Small Things That Make Me Feel Better
When the world is a goddamn mess
It’s been a rough month. Retail Xmas is hard, witnessing a brutal war is hard, parenting is hard, you get it. I’ve also gotten a few pieces of hate mail lately, which is not a fun part of being a (minorly) public figure, but it does sometimes come with the territory. And so, here are some things I do to make myself feel better when the world is a goddamn mess, and I offer them to you.
Write someone a thank you note. I write a few thank you notes a week, and it never fails to make me feel just a little bit better. 1
Read a book with really good sentences. I’m reading Percival Everett’s James right now and hoo boy is it a pleasure.
Make cookies. We just made these and they are very sweet and very good.
Watch The Gilded Age. The hats, the cast, the dresses, the this guy.
Taking goofy photos. Having a bookstore is not easy but sometimes it also looks like this.
Sticking up for someone who needs it. Globally, locally, both.
Writing a note to someone having a hard time, or the anniversary of a hard time (which is really just another hard time.) 2
Spend less time on Instagram.
Say yes to social invitations even if you’re tired. Friends are good.
What about you? Any to add?
Do I hope to someday be sponsored by the USPS? I do.
Think about who takes the time to write hate mail...if you're getting it, you're doing something very right. Your writing brings so much happiness and inspiration to so many, as does this newsletter, your store, and you!!
Thank you for the list! I’m so sorry you have received some hate mail😢. Just a reflection of the state of our world. We are celebrating Winter Solstice in full force this year. Living in the PNW, where the sun( which does not like to make an appearance very often) sets at 4:30, it is just dark. So we will stomp into the wet woods at night with candles and bless the trees.