Flower Beds in Holland, by Vincent van Gogh (1883)
Feeling okay in this moment is enough.
Observing small, simple pleasures right now is enough.
Noticing the smooth green insides of your avocado is enough.
Watching your spoon glide evenly over its skin will be enough.
Breathing in and breathing out right now is enough.
Having answers for this moment alone is enough.
Taking a long walk this afternoon might be enough.
Checking on a loved one today can be enough.
Sitting on a blanket in the grass will be enough.
Listening to birdsong you may’ve otherwise missed can be enough.
Sitting beside my dog today is enough.
Starting a new book tonight will be enough.
Making a simple taco for dinner—enough.
Reaching in to let yourself off the hook is enough.
Singing a song today might be enough.
Screaming Joni Mitchell with the windows down can be enough.
Lighting a candle for all our nurses is enough.
Acknowledging the sun on your skin today is enough.
Tucking a note inside a neighbor’s mailbox can be enough.
Waving thanks to the postman might be enough.
Like a gentle, easy prayer,
In all I am
I recognize enough.
Between you and me—
If you’ve been here a while, you know I have Thoughts and Feelings™ about capitalism brainwashing us into believing our worth is tied to output. Productivity culture has always been toxic, but that’s especially clear now, when we are forced to pause. Pausing can be beautiful, but for us — groomed to work and burnout and try hard and do it all again — it can also be hard.
I’ve had multiple discussions this week about how we might care for ourselves by loosening our grip on our to-do lists. So today’s mantra emerged. I say mantra because I’m not a poet, but I do like words — how they create shapes and feelings and rhythms, how one turn of phrase might shake something looser and looser till we’ve forgiven some stake we’d unknowingly shoved in the ground.
So as my husband often says to me, be easy on yourself. This is a time to get less done, to excuse your brain for feeling disjointed and distracted. Your reaction to this crisis and all its anxiety won’t be like anyone else’s, and no amount of Internet Advice for how to optimize your life during a global pandemic (wtf is wrong with us?) will change that.
It probably goes without saying that isolating is a privilege; many including ICE detainees, our essential workforce, and our heroic doctors and nurses can’t do the same. If you’re not able to stay home, I’m thinking about you and sending love.
Here’s more on pandemic productivity. Here are more quarantine singalongs. Has anyone else taken up air-hugging? Wishing you health and ease and joy this week.
”how one turn of phrase might shake something looser and looser till we’ve forgiven some stake we’d unknowingly shoved in the ground.” ❤️🙏✨❤️