Things that help (Feb. 8 '25)
Despite my best intentions and efforts, I've been spiraling. My turning point was a few days ago, when I went to my child's futsal practice, and I was finally, fully in the moment. I had nice conversations with a few parents. I cheered for the kids. I stayed offline. And I felt much better afterward.
Yesterday, I listened to the latest Vibe Check podcast, and Saeed Jones mentioned a phrase he credited to Stacey D'Erasmo: "thick community." I've been a bit obsessed with it ever since – in part because I really like Clifford Geertz's "thick description." "Thick community" implies a sort of multiplicity – not a singular group, but overlapping layers of varied communities – and mine have been grounding.
We've restarted our monthly brunches with friends. I have my neighborhood mums' group (we went out last night), the soccer community, my book group, and various others. I have routines to see in-person groups regularly, and I have some new group chats, too, with folks who are farther away.
I haven't been embroidering or knitting or taking many photos recently, and I'd like to pick these up again because I enjoy them; they focus my attention. I have been bingeing on books and have read over 20 already this year – a wide range of genres and styles – and I have several on deck that I'm excited about. I haven't been writing as regularly as I'd like, but when I do, I feel better. This has been the challenge – when my mind is spinning, I have a hard time settling down enough to make something – yet making things calms my mind.
We've also been incredibly busy and have been running around even more than usual this year – a friend's book launch, a hockey game, a piano recital, various outings and social gatherings – all good, but not particularly calming. And while I don't love snow or winter in general, snow days have been lovely breaks. Everything shuts down, and the pace changes. I miss how frustratingly dull Sundays in Switzerland were – the enforced rest. I miss the less frantic pace.
Tomorrow we will be snowed in. All activities are canceled. I've run all of our household errands, and I plan to be at home baking and watching the Super Bowl and hopefully reading and writing a bit. I am looking forward to it.
