The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Introducing My…Dreadsheet

I’ve been thinking about dread lately. That sounds like a rather somber and melancholy topic, but I’ve been considering it in the context of what that emotion can tell me. More generally I feel…

Life, Mental Health, Personality Insights
May, 29, 2024
31 Comments

Favourite Things: April + May 2024

It’s time for another round of Favourite Things. I have an eclectic mix today: some food, some outdoor furniture, some traffic decisions – and more!

Let’s get this party started…

MY GO-TO GRANOLA YOGURT PROTEIN BLAST

What…

Top Five/Bottom Five: The Best and Worst Ice Cream Flavours

Originally published May 2024; updated July 2026

Some subjects are almost too controversial for polite company.

Politics. Whether the toilet paper roll should go over or under (we all know the answer is OVER, right?).

And,…

The world seems shrouded in heaviness lately. Some of it is the era (COVID was an unprecedented experience; we’re living through periods of major political, economic and climate upheaval), and some of it is…

Letting Our Hair Down

I couldn’t fall asleep last night and apparently hair is on my mind.

In the last week Lisa, Engie, Rachel, and Stephany have all posted gorgeous pictures of their locks fresh off a trip to…

Random
May, 23, 2024
44 Comments

My Year of Shmita: April Update

Oh, April. I feel like the wheels fell off my pursuit of rest last month. Mostly it was an unsettled spirit, not necessarily a lack of physical downtime. I also felt decidedly hypocritical -…

Cozy…

I recently finished Cozy by Isabel Gillies. I’d rate the book “a bit unsatisfying” – started strong, finished with a whimper – but it inspired me to write out a list of things that…