5 Things I Learned This Week
pickles and July mindset
You can’t will something to happen, even as much as you may want to. I know, it’s a deep one. It’s ok if you need a second to catch your breath. This week I was trying to make something work and happen and control, and it just didn’t work. Once I let go and release expectation is when I figure it out (always, without fail). It reminded me that I don’t always have to do so much to make things work in my life. I can take it easy. What a concept.
I’ve always rolled my eyes a bit at people who make their own pickles, mostly because I haven’t successfully been able to figure it out. I also am of the opinion that I should buy pickles because the people who make pickles will, without a shadow of a doubt, do them better than me. That is until I started doing a quick pickle — radish, carrot, cabbage. Ah yes, the quick pickle, my friend. You name it; I’d like to quick pickle it. You don’t need any real paraphernalia (unlike the very complicated pickling kit I bought in April of 2020, with big plans for the lockdown — big plans turned into dashed dreams). Now I am quick pickling everything, something that I’m sure I will eventually lose interest in, but man, is it knocking my socks off at the moment. What did I learn? The power of the quick pickle.
Ok, ok, bear with me, right, but have you heard of exercise? I’ve been very open about my depression here lately on Serenity Never. With a bit more time on my hands (and a come to Jesus, I must change something, I’m gonna die if I don’t type of desperate moment), I bit the bullet and bought some credits on ClassPass (which isn’t what it used to be????) I’ve been doing three classes a week, and omg I feel so much less like the world is caving in on me and almost like a normal person again?! There are definitely fewer tears. I learned that serotonin is real and endorphins work. You’d think I already knew this as a trained yoga teacher who has studied a lot about the body. I did. In the Tantric tradition (which I am a student of), we forget our innate Godliness repeatedly, if only to be led back to the divine in all things. Exercise is always that for me. Always. I never remember until the veil is lifted. God is also in your local pilates class.
Morning pages do not beget creativity. I have done The Artist’s Way multiple times, and I love the philosophy and support available in the book and the method. I love morning pages, and over the past year, I haven’t had the bandwidth or time to fill three pages with my musings (and considerable complaints). I’ve come back to them with a vengeance in the past few weeks, tackling an A4-sized notebook (I know. I am so brave to leave the A5 notebook to the rookies). It’s not helping me to prolifically overflow with creativity. It reminds me that my writing practice needs my attention and discipline, and no one will show up to it for me. I have to put in the work. That’s why I’m doing 1000 words of summer, a challenge from the writer Jami Attenberg in which you write 1000 words a day for two weeks. Join me.
I learned that if you tell me about an event in July, even in the month of June, I will most certainly still think that it’s six months away. Is this a common affliction? My theory is that it is absolutely to do with living in the northern hemisphere (or in a place with four seasons, notably winter). We are so thrashed by winter that even in the summer months when energy is high, I’m still expecting that it’s still so far away and simultaneously not wanting it to end. When I realised that July was in a short two weeks a few days ago, I remembered that I am seeing Beyoncé in 3 weeks. This means that my life will be complete. Really this whole "July mindset” thing (just made that up, decidedly not a thing) is an elaborate way for me to tell you that I am going to the Renaissance and maybe unfollow me on social media before then in preparation for the insufferable (or genius?) post that is to follow. She will be a tiny speck, I don’t have the Stella McCartney seats, but I will be channelling that bff with Beyoncé energy either way.
With love,
Nora x