I am truly sorry I was unable to give you some StyledbyKDG last week.
I just could not.
Most of the work behind a blog is being everpresent online and on social media, constantly pecking for seeds of what is now and what is next.
And for the last 10 days I could not. I could not face reality. That meant no online presence – no NPR, no Instagram, no Facebook, no NY Times, no Wall Street Journal, no AP, no legitimate news source, etc. Obviously, because I am a US citizen who cares about my fellow citizens and as someone whose entire career was cemented as a federal employee, I could not help but read the news – albeit in small bites accompanied by a lot of tears and screaming.
So my husband and I have a political safeword. We are both so passionate, so invested, so intellectually curious that we know we are both secretly following along….so we wade in to the muck and the mire with one another – and often with our 16 year old daughter – but the moment one of us says (who am I kidding – yells) “WALRUS”, all discussion stops.
WALRUS is our safeword for our mental health.
We all need a moment right now.
I fully recognize that for so many of you, none of my posts mean sh*t to you right now but I am praying I meet you where I can and where you wish you were, and, where I am working for you to be someday soon-ish, (cause I have to be realistic).
May this serve you as a menu of options to escape or a brief relief from reality —
HOT YOGA
My very progressive mom, who in the wilds of Gloucester, VA in the 70’s embraced yoga, was a slow burn inspiration. I distinctly remember her in her black leotard stretching like a cat on the oversized oriental rug in our library. In law school as a newlywed faced with a new city and a new professional setting, I found hot yoga as an outlet.
Now, I can say with all sincerity, I have never done actual drugs, but holy moly I feel such a rush for the three hours post hot yoga session! I don’t know what great thing you should exactly feel post hot yoga, I just know that if I want to hit the road running, hot yoga is my starting block!
Did you know that Yelp can help you find free hot yoga intro classes?
BATH BOMBS
Since I have been a teen, I have been a huge lover of baths. My poor, beleagured husband has learned that a hotel room is not final unless there is a bathtub.
Baths are my love language to myself. My go to is Kneipp bath oils and said beloved husband keeps me supplied!
Kneipp Bath Oil Set = Kneipp $34
I also swear by Dr. Teals bath salts. I love the Lavender for a good soak at night with my Badesofa. I use the Eucalyptus salts for those days that I need a little umph to get going.
Dr Teals Bath Salta – $5.87 Amazon
And I am trying these – They are supposed to be moisturizing and uplifting. They are … meh. I tried – they were recommended by someone I really trust for recommendations – but, yeah, too much money for too little reward. Just so you know, I will always add my non-recs in to the mix. 🙂
A MUSIC PLAYLIST
So I have a unicorn of a daughter who is a music appreciation savant. She has the range of music appreciation of an old soul. She did not get it from me. However, for me, music can scream my emotions that I don’t feel I can articulate.
When we moved to Seattle where I felt, well, all the negative things, I made a playlist. It is titled “Surviving Seattle” and every song addresses my hurt, my insecurity, my hopes, my anger, and my dreams. On a particularly bad day I would open every door and window in our house and blast it out to the ethosphere. And god, it felt good. I may be back home now where I belong but the playlist remains. It is both my fight song and my reminder that I deserve more. And we all need that reminder. *
So wherever you are – take care of yourself. Buy the expensive piece of fruit. Sit and stare at a stupid tv show. Lift weights – swim laps – book a massage – call or write that person…
Or set your boundary.
Walrus.
*If you cannot access my Surviving Seattle playlist, please let me know in the comments or message me. I will share it with you directly.