“It’s a tough moment for many of us. There’s deep grief in the world right now, and in our own beloved communities. Our time — both individual and collective — is especially precious right now…”
How are you tending to your grief?
How are you tending to your anxiety?
I find it endlessly fascinating and equally exhausting that neither grief nor anxiety ever go all the way away.
When I’m extra in tune with my inner life, I can touch the sacred gifts that they each offer.
Grief, in my experience, has helped me to be softer, more loving, gentler. With myself and I think with others. I hope with others.
The rawness of loss, loneliness, and the absence of the being that I’m grieving has left me with little more than a squishy heart. Edgeless. Pillowy. Only opportunity for a soft landing.
Anxiety on the other hand, for me, is scary and spiky. Pointy and sharp in most areas and really high and steep in others. Like a rollercoaster (which I do not like) with very uncomfortable seat backs that dig into my spine and backs of my legs.
And like old friends can do, anxiety and I are going on 15 years together, it reminds me what is and isn’t for me. Even when the way they say it can be annoying and predictable, they mean well.
Anxiety and grief know me and I know them. Sometimes they walk hand in hand. Sometimes they jump out of the bushes alone.
What they have to offer can be (usually is/always is) helpful in some way.
The opportunity to learn the lesson is up to me.
Again, how are you tending to your grief? How about your anxiety? Is it possible that they are exactly what you need to be feeling right now?
Food for thought.
Big love to you,
Annie
p.s. If you’d like to chat, find time on my calendar.
p.p.s. What I'm listening to right now. I change this playlist up every week or two. Enjoy.
p.p.p.s. Tonight I’m making a soup from Samin Nosrat's Salt Fat Acid Heat cookbook that's all about making me feel cared for. It’s her chicken and garlic soup. What are you cooking these days that feels like a big hug? Send recipes!
p.p.p.p.s. I have a daily drawing practice I'm doing right now, inspired by Wendy MacNaughton. What are you doing these days to tend to your anxiety and sadness?
p.p.p.p.p.s. Fun fact: I was already doing this drawing practice before realizing last night that Wendy illustrated Samin's cookbook which I've been flipping through for days. Oh the synchronicity!
Daily drawing, October 31, 2023