Beauty, Relationships, Action

a grab bag post

I wrote in Hope: A User’s Manual that when I’m feeling low on hope/energy/mojo, I find that I’m missing one or more of three things: beauty, relationships, and action. I’ve been leaning into that combo a lot over the last few weeks. Here’s a smattering of what that’s looked like, and what it’s brought into my life lately:

Day trip to DC with the eldest, including a stop at the Botanic Gardens:

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A hike in Shenandoah with spouse and youngest:

Looking at tadpoles

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. I see why people I know (both critics and normies) walk out of the movie and immediately get back in line to buy another ticket. It’s that good.

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Pulling weeds. Granted we have a small garden to tend—containers on the back deck and some mulched beds on the side of the townhouse—but how did I never know how satisfying this activity is? I’ve even made peace with the job never being done, which is really saying something.

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Ezra Klein’s conversation with Lisa Damour is the best thing I’ve heard on teen mental health, by far—it comports with our experience better than anything else I’ve found, including and especially the work of Jean “it’s all social media’s fault” Twenge. You may recall my thoughts on the subject. (That’s not to say the Internet is mental health food or anything; thanks to my friend Traci for sharing this article about curbing the dopamine effects of screens and sweets.)

Incidentally, the community coalition Trinity belongs to had a meeting this week to make plans for a huge rally to secure commitments from Virginia’s governor around teen mental health. Want to come?

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My family is in another round of Music League, and this playlist of feel good tunes is especially good. 

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A note in the mail from a reader, thanking me for my recent post on walking with Jade and beholding her transformation. P, your message came at the perfect time. 

Writers loooooove to hear from readers. Make someone’s day today… it’s doesn’t have to be me!

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Super Substacks: Frances Wattman Rosenau on facing the day with purpose. Samantha Boardman on improving our mental health with future-oriented thinking. A sermon from Nadia Bolz-Weber on holy patience. 

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A better way to think about that huge To Read pile you have.

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What’s keeping you going these days?

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What I’m Up To

Offer extended on the book giveaway! Anyone who upgrades to be a supporting subscriber before Monday is entered into a drawing for one of two gift packs: a signed copy of all three of my books. Members and friends of Trinity Presbyterian Church can receive complimentary gift subscriptions; just ask.

We’re two weeks into our summer Celtic Curriculum. Next week’s topic is peregrination! (Wandering/pilgrimaging)