Filling Up

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An excerpt from a journal entry I made a couple weeks ago: 

Do I need a word for this year to center my journaling around? Will it be helpful? I don't really know what I'm hoping to draw from this year. I am beginning this season feeling somewhat empty. I feel spent. I feel I have been pouring out so much of myself into so many different cups. And they are cups that I own and empty out just to wash and put on my shelf again to be used the next day. 

I have decided to be gentle with myself and my new year's resolutions this year. I'm not trying to create a new routine only to be disappointed in myself a couple weeks later. I have very little room for disappointment these days. 

I decided to make an effort to consume some creative content each day, whether that be reading a book (for fun, what a concept!!) reading a poem, journaling, or reading a blog post. So far, I've been proud of what I've been able to fit into my schedule, even as classes have started back up again. It reminds me that I can make time for the things that I know will bring me peace and goodness. And I am grateful for that! 

So, I thought I would use the space of a blog post to share with you some of this creative content I've found within the past few weeks that have been bringing me comfort, filling me up, and, frankly, holding me together.

Poems

"Any Common Desolation" by Ellen Bass

"A Cure Against Poisonous Thought" by Annie Lighthart

"i'm going back to Minnesota where sadness makes sense" by Danez Smith (this is also a podcast episode from one of my favorite series, Poetry Unbound where they discuss the poem further. PLEASE take the 15 minutes to listen to it!!)


Blog Posts

"On Losing My Brother" by Alex Ronan on Cup of Jo. 

"What's Your Pro Tip?" by Joanna Goddard on Cup of Jo. 


TV/Movies (the links are all trailers to the show/movie... no spoilers!)

The final season of This Is Us!!!! 

The Harry Potter Reunion (including watching movies 5 to 7pt. 2 beforehand with mom!)

 tick, tick... BOOM!


Music

my 2022 playlist, which I called luminous 

tick, tick... BOOM soundtrack 

Beautiful Work Songs 


I hope at least one of these links can fill you up, too! 

Here's to a year of making space for what brings us joy! 


Comments

  1. madameplushbottomJanuary 23, 2022 at 1:52 PM

    Hey B, look! I read your post the same day you shared it. It's a miracle. I listened to the podcast episode you shared by Danez Smith. I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was when they spoke about how emotions are referenced in Ireland. Feelings are ON you not a part of you. IE... sadness is ON me... rather than I AM sad. I like your approach to the year. Keep on, B, keep on.

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