My week was hell too. I got through by starting a gratitude journal (this one: https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal) , crying a lot (my tears are always close to the surface these days), and, like you, buying tulips. Oh, and most valuable of all, focusing on my students. Doing stuff for them always heals my wounds.
The first blue flower! My dad always said: "Take time to notice the first small flower!" And I have done that for many many years, my daughters do it, and we exchange photos. In the middle of heart aches and hard ships, nature provides wisdom, pensive thoughts. So while the world turmoils (even if it aint a word, it does!), my back yard produces the opening for light and love.
And the tulips, always the tulips, please! And the cake 🥨
Yes to noticing the first flowers - the snowdrops are coming up here and I have been stopping to take note. I saw a blue periwinkle flower today too! I love that you and your daughters exchange photos of them. You are right - so much comfort to be found in nature. x
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on perspective. I have also found in difficult times that thinking of all the suffering in the world tends to give way to feelings of despair instead of making me feel less alone. We are all human and therefore all suffer, but my brain asks, why must it be this way? Still trying to figure out a meaning that feels right to me.
Wishing you more pockets of peace like tulips and banana bread!
Thank you so, so much for sharing this with me! The discussion of empathy and ‘empathetic distress’ was so interesting and helpful. A new perspective. And another great Substack to follow! Thank you
Hi Kara, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. There is some perspective that feels helpful to me, such as feeling small in the universe. I keep going back to this post I read last week that does a beautiful job of examining this, and looks at the important difference between empathy and compassion, sharing here in case you want to take a look: https://claggie.substack.com/p/we-are-all-on-a-mote-of-dust-suspended
And you're inspiring me to think about Banana bread - though I've never made it in a gugelhupf tin. To answer your question - first snowdrop in my garden (singular). No less than three good seminars this week. Happy students. Dinner with friends and walks by the Thames.
the recipe I like best is a bit too much for one loaf pan but not enough for two, so the gugelhupf does the trick. Thank you for sharing your highlights too. Three good seminars does sound like an accomplishment, and I would like to have a walk by the Thames with you one day.
My week was hell too. I got through by starting a gratitude journal (this one: https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal) , crying a lot (my tears are always close to the surface these days), and, like you, buying tulips. Oh, and most valuable of all, focusing on my students. Doing stuff for them always heals my wounds.
I like the look of that journal. And glad you got some tulips too! Sending you a big hug, Vic xx
Those tulips on the blue and white jug are stunning.
Thank you, Linda! I have a green jug I usually use for tulips, but was quite pleased with this particular combination too.
The first blue flower! My dad always said: "Take time to notice the first small flower!" And I have done that for many many years, my daughters do it, and we exchange photos. In the middle of heart aches and hard ships, nature provides wisdom, pensive thoughts. So while the world turmoils (even if it aint a word, it does!), my back yard produces the opening for light and love.
And the tulips, always the tulips, please! And the cake 🥨
Yes to noticing the first flowers - the snowdrops are coming up here and I have been stopping to take note. I saw a blue periwinkle flower today too! I love that you and your daughters exchange photos of them. You are right - so much comfort to be found in nature. x
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on perspective. I have also found in difficult times that thinking of all the suffering in the world tends to give way to feelings of despair instead of making me feel less alone. We are all human and therefore all suffer, but my brain asks, why must it be this way? Still trying to figure out a meaning that feels right to me.
Wishing you more pockets of peace like tulips and banana bread!
Thank you so, so much for sharing this with me! The discussion of empathy and ‘empathetic distress’ was so interesting and helpful. A new perspective. And another great Substack to follow! Thank you
Hi Kara, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. There is some perspective that feels helpful to me, such as feeling small in the universe. I keep going back to this post I read last week that does a beautiful job of examining this, and looks at the important difference between empathy and compassion, sharing here in case you want to take a look: https://claggie.substack.com/p/we-are-all-on-a-mote-of-dust-suspended
Wishing you some deep pockets of peace too!
Lovely thoughts, Rebecca. I just bought tulips too. Sending a virtual hug from England! Charlotte x
Oh Charlotte, thank you! Your virtual hug is much appreciated - I'm sending one back to you too. x
And you're inspiring me to think about Banana bread - though I've never made it in a gugelhupf tin. To answer your question - first snowdrop in my garden (singular). No less than three good seminars this week. Happy students. Dinner with friends and walks by the Thames.
the recipe I like best is a bit too much for one loaf pan but not enough for two, so the gugelhupf does the trick. Thank you for sharing your highlights too. Three good seminars does sound like an accomplishment, and I would like to have a walk by the Thames with you one day.
Thanks, Rebecca. Sorry I didn't mean I gave 3 good seminars in a week. merely that I went along! But the Thames is waiting. Whenever you can make it.