The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Memory Triggers

The littlest things can be memory triggers.

A few months ago John and I were walking on a local trail and happened upon a building renovation. The contractors were sawing through raw lumber and the…

Home, Life, Personality Insights, Random
Jul, 22, 2024
32 Comments

Keeping a list of Happy Things made such a difference for me this week. There’s something so satisfying about taking pen to paper and recording little moments that brought joy. Watching that list grow…

My Year of Shmita: June Update

June!

What an odd month. The end of the school year and a month of transitions bookended by a week away from the fray (restful highlight), and an intensive week of my-child-has-pneumonia-solo-parenting (restful low point)!

*Here…

Much Too Much

Beyond increased flexibility and heightened body awareness – and on top of the joy that is seeing where and how Benji will spend the entirety of the yoga practice napping – perhaps my favourite…

Do I Need A Kettle? Probably Not…

This picture – from a quasi-recent A Day In My Life post – prompted some reader concerns and questions.

Yes that is a small pot of water. Yes it is used to boil water. Yes…

Food, Habits, Home
Jul, 15, 2024
44 Comments

When I Don’t Know What To Say

A huge thank you to everyone for your lovely comments, texts, and e-mails over the last few days. I generally respond to each and every note left on my site, but needed to take…

Hard Things, Life
Jul, 14, 2024

Processing + A Bunch of Great Days

Mr. Money Mustache (of FIRE fame) once wrote that “the key to a great life is simply having a bunch of great days. So you can think about it one day at a time.”

I…