I am sharing the majority of my "daily delights" under "NOTES" (in the menu/navigation bar at the top of the home page) because I am able to share photos over there. If you see missing dates here under this post, you can click on the below link to see updated delights.
Midafternoon sun drops down, shining the day's last light on the arbutus tree across from me at winter solstice. I am that strange creature who delights in winter's short days and long nights as I curl up inside myself, luxuriating in the pulsating silence that surrounds and fills me.
I am listening for what is coming next. What will give my remaining days purpose and meaning? At the grand age of 82 I am far from done. I have needed courage in earlier decades but never more than I need now for what comes next.
I am afraid to write these words but I fear they won't be real until I do, so here they are. I have just this afternoon decided to return to Lesotho, southern Africa, in April, 2025 for my seventh time volunteering in that magnificent country, its red earth soil holding my soul. The country where women insist on laughing and never ever complaining, no matter their destitution, the country where my spiritual daughters live, now educated and with children. I am the Canadian grandmother they sing Happy Birthday to in heavily accented English, my heart bursting with joy. My life's work has been and still is helping women heal sexual trauma and its sequelae, find their strong woman voice, inhabit their body and feel the joy of experiencing their own intelligence and creativity.
This moment, tucked in with warm blankets while it rains heavy and hard - poetry, deep breaths, prayers of gratitude for my people all safe and healthy and tucked in too. Thinking about, praying for, all who are not warm or safe or tucked in. Taking this moment before I say goodbye to another day to delight in this very ordinary, miraculous moment. ♥️
Daily Delight: 12/12/24 (Also posted under "NOTES")
You know when a piece of art stirs every little thing inside you, gives you goosebumps & shivers, when all the little snoozing parts wake from their sleepy slumber and stand at attention? Today, “One Little Song” by Gillian Welch was that for me. Sigh. I’m in love with this little song and must listen on repeat until its medicine has sufficiently worked its magic. My delight for this 12th day of December. If you haven’t yet heard this song, it’s my gift to you today.
To read more about “Daily Delights” click on the following link:
Gathered around the kitchen table to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 79th birthday…eating delicious pasta puttanesca (curiosity of my husband), marionberry pie for dessert. My mother-in-law is one of the most generous, giving people I know and it was such a delight to celebrate her this evening. Oh and watching her dog and ours play was just the icing on the cake (or on the pie). 🥧
There are few things that delight me as much as birds. One of the things I love best is to stand at my kitchen window (as I did this morning), preferably with a cup of something hot in hand, and watch the birds land on the feeder and nibble away on birdseed, or dip their long tongues into the nectar I made just for them. Sparrows and yellow finches, chickadees, the occasional too-big bluebirds and flickers, tiny, zippy hummingbirds that chase each other away from the sweetness they prefer to have all for themselves…I could watch them for hours. A simple, ordinary thing that fills me full.
A brand new candle lit with a match, a cup of hot Moroccan mint tea on a cold, foggy, almost-winter day, notebook, pen, words, warmth - these simple delights might be the very best delights of all. Dropping inside myself to find just the right word. Oh, and the old couple at the restaurant (who had been married for over 40 years) laughing, holding each other and looking madly in love was just so - everything. This life I have created is a good one
This afternoon when I looked out the window, a beautiful doe was staring back at me, just a couple of feet from my front door. She would munch for a few minutes and then look back at me, unfazed and so darn sweet. At the same time, a dozen or so birds were perched and munching at the feeders, big gray squirrels were frolicking about, and a couple of hummingbirds were chasing one another around the feeders. There are few things that delight me & open my heart more than animals. Such precious beings.
There's nothing like live music to stir up the delight...last night, in a warm, cozy, festive venue (in Eugene, Oregon) my husband & I got to sit and receive the awesome creations of a couple of different musicians. It's such a vulnerable thing to share what we've "made" in front of a room full of people, such an honor to receive. I'm super grateful for and inspired by those who are courageous enough to put their art in the world. Such a lovely way to spend a cold December evening.
As I was heading to my car this very cold afternoon, a man sitting on the ground in front of a warm café asked if I could spare some money so he could get a bowl of soup. When I handed him a few dollars, he said, "Thank you so much sister. I'm going to go get some right now." Before he opened the door to the café, he reached his hand out and said, "My name is Darrell." My heart turned to the warmest puddle. Darrell calling me "sister" - sigh. Delight.
Sitting around the virtual writing table with my "Write Yourself Free" sisters was today's daily delight. Truth telling, deep listening, smiles, tears, nods, bows, me toos. No need to be "good," no contests - only doorways into each other's heads & hearts & homes. Awkwardness, messiness, humanness welcomed and celebrated. Sisterhood at its best.
I pretty much had the entire beach to myself this morning/early afternoon, was sitting on a log writing, marveling at how good the sun felt on my face, when a man (walking by himself) waved my way. When I waved back, he walked over to my little place in the sand and said, "I thought I'd come say hello since you waved back...most people don't wave back."
We both expressed how crazy it was that there were so few people out on the beach on such a gorgeous day. He was carrying just a grocery bag, said he was taking the bus a couple of hours east to stay with his brother for a while. It was a short and sweet interaction that lifted my whole afternoon, is now lingering into the evening. I'm so glad I waved back.
Today’s “Daily Delight” is clear from the photos that I shared under "notes" (at the menu at the top of this page)…after days and days of fog that refused to lift (and weeks of rain before that), I drove myself an hour west and ended up here. The Oregon coast. One of my favorite places in the whole world. Sunshine galore, sand, sea, seagulls saturated in sunset. You can tell from the smile on my face - delight delight delight. It would have been easier to stay in the fog—the part of me that falls easily into habit thought of many reasons I “should” stay home. I’m so thankful I listened to the deeper yes.
PS: Unfortunately, photos can't be shared in the comment section so if you would like to share a photo that goes along with your "Daily Delight," please feel to post in the "Notes" section.
After a day that felt especially heavy and a bit blah, I needed to make a quick, unexpected run to the store, then realized I needed gas. I initially thought the young man who filled my tank was just going to hurry hurry along and there would be no opportunity for connection, but thankfully, while the tank was filling, we chatted about the holidays, about how we both like keeping things simple. I asked him if he was cold, he said he had lots of layers on so was actually keeping pretty warm. It was such a simple, sweet, caring interaction - just the lift I needed for my evening. Unexpected delight for this first day of December.
After days of flailing and fumbling, swearing, fighting, trying to figure out a technical issue, with some help from AI and my husband, hallelujah! it is resolved. There are very few thing that make my blood boil like feeling defeated by technology, so I feel an extra dose of relief and delight that I did not let it defeat me! 2 mantras that help me when things feel extra hard: "Everything is figureoutable (borrowed from Marie Forleo) & "I can do hard things" (borrowed from Glennon Doyle & others). Mantras help immensely when the voices in my head get extra loud and mean. Exhale. Nevertheless, she persisted!
Pumpkin pie for breakfast, sipping hot chai tea at the kitchen table (that my husband and daughter thought to bring home to me from their afternoon outing), warm home, an evening of togetherness. Oh, and the single red maple leaf stuck to the car window. Simple, deeply appreciated delights.
NOTE:
I am sharing the majority of my "daily delights" under "NOTES" (in the menu/navigation bar at the top of the home page) because I am able to share photos over there. If you see missing dates here under this post, you can click on the below link to see updated delights.
https://writeyourselffree.substack.com/notes
Midafternoon sun drops down, shining the day's last light on the arbutus tree across from me at winter solstice. I am that strange creature who delights in winter's short days and long nights as I curl up inside myself, luxuriating in the pulsating silence that surrounds and fills me.
I am listening for what is coming next. What will give my remaining days purpose and meaning? At the grand age of 82 I am far from done. I have needed courage in earlier decades but never more than I need now for what comes next.
I am afraid to write these words but I fear they won't be real until I do, so here they are. I have just this afternoon decided to return to Lesotho, southern Africa, in April, 2025 for my seventh time volunteering in that magnificent country, its red earth soil holding my soul. The country where women insist on laughing and never ever complaining, no matter their destitution, the country where my spiritual daughters live, now educated and with children. I am the Canadian grandmother they sing Happy Birthday to in heavily accented English, my heart bursting with joy. My life's work has been and still is helping women heal sexual trauma and its sequelae, find their strong woman voice, inhabit their body and feel the joy of experiencing their own intelligence and creativity.
Oh...Naida. Can you hear me celebrating from there? Oh my goodness. This moves me and inspires me deeply.
"its red earth soil holding my soul."
I am beaming.
"I am afraid to write these words but I fear they won't be real until I do"
And so it is real.
Thank you, thank you for sharing this beauty. What a delightful way to end this day.
12/15/24: Daily Delight
This moment, tucked in with warm blankets while it rains heavy and hard - poetry, deep breaths, prayers of gratitude for my people all safe and healthy and tucked in too. Thinking about, praying for, all who are not warm or safe or tucked in. Taking this moment before I say goodbye to another day to delight in this very ordinary, miraculous moment. ♥️
Daily Delight: 12/12/24 (Also posted under "NOTES")
You know when a piece of art stirs every little thing inside you, gives you goosebumps & shivers, when all the little snoozing parts wake from their sleepy slumber and stand at attention? Today, “One Little Song” by Gillian Welch was that for me. Sigh. I’m in love with this little song and must listen on repeat until its medicine has sufficiently worked its magic. My delight for this 12th day of December. If you haven’t yet heard this song, it’s my gift to you today.
To read more about “Daily Delights” click on the following link:
https://writeyourselffree.substack.com/p/daily-delights
https://open.spotify.com/track/7wjKYtmxLwZeY6iEMadee8?si=f8147908a3a44dde
12/11/24
Gathered around the kitchen table to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 79th birthday…eating delicious pasta puttanesca (curiosity of my husband), marionberry pie for dessert. My mother-in-law is one of the most generous, giving people I know and it was such a delight to celebrate her this evening. Oh and watching her dog and ours play was just the icing on the cake (or on the pie). 🥧
12/10/24
There are few things that delight me as much as birds. One of the things I love best is to stand at my kitchen window (as I did this morning), preferably with a cup of something hot in hand, and watch the birds land on the feeder and nibble away on birdseed, or dip their long tongues into the nectar I made just for them. Sparrows and yellow finches, chickadees, the occasional too-big bluebirds and flickers, tiny, zippy hummingbirds that chase each other away from the sweetness they prefer to have all for themselves…I could watch them for hours. A simple, ordinary thing that fills me full.
12/9/24
A brand new candle lit with a match, a cup of hot Moroccan mint tea on a cold, foggy, almost-winter day, notebook, pen, words, warmth - these simple delights might be the very best delights of all. Dropping inside myself to find just the right word. Oh, and the old couple at the restaurant (who had been married for over 40 years) laughing, holding each other and looking madly in love was just so - everything. This life I have created is a good one
12/8/24
This afternoon when I looked out the window, a beautiful doe was staring back at me, just a couple of feet from my front door. She would munch for a few minutes and then look back at me, unfazed and so darn sweet. At the same time, a dozen or so birds were perched and munching at the feeders, big gray squirrels were frolicking about, and a couple of hummingbirds were chasing one another around the feeders. There are few things that delight me & open my heart more than animals. Such precious beings.
12/7/24 (A day late)
There's nothing like live music to stir up the delight...last night, in a warm, cozy, festive venue (in Eugene, Oregon) my husband & I got to sit and receive the awesome creations of a couple of different musicians. It's such a vulnerable thing to share what we've "made" in front of a room full of people, such an honor to receive. I'm super grateful for and inspired by those who are courageous enough to put their art in the world. Such a lovely way to spend a cold December evening.
12/6/24
As I was heading to my car this very cold afternoon, a man sitting on the ground in front of a warm café asked if I could spare some money so he could get a bowl of soup. When I handed him a few dollars, he said, "Thank you so much sister. I'm going to go get some right now." Before he opened the door to the café, he reached his hand out and said, "My name is Darrell." My heart turned to the warmest puddle. Darrell calling me "sister" - sigh. Delight.
Daily Delight: 12/5/24
Sitting around the virtual writing table with my "Write Yourself Free" sisters was today's daily delight. Truth telling, deep listening, smiles, tears, nods, bows, me toos. No need to be "good," no contests - only doorways into each other's heads & hearts & homes. Awkwardness, messiness, humanness welcomed and celebrated. Sisterhood at its best.
Daily Delight: 12/4/24
I pretty much had the entire beach to myself this morning/early afternoon, was sitting on a log writing, marveling at how good the sun felt on my face, when a man (walking by himself) waved my way. When I waved back, he walked over to my little place in the sand and said, "I thought I'd come say hello since you waved back...most people don't wave back."
We both expressed how crazy it was that there were so few people out on the beach on such a gorgeous day. He was carrying just a grocery bag, said he was taking the bus a couple of hours east to stay with his brother for a while. It was a short and sweet interaction that lifted my whole afternoon, is now lingering into the evening. I'm so glad I waved back.
12/2/24
Today’s “Daily Delight” is clear from the photos that I shared under "notes" (at the menu at the top of this page)…after days and days of fog that refused to lift (and weeks of rain before that), I drove myself an hour west and ended up here. The Oregon coast. One of my favorite places in the whole world. Sunshine galore, sand, sea, seagulls saturated in sunset. You can tell from the smile on my face - delight delight delight. It would have been easier to stay in the fog—the part of me that falls easily into habit thought of many reasons I “should” stay home. I’m so thankful I listened to the deeper yes.
PS: Unfortunately, photos can't be shared in the comment section so if you would like to share a photo that goes along with your "Daily Delight," please feel to post in the "Notes" section.
12/1/24
After a day that felt especially heavy and a bit blah, I needed to make a quick, unexpected run to the store, then realized I needed gas. I initially thought the young man who filled my tank was just going to hurry hurry along and there would be no opportunity for connection, but thankfully, while the tank was filling, we chatted about the holidays, about how we both like keeping things simple. I asked him if he was cold, he said he had lots of layers on so was actually keeping pretty warm. It was such a simple, sweet, caring interaction - just the lift I needed for my evening. Unexpected delight for this first day of December.
11/30/24
After days of flailing and fumbling, swearing, fighting, trying to figure out a technical issue, with some help from AI and my husband, hallelujah! it is resolved. There are very few thing that make my blood boil like feeling defeated by technology, so I feel an extra dose of relief and delight that I did not let it defeat me! 2 mantras that help me when things feel extra hard: "Everything is figureoutable (borrowed from Marie Forleo) & "I can do hard things" (borrowed from Glennon Doyle & others). Mantras help immensely when the voices in my head get extra loud and mean. Exhale. Nevertheless, she persisted!
11/29/24
Pumpkin pie for breakfast, sipping hot chai tea at the kitchen table (that my husband and daughter thought to bring home to me from their afternoon outing), warm home, an evening of togetherness. Oh, and the single red maple leaf stuck to the car window. Simple, deeply appreciated delights.