Dear friends,
You liked my greasy turnip people. I feel like this should be a Radiohead cover band or…?
It sounds like some of you relate to my recent displacement and I so appreciated hearing from you. Wherever you’ve moved or whatever’s changed for you this summer, I hope you land in a hopeful state of mind. A move is okay as long as you can imagine your life there. The friends you might make; the stove you’ll cook over; the walk around the block.
It’s a funny thing to move back to a place you’ve lived before i.e. me moving to Berkeley, California.
The city’s changed very little but when I drive or walk around, I’m overwhelmed at how different it feels to be here a second time. Simply because I’m not the same person I was three and a half years ago. Have you ever returned to a place you lived before? How was it?
I had forgotten how sublime the evening chill is. (Ironic, because we’re in a bit of a heat wave but, normally.) Around 5:30, it cools down significantly and you need a fleece or sweater but then it hovers around 55-60 F* through the night. The mornings are chilly, then it warms up to low high 60s/low 70s during the day. It’s…perfect? The air smells like flowers, eucalyptus, or delicious pizza. Or weed, ha. But now that we’re high up on a hill, a strong cross breeze moves through the house all day long. I love it so much.
But moving is hard, right? I hit a low point a few days into our final stop. It all kind of hit me as emotional and physical exhaustion. That translated into Mom Sloth Mode™. Which is fine…just slothy. But I got myself on a long walk, back on Marco Polo, to a plate full of green vegetables, 11 hours of sleep, and I’m feeling better.
Why is it so hard to remember to be gentle with ourselves?
Thank you for reading, friends. How do you treat yourself gently these days? Is it different than what you did six months or a year ago? I’d love to hear.
Kos
P.S. Start my job next week. Wish me luck?
*Apologies for my celsius friends! I never caught on in S. Korea. :)
Fun LINKIES
I said it last week and I’ll say it again: this laundry soap smells divine. Add a little to whatever you’re already using. You will not be disappointed. Also comes as a room or body (?!) spray.
Want to read along with me? Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain. I’m 50 pages in and feeeeeeeeeeling it. If you’re also a highly sensitive or melancholic person, might be a good read. :):) (Do you like sad music? Do you feel (almost) pain when you feel joy? Do you cry over touching commercials?)
For Hers sells antidepressants and anxiety meds. And has free support groups/classes.
Cleansing oils have been a game changer for my dry, sensitive skin. I love Innisfree Olive Oil.
Air freshener in my car. Most make my head hurt but this one’s perfect.
If you liked this newsletter, there’s one thing you can do that will help me more than anything: share it. You can share this post now by clicking below. I see and appreciate every like, comment, share, and good vibe. xo Koseli
Always love reading your stories about balancing family + work + life. I just shared your Substack post on Facebook. 😊