A week before our Hawaii trip, and my Girl Scout cookie order comes in. Oops. My bathing suit bad. I know that part of my job is to promote overall health/wellness, and cookies aren't exactly the most nutritious choice, but I think the title Joyologist should also cover mental health, right? And who isn't cheered up by a box of Thin Mints? Or maybe I just prefer my Weeblies to be festivally plump? Either way, I'm avoiding the snack rack this week... (And the freezer. Thin Mints are soooo good from the freezer...) If only every Sunday morning could be spent stand-up paddle boarding (SUP!) on the sunny SF Bay.... Best $20 I've spent in a long time. Anyone want to join next weekend? love and light, Trish I've been a bit more mindful of my wardrobe the past couple weeks (it gets kinda hard to give a hoot when you work in an office where yoga pants and a hoodie are an acceptable Tuesday ensemble) so I thought I'd pop a few quick pics of my favorites up on the blog! I worked for Jenny twice last month, which probably helped in my desire to give the ol' closet a fresh once over. Day 1 at Heritage Row was pretty sunny, so I pulled out a BCBG skirt and my honey comb tights. A red-lipstick-and-leather-jacket number was born. I struggled with the decision of are light booties and dark tights OK? but then just decided hey, *I* like the way it looks...and that's reason enough to wear it! Snagged this great new necklace while I was there, too! Day 2 of working for Jenny was much, much cooler outside. I went a more snuggly route in an Anne Taylor sweater, leggings and slouchy, old Steve Madden boots. I'm loving my new heather grey skirt from Marine Layer. Made locally, this skirt feels like I'm wearing a cozy old t-shirt on my legs... Pop on a faux-leather coat by Jack, and this casual get up worked wonderfully for a Fall-weather day in SF. I hardly ever "cheat" on Jenny by shopping at other local boutiques, but Marmalade is one exception we both agree on. Their staff is so genuine and sweet--I always manage to find a handful of super cute pieces... ...like this perfect Hawaii and Australia summer dress! I've been thinking of snagging a mustard yellow cardigan for months and am so glad I made the purchase plunge with this one. Peplum is in! Green is my favorite color. Hence.... Speaking of my new mustard sweater.... The Pinspiration: My version: And a more casual option the following week: Happy Friday, ya'll! In Gratitude, Trish via gchat....
Justin: knock knock knock trish, knock knock knock trish, knock knock knock trish, me: yesss? did you see those little kids outside the window? Justin: no me: oh just being sheldon? Justin: yes me: lol ok Justin: now i forgot what i was gonna ask you me: hahaha Rudi's gluten free bread, toasted, with The Laughing Cow herb cheese and avocado slices. Since I had half an avocado left over (perfectly ripe and gloriously green!) I copied a smoothie recipe I learned in Costa Rica: avo, pineapple, Thai basil. You can use pineapple juice or coconut water to blend. My iPhone made it look way more Nickelodeon slime-ish than it does in person, I swear! Yum o'clock. Old photo, but still so pretty (and a highly recommended hike). I've been craving the outdoors lately; sunshine, water, trees, trails. I'll take anything at this point. Mama Earth beckons, ya know? I recently heard a story about a family in which their token parting exchange with one another, one that I am excited to adopt for myself, went something like this: Goodbye, I love you, I wish you enough. The premise of enough in this context is quite fascinating to me: Enough sunshine to soothe your soul. Enough hardship to help you grow, change, appreciate. Enough love to lift you. Enough sorrow to keep you grounded. Enough to keep you safe, content, whole, authentic. Enough patience to let it all unfold as it should. Just enough: never too much or too little. But enough. In this country we so often strive, fight, struggle to accomplish a, b and c in our lifetimes that it leaves us deeply lacking in appreciation for what we have, now. We measure our succesess and oh-so-unsuccesses against what we think we need or should have; what others think we need or should have. When I have this, I will be happy. If I ever get there, I will be happy. As long as I will make that, I will be happy. When I find him/her, I will be happy. And when we find/do/have/see all of that stuff, phew. We can rest, right? My deeply intuitive friend Jill calls it moving the goal post; we continuously measure perceived happiness in terms of reaching a certain point, but then once (if) we get there, we go ahead and set new standards for when I will be happy. The truth is: there is little to no sustainable satisfaction in this way of living. In my own work with T, therapist extraordinaire, I've discovered the ways in which I have fallen into that goal post pushing trap over the years. Since identifying these moments, I can honestly say I am far happier...genuinely happier...than I have been in a long time. Yes, I have a lot of love surrounding me. Yes, I have a good job, a lovely home I've built for myself, a healthy family. Yes, I know I will never be homeless, hungry, alone. And while these things certainly aid in the ease of which I can snuggle down into contentment and appreciation (I am sending up mega waves of gratitude just typing them out) for my life, the one key difference between "then" and now lies in the simple act of mindfulness. It lies in making my quick gratitude lists during stressful situations. In saying to myself "these are real points of gratitude, do not dismiss them". It lies in taking physical inventory to calm my nerves; in feeling the cold on my cheeks, the slight pinch from my shoes, the quickening of my breath on a walk home. These are things felt only by those who are living, here and now. Do not dismiss them. It lies in allowing the truth of the present moment to just be. No judgment. No rush to "correct", adjust, find solid ground. Just be. Because I am simply more aware...because I allow myself to feel whatever it is I'm feeling and then gently let it pass (have I ever mentioned the beauty in letting go?)...I am not scared about my future. Whether I'm rich or poor. Single or attached. Mama-title carrying or Super Auntie Trish. I know I will have enough. I know I will be enough. And that is a pretty great space to dwell. Wishing you enough, Trish Snagged a whole bunch of new teas for the Weebly office in an effort to aid in their overall wellness, courtesy of The Republic of Tea. So far the fan favorite is Get Burning--it smells delicious and is decaffenated so it can be enjoyed at any hour. I think I'll go freshen up my cup with a little Get Happy, now....cheers! Pinkies up, of course :) Because of the way my apartment building is shaped, my shower has a window that looks down into a breezeway (though I have admittedly never actually looked down out of fear of what I may find). If folks keep their windows even slightly cracked open, you can pretty easily hear rumblings, pieces of conversations, ringing phones, etc within the other units.
A few months ago my neighbor and I happened to be showering at the same time, both with our windows open, and mid-shampoo lather my fellow building dweller began singing...loudly...to the (slightly 0ff) tune of Fleetwood Mac's Landslide. This being one of my favorite songs of all time (it's one of yours too, I know), I naturally began to sing along. I started off quietly. First with humming. Then adding a lyric or two. And before I knew it I was boldly singing in (not so great) harmony with him. He paused only for a moment to most likely confirm he was indeed being joined by a female voice. We sang passionately and fully for the entirety of the tune, ending our morning serenade session simply by shutting off the water and going about our days. No other words were exchanged. No notes left on doors. No additional musical duets have transpired since that morning. Which is perfect, if you think about it. Why ruin a spontaneous connection of two Stevie Nick's fans with awkward introductions or failed attempts at re-creating a so-this-is-happening moment? _____________________________________________________________ Depending on the bus route I take to work, sometimes when I get off at my stop I have to walk a couple of blocks down a fairly steep hill to my office. On days when I wear heels I have been known to wobble a bit at this task--I've never been great in heels, but when you add in a steep descent I suddenly have the weakest ankles on the planet. Last week as I mildly teeter tottered in heeled booties down Pacific Avenue through Chinatown I rolled my ankle in a super ungraceful almost-fall. To my surprise when the very old Chinese man (who shuffled so slowly up that hill he practically was moving backwards) I was passing caught sight of my awkward trip/tumble/ankle roll he began hysterically laughing and pointing at me. We're talking mouth wide open exposing a few stray, crooked teeth, eyes tearing up, knee slapping kind of laughs. I don't know what came over me, but I couldn't help myself....I began to crack up, too. There we stood; a 41/2 feet tall elderly Asian man with a predominantly gummy smile and orthopedic shoes and the skinny white girl who towered over him in her heels while clutching one throbbing ankle, pointing and laughing at one another in the middle of the sidewalk for a solid minute or two. After catching our breath we both then walked (shuffled and limped, actually) away chuckling and shaking our heads, wiping the tears from our eyes and heading to our respective destinations. I doubt I'll ever see that man again and I kinda wish someone had taken a photograph of this scene; I'd probably frame it and put it on my desk as a reminder to be light at heart and to laugh so hard at the silly, surprising side of life it makes you cry. I giggled about that moment at random for at least 2 days afterward, though, whenever it popped into my head. (Truthfully I'm still giggling, now.) Whatever gets you through the day, amIright? After hours of hard labor...
An igloo! ...(yea right. thanks to the previous Tahoe house tentants for the cool backyard surprise!) |
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November 2023
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