This last summer, I fell in love with identifying wildflowers on hikes. Which also meant that I would get super excited when I observed any creature! I don’t know when it happened, but I’ve noticed that I now talk to the plants and animals. I always say hi to the birds. I love telling flowers how beautiful they are. I ask the trees if they are loving the sunlight as much as I am. Talking to nature truly makes any experience outside so much richer and fulfilling to the soul 🥰

You know the drill…. What’s a complaint (big, small, dramatic, insignificant, major, minor, silly, etc) that you need to SHOUT TO THE VOID?! As always be kind, be supportive, and look out for one another🤍✨

“I tried to explain that it would be quicker and easier just to throw the olds bags away and buy new ones, and then they would have more time for zazen, but Jiko disagreed. Sitting zazen, washing freezer bags, same thing, she said.”

This quote really stood out to me so much when I was listening to the audiobook, that I had to go back in the physical copy later to write it down. Jiko says so many wise and lovely things that make you think. I love this whole part of the book, but this quote in particular was on my mind for the rest of the day. It really makes you think about life differently when you start to view ALL of your time as valuable, intentional, and meaningful, even time spent doing what may seem like the most mundane of tasks. Definitely changed my outlook a bit! This I why I love reading 🥹

💘 Romance Book Edition 💘

Time to fall head first into love, butterflies, and heart-racing moments this week!

You know the rules! Pick your side, defend your choice, and tell me why in the comments 👇

Would you rather ...

📖 Be the main character in a slow-burn romance OR 🔥 Be in an instant, all-consuming love story?

👑 Fall for a brooding duke with secrets OR 🗡️ Fall for a rogue with a dangerous past?

💌 Exchange secret love letters OR 🌹 Share stolen moments in hidden places?

🏰 Be trapped together in a grand castle OR 🌧️ Be forced to share one room during a storm?

🎭 Pretend to be in love for appearances OR 💔 Hide your real feelings from the one you love?

🌍 Travel the world with your love OR 🏡 Build a quiet life together in a small town?

⚔️ Have a love tested by war and distance OR 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Have a love tested by family expectations?

👀 Fall for someone you shouldn’t want OR 🤍 Fall for someone who’s always been there?

🕯️ Share a slow dance at a grand ball OR 🌌 Have a quiet confession under the stars?

📚 Have a love story filled with angst and longing OR 💞 Have a soft, comforting, feel-good romance?

📚 Fall for a mysterious stranger with a hidden identity OR 🏡 Fall for your charming next-door neighbor?

💼 Fall for your tough but fair boss OR 🏫 Fall for your irritatingly perfect rival?

I’m loving this anecdote about her shopping at a mall and trying to pick sustainably made products. I regularly feel SO alone in my efforts to shop sustainably that often go in vain simply because of the lack of reliable options or force me to make concessions and not get exactly what I needed or wanted. I wish I had more friends who understood this struggle. But I’m guessing I’m not alone in this.

Maybe we could all share some wins we’ve had in our endeavors to shop sustainably! My friend generously bought disposable film cameras for a recent trip we did. I threw aside my distaste for the plastic waste and enjoyed her thoughtful gift. I ended up really enjoying the experience of having a screen free camera and hazy, warm pictures of our memories. I’ve noticed in the last year that taking pictures with my phone takes me out of the moment and makes me feel weird. I did some research and found the Camp Snap camera that is screen-free and rechargeable and uses an SD card. I can’t find any specific claims about it being made sustainably, but every other option is something clearly made unethically for super cheap. I think this one is a quality product that will help me be in the moment more often and be on my phone less. So I’m counting it as a win. What purchases have you thoughtfully made in an attempt to do right by the environment that made you feel good? ☺️

What are some non-negotiable history reads? Fiction and non-fiction!!