I had heard recently a saying in relation to how old the earth is compared to how long a human is alive on earth; and if we are all from earth itself, it could stand to reason that we should let ourselves off the hook a little. Its not the existing part that is hard, we aren't used to living.
Enter existential pondering, am I right? Any-who, lets skip up some millennia and get to the real meat and potatoes, the stars of the show of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE. Me. You. Us.
How are We taking care of Us?
Me taking care of me? Taking care of you? Taking care of us? Taking care of who? Who's on first.
This is a story of love, on a Sunday afternoon. Weather arrived as it usually does in Oklahoma. Abruptly. It was the first real day of cold, it hadn't truly rained in months; its been pouring for days. It is a stay-in-your-pjs kind of day, and we are all in. I'm already determined a hot bath is in my future. Yep, no doubt about it folks, I am doing farm chores, and soaking. A couple times a month I do a detox bath, and I decide now is the time. Later into the bath it occurs to me - I end one of these baths with a cold shower. What have I done? Ultimate self-betrayal. I want to talk myself out of it. I was already out in the cold, surely the reversal counts. I am being a baby. Begrudgingly, I took the cold shower. I know, I know, I gasped too - believe me. Its an act of self-care that feels much more like a discipline, but its helped me become better at temperature regulation. Which means, after the cold shower, the chill in the air seemed to lessen. I was more comfortable in my body, more breath in my lungs, and proud I didn't take the cowards way out. I made my husband do it too - Spread the joy, am I right?
Natural discourse on days such as these, we lean towards our comfort foods, and I'll tell ya its been a real taco or burger season here lately. We've been busy, schedules are a muck; life is happening, and I'm burnt out of the "what's for dinner" game. Being on a disciplined diet doesn't make things easy, and it mostly looks like an empty fridge as fresh is best. So let me reiterate - its been a real taco and burger season lately. So when I looked at my sweet 17 year old and asked, "Should I make bread?" - he whimpered a "Yes, Please" in the absolute most dramatic of ways making his point crystal clear. We celebrate good food- I'm not lying, we do. Today was going to be one of those food days, the kind where they know Mom is pulling out the charm. I am specifically growing an indoor herb garden for moments such as these. Whenever I snip fresh herbs I will make a show of it, I love breathing in fresh sage or rosemary. It is a spiritual awakening and I must - absolutely must - share it with all the people. The people of this house oblige me - what can I say?
We sipped homemade cocoa as the stuffed cabbage stew simmered. Gathering at the table for dinner, slathering fresh herbed butter onto still warm bread. Receiving messages from friends and family filling their plates with their own versions comfort, a first time chili maker, chicken and dumplings, chicken noodle soup. We are taking care of us. We are living.