Issue #39: Progress over perfection + what's been helping

Watercolor cards, journal prompts for processing and reflection, and the small comforts getting me through this week.

Welcome to The Monday Mood, where we ease into the week without the pressure of starting fresh or having it all figured out. From book recommendations and creative encouragement to reminders that you’re doing better than you think, I hope this space gives you something that feels good—whether that’s your next read, permission to protect your time, or just the feeling that someone gets it.

Last week I shared a list of five things I loved, and I’ve kept that practice going in my pocket journal. I’ve been documenting all the little things that brighten my day or that I might otherwise overlook. It’s been a way to pause, even when my day isn’t going well, and recognize what’s still good. This week’s include stopping at farmers’ stands, the smell of coffee brewing while I’m in the shower, and listening to the conversations Stephen has with our cat.

This past week I also started grief counseling, which has taken me a considerable amount of time and vulnerability to get to. I’ve felt this increasing overwhelm of being stuck in an in-between with my parents’ cancer diagnoses, waiting for the “what if” and “when.” If you’re feeling something similar right now, I want you to know it’s okay to recognize when you’ve surpassed the ability to handle it on your own or with your current support. Asking for help is taking the next step toward finding your footing again. You’re not alone in needing that.

A Few Things From My Week

I’ve been painting more lately and it’s been a great way to express creative energy and keep my hands busy when my mind won’t settle. I’m trying to be more open with sharing progress over perfection, so here’s a little peek into what I’ve been up to this week. I’m curious to see where I’ll be in a year if I keep practicing. I created a Valentine’s Day card and several birthday cards for upcoming birthdays.

Skylar had a limited edition scent called Bread Winner, and after what I’d call the year of bread with sourdough baking, I had to try it. It’s a warm, buttery sweet scent that feels cozy. Speaking of bread, I also baked another white chocolate cranberry loaf! It seems to be Stephen’s favorite.

I’m a big believer in journaling and putting your thoughts on paper, especially when things feel overwhelming or hard to process. Here are a few prompts I’ve used this week that helped:

• What life are you quietly dreaming?

• What is one thing you wish we (as a society/culture) talked about more?

• What’s one way to show yourself more kindness this year?

• What is a piece of advice you’re finally starting to understand?

TO TRY: When you’re feeling stuck or uncertainty, do something tactile and present. Bake bread, organize one drawer, go for a walk, water your plants. Give yourself something you can control when so much feels out of your hands.

TO WATCH: I love a good spy thriller and PONIES doesn’t disappoint. I’m only two episodes in, but Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson are fantastic. They play two women initially dismissed as “Persons of No Interest” (PONIs) who end up becoming CIA operatives in Moscow to investigate their husbands’ mysterious deaths.

TO READ: I recently finished Blue Horses by Mary Oliver, a collection of poems that ask what it means to truly belong to this world and live in it attuned to all its changes. Her writing reflects a need to see something kind in life, something worth holding onto rather than what we wish to forget. A lot of it is about grief and the beauty of life that makes us grieve when we lose it.

TO LISTEN: Zara Larsson is underrated and slept on, and if you haven’t heard her trending song Midnight Sun, you need to give it a listen. She’s been a favorite of mine since her album So Good released in 2017! If you like early 2000s pop with a modern voice, she’s for you.

TO EAT: We like to do an inventory of our pantry and freezer to use up ingredients, so this week’s dinner line up is doing just that. Black bean breakfast bowls, shepherd’s pie gnocchi, and linguine with red clam sauce are on the list. I’m also preparing apple and cinnamon baked oatmeal for a quick breakfast option.

This was a fun one I listened to on audio over the weekend! How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson is a “rom-slasher” following Jamie, who finds herself stuck in a speed-dating event that devolves into a slasher-style murder spree. She relies on her horror movie knowledge to stay alive while caught in a love triangle with two other survivors. It’s got dark humor, romance, and plenty of horror, with Jamie using everything she knows about the genre to outwit a masked killer. If you love Rachel Harrison’s approach to pop-horror, loved Butcher & Blackbird, or if you appreciate stories that balance real stakes with a sense of humor, this one’s for you.

What’s something you’re enjoying right now?

Take care of yourself this week.