My resolution at the beginning of this week to put iPad and phone out of reach and wake instead to my beckoning journal has been transformative. Rather than be swept away by the daily reporting of the Times and then be pulled under by endless links only to discover that I’ve lost both hours and my grounding, I’ve connected to myself as I come to consciousness, have found words for feelings, and have thought through my day in a way that is both aspirational and realistic. Do try it, please.
Also, a clarification - you will be writing for yourself, not to share with me, though you might partner with a friend or family member to share what you’ve written on a particular day. I welcome all comments in the space below.
Just before
Just before, I had a mani-pedi with Amy in LA.
Previously, a manicure only for my wedding,
a pedicure never. When she offered, I said yes –
it seemed such a whimsical thing, and breathing
in soft air, feeling soft air, seeing palm trees
against blue skies, I was up for whimsy.
Squeaker of the House brown for the fingers,
Cajun shrimp red for the toes. Three weeks later,
toes intact, the right fingers a bit chipped,
the left still perfect. I watch with fascination
as the cuticle grows, marking the days between
whimsy and now. I bought nail polish remover
but resist wiping away the before and the whimsy.
What did you do “just before”?
Remember, tell a few stories, record the details.
How do you look back on those experiences now?