoot all the time when we 'get old'?
--Lap swimming at my local pool at 6:30 a.m.--a great way to start your day!
--My off-brand Roomba: what a time-saver and it's kind of mesmerizing to watch that little guy navigate my house!
--And, as always, naming things. That will forever be the best thing I've learned from Emily P. Freeman.
What's saving me?
My early morning moments with God with my candle on the one side and heater on the other (it's winter in South Africa). Watching the Olympic Games, steal away lunches with my husband - with a sea view, watching whales, my electric blanket, uncomplicated friendships.
Amen to uncomplicated friendship 💕
I’ve never thought to describe friendships as “uncomplicated,” but I love it. And I’m so thankful for mine.
I'm so thankful for mine. I think uncomplicated (for me) means that we place no expectations on each other and accept each other for who we are, even on the bad days x
What is saving me?
Baking new recipes: a sweet potato cake with cinnamon whipped cream and a smoked paprika caramel. Blueberry pie.
Small sticking projects, getting crafty with my hands.
And time with family and friends.
Stitching projects*
after reading “sticking projects” I paused to think what that might be before I continued reading and came to your correction below the post. In that small pause I came up with two “sticking projects” to do with my daughter before she starts kindergarten on Monday. I had to laugh. Inspiration is everywhere! ☺️
I, too, paused to think about what a "sticking" project might be and was intrigued by it!
After a season of restricted physical activity and emotional upheaval, this is what’s saving me right now:
- Strava challenges. I want to achieve the goal so I move my body. Often.
- Naps: Listening to when my body needs rest, ignoring what others might think.
- Hummers: sitting still while the hummingbirds flit and hover and come over by my face to say hello.
I love being on the porch with the hummingbirds.
After a humongous selling of the family home, leaving a job after 21 years, and getting rid of many things in order to move to a new state…new build home, and supporting my family to secure employment they enjoy…Rescues or things that are saving my life are beyond important! Thank you Emily for always helping us to name things…it’s a rescue too!💖
Chick-fil-A diet lemonade is a life saver on these 100-109 degree days!
Antique shopping with a friend simply splendid
Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie series (13 of them) wow! What a rescue
My new church…spectacularly refreshing
Gardening in the dark when it’s cooler…delightful!
Now I continue to wait on God for His next steps…💖🙏🏻
My church family - I can walk in that building any day of the week and there will be someone with a smile and a hug who is glad to see me.
Our air conditioner and dehumidifier.
Art screensavers on the TV. It changes the mood of the whole room.
Noise cancelling ear buds - when my husband is exhausted and snoring, I can put those in and sleep in quiet peace right next to him. Magical.
Playing Mario Kart and California Speed with my boys.
Thank you for asking this question. It helps me see the good, and it also helps me to see others name the good in their lives, especially among the hard seasons. I joined because I’m in a hard season, and your writing has helped me process through things and be kinder to myself. So, I’d say your writing on how to ask yourself questions is especially saving my life right now. I’m better at framing the hard stuff with hope. I’m better at seeing the Holy Spirit at work in me. Thank you, Emily.
There are situations I'm concerned about & I wonder about more things than maybe I should. But contentment laced with thankfulness has become a soothing reality, an energizing constancy.
And here's what's saving mine ...
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/whats-saving-my-life-this-summer
What is saving my life right now...
-I'm starting a four month Sabbatical from Pastoral work- right now, this very morning on August 1st.
-I have also chosen to go off of Instagram, right now from July 1st until December 1st, but it's been so life-giving and freeing being away from it all that I don't know if I will go back.
- Tending to, and learning more about, all my houseplants and watching them grow and thrive and flourish. It's such a delight!
Saving my life...
Future plans - don't we all need something on the calendar to look forward to?
My new pillow - a tri-core type from my chiropractor- sleeping on my back w/o a headache
Eating in my car - turn up the podcasts and take my time with my drive-thru meal
Regular pedicures - if I have to look at my toes all summer, I want them pretty
*Also* I can't wait for Annie B. Jones' book!
As always, thank you for your words and presence in a noisy world .... forever grateful
I just went to a somatic yoga class last weekend. We didn't do yoga, per se, but the class was about self-acceptance and included some meditations. I'm interested in learning more about somatic healing because it was what I needed. Now I'm trying trauma yoga as a complement to therapy, both talk and art therapy.
Great list. I love thinking about this question regularly with you even if I have never commented. Here are a few things that come to mind for me:
Taking some time off social media. Not sure it is permanent, but I am finding so much space to relax and see myself and my world more clearly.
Releasing my college age daughter. Not jumping up to solve her problems or answer her questions. She asked me how to navigate a social situation recently and I told her to google it and ran out of the room. I know over the years I have given her the answers to many things, including to that social situation, and she is well equipped to become. It is time for me to get out of the way and I am finding freedom in the release.
Re-examining my career. I'm self employed and have spent a couple months asking myself how much time I need to commit to my work, how much I need to be contributing financially and what other areas of my life I feel God calling me to engage in.
Also, Pool days, cabin days, running, reading, sleeping in, being present.
What's saving me this summer?
1. Giving myself grace as I "flounder" around a bit after leaving our church of 25+ years last fall...Being okay with not being able to sum-up my faith in a "nutshell."
2. Giving myself grace as I transition into a different type of parenting role now that my youngest graduated high school. It's okay to feel it all.
3. Purging and reorganizing parts of our house to better fit this new stage of life.
4. Intentionally planning meet-ups with friends who really "get" me.
5. Coffee, reading and journaling of some type most mornings.
It's reassuring to ponder my list of things that are providing me salvation and mercies every day: -I'm finding new connections with long time (nurse) coworkers as we began a "secret garden soil mates" garden club.
-ROSES! There's so many facets of delight and I am receiving and learning from these truly botanical angels.
-I've returned to my previous church with a grateful heart for regular practice of partaking of the true Bread of life.
-My senior fitness classes at the gym. Fridays the music is often the oldies and I get super thrilled and exuberant when I hear CCR's "Down on the Corner"!
-I'm excited about an invitation to the upcoming "Autumn Soiree" at my local Grace Rose Farm!
What’s saving me:
Checking things off my Summer Fun List
Morning journal time
Visiting gardens, all beautiful, some quirky
Being social and planning a party
--Sorry (not sorry) that I rabbit-hole down almost every link you put in these posts. I just ordered The First Advent in Palestine off a thrift bookstore site. Thrifting (especially books) is one thing that's saving my life right now.
--Going barefoot as often as possible. Why do we stop going barefoot all the time when we 'get old'?
--Lap swimming at my local pool at 6:30 a.m.--a great way to start your day!
--My off-brand Roomba: what a time-saver and it's kind of mesmerizing to watch that little guy navigate my house!
--And, as always, naming things. That will forever be the best thing I've learned from Emily P. Freeman.
What’s saving my life:
1. Truly experiencing God as Father… I thought I did but now I really do ❤️
2. Establishing my first personal rhythm of getting away, unplugging, and listening.
3. Embracing a new room professionally.
4. Monthly brunch and pickleball with new friends from a leadership training.
5. Journaling during my morning devotional.
Zinnias in my flower bed and on my table...
Morning stretches and early morning walk with our puppy set to my morning playlist...
Golden sunlight on my morning reading place
The shade of the pecan trees in the backyard...