Big Autumn Energy
I’ve been in a consistent good mood for a week and I’m riding that wave as long as I can
Fall is finally starting to hit. That can mean a lot of things. The days get shorter, the nights colder, and things can start feeling very meh. But, there is also a cost of magic in the air. Around this time of year, between the heat of summer where each day feels like an entire era and the intensity of winter darkness, I always feel more creative, more nostalgic, and more inspired than other times of the year. I’m more keen to my mind and my body and the impulses it has to try something new.
In my last post, I talked about feeling through feelings of sadness or anger because they are as natural and valid as feeling of happiness or contentment. This week I'm noticing a natural rise in happiness for me. I’ve been in a consistent good mood for a week and I’m riding that wave as long as I can. I’m taking advantage of this natural high and time of year despite all the bad news. I’m squeezing it for all it’s worth.
How, you ask? As I mentioned, this time of year usually makes me feel more creative and more inspired to try some new skill. That, plus the energy that comes with a peak in positivity has got me consistently working toward three new healthy habits.
Cooking
Okay, okay, I came late to the quarantine cooking phase. Everyone else seemed to fall in love with cooking at home in March, so much so that they got sick of it by May. But while everyone else was busy sharing new recipes and buying new kitchen equipment to make their favorite dishes on their own, I sat back and let Adam do a lot of that work for me (sorry, Adam). He has always been more interested in cooking than me in general, anyway, and it’s not as if I’m helpless in the kitchen. Cooking has just never been my favorite thing to do. Honestly I’m more inspired by a takeout menu or Grubhub page than a cookbook.
But after a couple of days back home with family, eating mostly cheese and bread and drinking mostly beer and White Claws, we decided to start the Mediterranean Diet, if for no other reason than just to eat more salad. We’ve both been super inspired to find interesting and delicious new meals to try and I’ve been having tons of fun putting on an apron and pretending to be a chef in our little kitchen.
If you’re interested in doing more cooking or reading about cooking, check out this newsletter that I enjoy: This Needs Hotsauce
Yoga
I've done yoga inconsistently for a few years. I’m comfortable with the poses and postures. I’ve always loved how I feel after a good practice. Recently, I started following Mei Pang on Instagram (follow for the fashion, the looks, the makeup, the vibe, or the tattoos, but stay for the daily yoga on her stories. I was inspired to finally try a Vinyasa Flow Yoga, so I found a couple Youtube videos to get started, and I’ve been consistently practicing every(ish) morning. Not only is it a great workout and the perfect way to start the day, but it’s a challenge that dials up my energy and positive vibe to move through the rest of the day. I’m still a beginner, but maybe one day I’ll be on Mei’s level.
Sewing
I’ve wanted to learn to sew for years, but at the end of last year, I made it a resolution to learn to sew in 2020. That started with a local class where I sewed a pillow case, which I’m super proud of. Then, when COVID hit I sewed a few masks at varying levels of success and frustration. I hemmed all of the curtains in the house and then hit a wall. I fell off of sewing for a while, but now I’m back at it. I joined Sew It Academy and started following along the courses and I’m happy to finally be learning new skills!
Y’all know how much I love to talk about sustainable and ethical fashion, too, so I’ve been reading and learning as much as I can about how to care for my clothes, shop for quality and longevity, and how to build a wardrobe that I care about. I’m currently reading The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline, which is helping me edit down my closet for the fall and also helping me rediscover some of the old clothes that I thought I wouldn’t wear again. Shop your closet!
I know that my good mood is bound to come to an end. I know that at some point I’ll hit a rut and fall out of practice with yoga, or decide to hit up McDonald’s instead of cooking something nutritious. But what’s important to understand is that the healthy habits are feeding the good mood which then feeds the healthy habits. Even though the energy will come and go in waves, it’s important to take advantage when the waves come in and to not be to hard on yourself when they flow back out.
happy sunday. 🌞
What are Sundays for if not a refreshing daytime cocktail with a side of conversation?
Think of this newsletter as a Sunday brunch with friends, a space where we unwind from the past week, and gear up for the week ahead.
If you’re liking sunday brunch, think of three friends who would enjoy and share it with them.