Take your waking slow
“I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.” So begins a favorite poem, “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke. We can’t always take our waking slow. But maybe this day.
September 25, 2022
“If you’ve ever grabbed a stick from the ground and though, ‘oh, this is a good stick,’ then we’re family.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple … Take your waking slow
“I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.” So begins a favorite poem, “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke. In these verses, Roethke tells us that “I learn by going where I have to go.”
He examines the way lights shift on a tree, observes the slow crawl of a worm, and walks softly on the ground, watching and learning the ways of “great nature.”
We can’t always take our waking slow. But maybe this day. This hour. Take this one slow. Walk lightly on the ground and watch the fall roll in. Find yourself a good stick. Let your intuition guide you to the next moment, and learn by going there.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
What happens when you cross poetry, imaginary creatures, a deep love for nature, and a podcast? If you’re excited to find out, meet The CryptoNaturalist.
I don’t know if this New York Times article about random acts of kindness has gone viral. But maybe it should.
You know that feeling when you’re trying to remember a word and it’s right there, at the tip of your tongue? There’s an internet tool to help you remember it!
It's Shore Up September
The harvest moon kicks off fall in the northern hemisphere and a time of ensuring our own sustenance—a time we’re dubbing “Shore up September.” To shore up is to reinforce and support those things that sustain us. Our houses need shoring up, as do our relationships. Our planet could certainly use it, and so could our spirits. Won’t you join us this September?
September 11, 2022
“Things take the time they take. Don’t worry.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Shore up September
Did you see the harvest moon? It rose on the night of September 10th, marking the night when the full moon comes closest to the fall equinox.
Historically, this moon marked a time when farmers could use the light of the full moon to work through the night to bring in the early fall harvest and ensure their sustenance through winter.
The harvest moon kicks off fall in the northern hemisphere and a time of ensuring our own sustenance—a time we’re dubbing “Shore up September.”
To shore up is to reinforce and support those things that sustain us. Our houses need shoring up, as do our relationships. Our planet could certainly use it, and so could our spirits.
For Shore up September, you might tidy or repair or stock up or slow down. Maybe you’ll take turns at each. Whatever you do, may it sustain you for the months ahead.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Check out “An environmentalist gets lunch”for some interesting—and maybe surprising—facts about what we eat and its effect on the environment.
Want to know the date of the next full moon or the phase of the moon on the day you were born? Would you like to play music in the stars and get notifications so wonderful that app users ask for more rather than fewer? Check out MOON, hands-down the most delightful app on my phone.
Take a tour through ancient and modern fall festivals with Time and Date.
Redefine Luxury
When we think of living as an art and a space for luxury, we can start to redefine how we do it. If we take luxury back from the unattainable realms of fancy cars and vacations, what might we replace it with? The look and smell of fresh flowers on the table. That first sip of our morning brew. 10 minutes curled up with a book.
August 28, 2022
“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Redefine luxury
In our latest blog, we revisit the theme of slowing down, especially when it comes to those things we have to do to live.
We often frame those most essential parts of our lives as necessities in need of convenience. We seek to minimize time spent cooking, cleaning, grooming, dressing and exercising.
What if we flip the script? What if we spend our time focusing on the art of those things we actually need to live? What if we frame necessities as spaces of luxury?
And when we think of living as an art and a space for luxury, we can start to redefine how we do it. If we take luxury back from the unattainable realms of fancy cars and vacations, what might we replace it with?
The look and smell of fresh flowers on the table. That first sip of our morning brew. 10 minutes curled up with a book.
What is an everyday luxury for you?
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Got 5-6 minutes to savor a poem? Check out The Slowdown podcast in which poet Ada Limón discusses a single poem in less than 10 minutes.
We truly hope you already have the Libby App on your device and that you check out audiobooks and e-reads right from the library to your device for free free free.
Speaking of everyday luxuries, it’s back-to-school season, and whether or not you or someone you know is headed to the classroom, we recommend you take advantage of sales and treat yourself to a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.
Seek out the heavens
We’ve known about the vastness of the universe for centuries. And it still blows our minds with each fresh reminder of our place in an infinite mystery. It is the most gorgeous wakeup call imaginable. The images from the James Webb telescope are a call to wonder, which is a call to imagine and a call to action.
July 31, 2022
“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Seek out the heavens
Have you been marveling at the images gifted to Earthlings by the James Webb telescope? Have you sat stunned by the Cosmic Cliffs of the Carina Nebula or giggled in joy and astonishment at the five galaxies of Stephan’s Quintet?
We’ve known about the vastness of the universe for centuries. And it still blows our minds with each fresh reminder of our place in an infinite mystery. It is the most gorgeous wakeup call imaginable. A call to wonder, which is a call to imagine and a call to action.
The coolest part? The universe comes right to you. Over the next two weeks especially, you can seek out the heavens as the Perseid meteor shower peaks between August 11-12.
Or simply take a verse from Walt Whitman and “from time to time, [Look] up in perfect silence at the stars.”
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
The Webb telescope has its own gallery. Zoom in on detailed photos or download posters and infographics.
We need radical acts of imagination and hope to tell a new story about our collective future. That’s just what Eric Holthaus does in this article: In 2030, we ended the climate emergency. Here’s how
Read EarthSky’s meteor shower guide and then find your closest dark sky sanctuary.
Enjoy the second (and third) act
We love a second act. From socks that become puppets to car lot owners turned famous sci-fi writers. Sure, a first purpose or chapter is special. A second act has a different power—one of transformation and renewal. A third? Now that’s downright magical.
July 17, 2022
“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Enjoy the second (and third) act
We love a second act. From socks that become puppets to car lot owners turned sci-fi writers. Sure, a first purpose or career or chapter is special. A second act has a different power—one of transformation and renewal. A third? Now that’s downright magical.
Look around and you’ll see second acts everywhere. The closed-up shop with a lot full of wildflowers and the beginnings of a community garden. The sandy beach where transformed rocks and sea life pour through your toes.
Ask around and you’ll hear stories of second and third acts. I’ve met a nurse who found her true spirit teaching literature classes, and learned about pikas at Yellowstone from a retired math teacher who now lives at the park year around.
Half the fun of the second (or third) act is dreaming it up. Start with that old sock. Then work your way up to your own next grand adventure.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Check out the Learning Hub from Upstream Solutions for articles and info on reusables, single-use plastics, compostables, bioplastics and more.
Want to squeeze in one (or three) more National Park trips this summer? Find your park with this tool from the National Park Foundation.
Last year we wore about the cheapest, easiest way to use less plastic—mason jars!
Pause and heal
We all share a secret—something everyone knows but we rarely talk about. Time is a made up thing. It’s a series of present moments infused with memories of past moments and expectations for future ones. We know logically that past moments cannot be changed and future ones are not guaranteed. The world has made this visceral and tragic recently. And maybe your heart hurts, like ours does
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Pause and heal
We all share a secret—something everyone knows but we rarely talk about.
Time is a made up thing. It’s a series of present moments infused with memories of past moments and expectations for future ones. We know logically that past moments cannot be changed and future ones are not guaranteed. The world has made this visceral and tragic recently. And maybe your heart hurts, like ours does.
Healing takes slowness. That is true for healing hearts, minds, and the Earth herself. To practice mindfulness, slowness, and pause is to resist the convenience-driven, distraction-ridden state of things and to focus on what matters most right now.
How do you infuse pause in your life? How do you give yourself time to heal? Whether it’s daily rituals, a weekly sabbath, or mindful walking, we’d love to hear about it.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
These conversation cards can bring deep, meaningful conversations to your next gathering or date night.
#NotTooLate is a project to invite newcomers to the climate movement, as well as provide climate facts and encouragement for people who are already engaged but weary.
How to help the community of Uvalde. Their grief, healing and need will be ongoing, long after the news cycle stops.
See down the path
When you cast yourself into the future to plan your next adventure or goal, how do you do it? Do you make long planning lists in a notebook (a personal favorite of ours)? Do you keep extensive digital notes? Do you make a voice memo or write future you a letter (very next level)? Do you seek the advice and wisdom of others?
One idea to keep it slow and simple… See down the path
When you cast yourself into the future to plan your next adventure or goal, how do you do it? Do you make long planning lists in a notebook (a personal favorite of ours)? Do you keep extensive digital notes? Do you make a voice memo or write future you a letter (very next level)? Do you seek the advice and wisdom of others?
Do you visualize? It’s such a simple trick to close your eyes and imagine yourself taking that trip, giving that speech, or making that big move. And, if noone can walk your road for you, then it makes sense to give your own self a sneak peek.
Try it. Image a right world. Cast yourself into that world. How did you get there? What did you do to make it so? See a little ways down this path. Then open your eyes and take the first step.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Did you know you can buy a pour spout for your mason jar. We’ve had ours for years! It’s called Cuppow and we sell one and you can find other sizes too.
Google teamed up Fifteen Percent Pledge to create a searchable marketplace of Black-owned businesses. Check it out before you shop.
And if it’s time to re-up your sunscreen game, we love All Good! Woman-owned, B corp, and contributor to 1% for the planet.
Celebrate femme futures
Are you a movie lover? A book worm? A foodie, a runner, a fungi enthusiast? There’s a femme future there. Here at the tail end of Women’s History Month, we can dip into the history of women in the fields we follow and let it spur us to dream of fabulous futures for everyone.
“There are women I have never met but who are recorded in the pages of history and whose lives and struggles inspire me and thousands of other working women to keep putting one foot in front of another every day.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… celebrate femme futures
Are you a movie lover? A book worm? A foodie, a runner, a fungi enthusiast? There’s a femme future there. Here at the tail end of Women’s History Month, we can dip into the history of women in the fields we follow and let it spur us to dream of fabulous futures for everyone.
In our latest blog, we outline how women-owned businesses are more likely to be equitable, inclusive and sustainable. We suspect that holds true in many fields. When we invite in women with all of their identities, we necessarily change what it possible for young people—the girls who see possibilities, the boys who see women as strong leaders, and all who see someone like them doing what they love.
Take a slow dive into the femme history of your favorite things. You may find the woman who invented coffee filters or the first female who ran the Boston marathon (and just about got tackled for it). And when you learn about the firsts and see where we are today, let is inspire you to dream of a future even more equitable, sustainable and inclusive. We can bring it about, starting today.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
“Enjoyment of life—whether that means spending “unproductive” time with others, reading a good book, or taking a long walk—has a loftier significance than good feelings do.” Here’s how to choose enjoyment over pleasure.
Need some femmespiration? Here’s 100 cool women from history.
Planning your summer road trip? If you’re in the U.S., Atlas Obscura lists 9,264 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do. (Not in the U.S.? They also list amazing places all over the world!)
Grow something new
We all grow things, whether we garden or not. We grow children or pets or habits. We grow strong or brave or tired. Sometimes we grow all of this. As spring hints to us in some regions and roars loudly into others, it’s an annual reminder that winter will end and the sun will return and what was dead or dormant will bloom again.
March 13, 2022
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… grow something new
We all grow things, whether we garden or not. We grow children or pets or habits. We grow strong or brave or tired. Sometimes we grow all of this.
As spring hints to us in some regions and roars loudly into others, it’s an annual reminder that winter will end and the sun will return and what was dead or dormant will bloom again.
What inspires you? What can you grow that serves as a reminder of that inspiration? Growing herbs can remind you of the healing properties of nature. Pop the roots of grocery store green onions in water and be reminded that little things add zing to your life. A new house plant can bring moments of joy during an online meeting.
Or plant sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine, and be inspired and emboldened to act when the times require it.
And some extras to click
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
If you’re in Austin, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is starting to bloom. And if you’re anywhere, you can catch some blooms on their Instagram!
Spring cleaning? Here’s a guide to getting rid of almost anything.
And if you’re so inclined, a list of ways to support the Ukrainian people.
Align your daily consuming with your needs and values
Our values show up in much of our daily consuming—like buying coffee from community-based business or experimenting with bulk dried chilis to make spice blends more sustainably and economically. When we notice our consuming is not aligned with our values, we try to make a change. We’re not perfect and don’t expect anyone to be. But keeping those values front and center helps us make new choices and habits.
2/27/22
“I have to constantly re-identify myself to myself, reactivate my own standards, my own convictions about what I’m doing and why.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Align your daily consuming with your needs and values
As we’ve been writing our series about different brewing methods (We’ve written about the Hario V60, the Aeropress, the automatic coffeemaker, cold brewing, and the Chemex below), we started to notice that these methods had as much to do with our values as our coffee preferences.
For us, we value simple, durable, economical and ecological things. And we value sharing in community. For making coffee, that usually translates to a method that brews enough coffee for several people (or several cups for me) in a simple and low-waste way.
Our values show up in much of our daily consuming—like buying coffee from community-based business or experimenting with bulk dried chilis to make spice blends more sustainably and economically. When we notice our consuming is not aligned with our values, we try to make a change. That’s we booted the plastic lemonade containers and started squeezing our own. Simple, economical, and ecological.
We’re not perfect and don’t expect anyone to be. But keeping those values front and center helps us make new choices and habits. What are your values and how do they show up in your daily eating and drinking?
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Speaking of Gina’s amazing soup—she shared the recipe on our recipe blog! Get the recipe for chili-infused black bean soup.
It’s just about that time of year—garden prep! We’re doing our homework for a new article on using coffee grounds in the garden. Here’s a primer to get you started.
What if your doctor prescribed you a trip to Yellowstone or Hot Springs National Park? Doctors in Canada are on it, prescribing ParkRX to patients who would benefit from time in nature. And isn’t that everyone?
Imagine a world
If we take steps toward a better future, it’s because we imagine that such a thing is possible. We image a world with less trash, a more sustainable world, a world with care at its center, and it becomes more true in the imagining. It’s an exercise worthy of both Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. If you imagined a new planet for your loved ones, or a future that learns from the past, what world would you create?
2/13/22
“All that you touch You
Change. All that you
Change Changes you.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Imagine a world
If we take steps toward a better future, it’s because we imagine that such a thing is possible. We image a world with less trash, a more sustainable world, a world with care at its center. And it becomes more true in the imagining.
What if we speculated changes far vaster? Worlds much greener, slower, more wild and more just? For all the science fiction lovers out there, the Octavia Butler readers or Trekkies, distant planets and futures hold lessons and provide direction for how we might live here and now.
It’s an exercise worthy of both Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. If you imagined a new planet for your loved ones, or a future that learns from the past, what world would you create?
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Sockers have been really into microgreens lately. We love growing and eating these tasty and healthy little guys—especially the spicy radish greens. Check out this 101 article about growing your own microgreens.
We’re so proud of our Sock owner, Corina! If you were at the San Antonio Coffee Fest this weekend, we hope you saw her presentation on the 5 principles of CoffeeSock— Ritual, Reusable, Renewable, Economical, Simple.
And speaking of imagined futures—we hadn’t thought about 3D printing a home. But someone imagined a world with housing for all and less energy waste. Wow!
Make a gathering plan
So much of the work we need to do is work on the self. Yet, whatever form our self care takes, it is in service to being truly alive in the world. And that means, ultimately, being in community. There is no me without you. No you without others. We learn again and again that we cannot do without each other. So as we sustain ourselves, let’s make a plan to gather together.
1/30/22
“Smile, breathe and go slowly. ”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Make a gathering plan
This week’s blog, recipe, and shared links are all dedicated to gathering in community with replenished selves. So much of the work we need to do is work on the self. We cannot be present to the needs of community when we are burnt out and empty. We must affix our own oxygen masks before helping others with theirs.
Whatever form our self care takes, it is in service to being truly alive in the world. And that means, ultimately, being in community. There is no me without you. No you without others. We learn again and again that we cannot do without each other.
The stronger our bonds with ourselves, the stronger the foundation we bring to our closest relationships, which then extend into our communities, shoring the whole system up.
And we’re in real need of that right now. As the last months of winter provide the solo time to repair ourselves, maybe we turn our attention to Spring and gathering again in community. Maybe you’ll start a neighborhood coffee klatch, a kickball club, or a picnic party. Design a gathering that speaks to your own heart and nourishes those you hold dear. Valentine’s is right around the corner. How about a love lunch?
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Meet Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering. Download her free guide to planning a meaningful gathering or event, and check out her podcast, Together Apart, about gathering during the pandemic. Her motto: “Helping people create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time.” Sounds wonderful!
Want to chat about all things sustainability and environmentalism? Check out the Earth Heroes Facebook group to learn and grow together with others.
Combine gathering with coffee, and you just might get a revolution. Listen to Micheal Pollan talk about how coffee and coffeehouses changed the modern world.
Find rest in joy
As year three of the pandemic sets in, a lot of us are feeling weary and restless. It’s a strange kind of tired. One that asks for rest, but craves something less…restful. Because in many cases, what we crave isn’t a break for tired bodies, but a means to refill depleted stores of joy. Find rest in a hike on the beach with your furry friend, or in a living room dance party, or in whatever brings you joy.
1/16/22
“No abundance of material goods can compensate for the death of individuality and personal creativity.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Find rest in joy
As year three of the pandemic sets in, a lot of us are feeling weary and restless. It’s a strange kind of tired. One that asks for rest, but craves something less…restful. Because in many cases, what we crave isn’t a break for tired bodies, but a means to refill depleted stores of joy.
This is even more true for those whose day-to-day lives require deep and continual energy—from the work of parenting, caring for elders, or carrying on the work of justice and the legacy of Dr. King. So much work requires and deserves our creative energy. And we are often bombarded with messages that sell us material comforts as a form of rest.
I realized this recently, after a draining week, when slowing down and cracking open a book amongst my material comforts wasn’t cutting it. What I wanted…really wanted, was to laugh, to go dancing, to experience joy. I took a walk and listened to a podcast that made me laugh out loud. I came home and played the Just Dance video game with my teen, cracking up at my attempts to match the moves.
These activities were not restful for the body, but I laughed and smiled and felt refilled. What brings you joy and refills your cup?
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
If you’re looking to rekindle your creative side, Julia Cameron has thoughts about how to adapt her famous book The Artist’s Way to live during the pandemic. Read about her new take on artists dates and more.
Want to try out Just Dance without purchasing the video game (yet)? They have a Just Dance YouTube channel with video playlists you can dance along to. Try the Dance Party Classics, Workout from Home, or Family Favorites.
Use MLK Day to learn about the Poor People’s Campaign, founded by Dr. King and others in 1968 and still going strong today in continuing work towards an economy based on care.
Try a New Year's mantra instead of a resolution
Each year we make New Year’s resolutions. Some resolutions we knock out of the park. Some…we don’t. Resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, so much so that you may be tempted not to make them at all. How about instead of a resolution, you choose a mantra?
1/2/2022
“Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff. There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them. You know people who are already saying, ‘I’m going to be 30—oh, what am I going to do?’ Well, use that decade! Use them all!”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Try a New Year’s mantra
Each year we make New Year’s resolutions. Some resolutions we knock out of the park. Some…we don’t. Resolutions are notoriously hard to keep, so much so that you may be tempted not to make them at all.
And yet. At the end of each each year we pause before the calendar begins the cycle over again, and there is real power in that pause. To reflect is to be real with yourself. And while you’re being real, maybe this year you don’t want to continually optimize yourself. Maybe you don’t want to be faster, thinner, or more efficient. Maybe you want to be better at…just being.
How about instead of a resolution, you choose a mantra? Which mantra? Whatever feels right to you. A few years ago, this was my mantra: “I can do anything, but I cannot do everything. Choose wisely.” And that eventually became: “Your attention is a grow light.” These words helped me focus on what mattered most when I got overwhelmed.
Find a mantra that speaks to you. Write it out, draw it, and post it around the house. Read it daily. Say it out loud. Annoy your friends and family with it. Let it guide you until you’ve learned its lessons.
Happy 2022, friends!
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
If you’re about to reopen your laptop after some time away, here’s a site you can visit to get a few moments of zen during your work day. Cool off a cute lion, pet a sweet kitty, or swim with a little shark. No objective except to enjoy. It’s called Moments of Happiness, and it’s well named.
Choose your next book with NPR’s interactive “books we love” tool. They’ve had the site going since 2013, and I’ve found so many books I’ve loved using the app. (It used to be called the Book Concierge, which I’m partial to. But it’s still awesome.)
Relive Betty White’s 2013 Saturday Night Live monologue. She was 88 years young with another decade to go. It’s a classic. She’s a classic. I’m not crying, you’re crying!
Unwrap presence
The world lost a light this week when the philosopher, teacher, and author, bell hooks, passed away at 69 years young. She left us with great many gifts, including more than 30 books, many teaching us how to untangle ourselves from the old systems that keep up from forming real communities based on mutual respect and care. bell hooks taught that we must first be present with and for ourselves in order to give that same honor to others. As the winter holidays pass into the new year, I hope you can gift yourself this presence so that you may offer it in turn.
12/19/21
“Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Unwrap presence
The world lost a light this week when the philosopher, teacher, and author, bell hooks, passed away at 69 years young. She left us with great many gifts, including more than 30 books, many teaching us how to untangle ourselves from the old systems that keep up from forming real communities based on mutual respect and care.
In Teaching to Transgress, she wrote this about classroom communities, for example:
“As a classroom community, our capacity to generate excitement is deeply affected by our interest in one another, in hearing one another's voices, in recognizing one another's presence.”
And in many other books she taught about the critical need for care, love and presence in the communities we find ourselves in. When we are truly present with another, when we recognize another’s humanity and unique presence, we open up a space of love and care. In our families, our relationships, our workplaces and communities.
bell hooks taught that we must first be present with and for ourselves in order to give that same honor to others. As the winter holidays pass into the new year, I hope you can gift yourself this presence so that you may offer it in turn.
And some clickable fun
You’ve probably seen us quote a poem or two in this newsletter. If you’re into it, check out The Poetry Foundation’s Instagram and mobile app! That’s an app we can get on board with!
How do you learn something new? Whether it’s photography or drawing or audio recording, SkillShare is pretty rad. Find free or low cost, high quality course, gift a subscription or even just read the blog for free! This one about bedtime rituals is a treasure!
Thinking about your 2022 resolution? There’s a guide for that!
Let in the light
Most winter holidays have at least one common theme: They celebrate light in the annual cycle of darkness. Here’s one simple way think about your own light. Shine on!
12/5/2021
“Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Let in the light
Most winter holidays have at least one common theme: They celebrate light in the annual cycle of darkness.
It starts around November and the Diwali Festival of Lights, on through the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, the Christmas tree and the Kwanzaa kinara. There’s Saint Lucy’s crown of candles, the bonfires of Yule and the lanterns of the Lunar New Year. In our darkest months, we spill light from our homes and our hearts.
As you move towards the winter solstice and the year’s longest night, in what ways do you internalize light? One what do you shine your light?
If you are a candle in this world, still lit and glowing, where will you shine yourself?
Happy holidays, in all the ways you celebrate!
And some clickable fun…
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
For the past two years, drummer Dave Grohl and producer Greg Kurstin have recorded cover songs by Jewish artists, and released one on each night of Hanukkah. Check out their The Hanukkah Sessions 2021!
It’s the season of giving. Here’s a cool way to make your gift go even further. The Giving Multiplier adds a percentage on top of your donation and sends proceeds to the nonprofit of your choice along with one of their featured “super-effective charities.”
Whether your house is full of bright, filtered light or you live below street level, you can still have plants. We’re really loving these tutorials for making your own life-like paper plants.
Find reciprocity
In Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us that “all thriving is mutual.” As a botanist, poet, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer describes the way humans and plants thrive together when we’re in a relationship of reciprocity. Here’s one way to find that mutual exchange wherever you look.
11/7/2021
“In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Find reciprocity
In Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us that “all thriving is mutual.” As a botanist, poet, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer describes the way humans and plants thrive together when we’re in a relationship of reciprocity.
Reciprocity happens when we freely exchange our gifts with others for mutual benefit. With plants, it means that we tend to them and they tend to us. The same is true for animals and our fellow humans. Fill your yard or balcony with bird food, and you’re rewarded with bird song. Surprise your neighbors with fresh bread or shovelled snow, and you may have an ally when you need one.
Every life has spaces of reciprocity. It may be in your relationships with family, friends, neighbors, pets, your garden or your local park. Those spaces where you turn a nurturing eye tend to return the favor. Where do you find reciprocity in your life? Sometimes, just taking a moment to recognize and appreciate those relationships can fill you up.
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Listen to Robin Wall Kimmerer on the On Being podcast discussing the intelligence of plants.
You know we love a poem. Here’s an Ode to Coffee from Sadhguru.
We're cooking up a new treat for you—Japanese Furoshiki gift wrapping made with hand-dyed cloth. Not familiar with Furoshiki? Check out this article that shows you 6 ways to try it out. (Keep your eye out here for CoffeeSock’s offering, coming soon!)
Light the past; see the future
In Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, Katherine May writes of the magic that the cold months bring: “It’s s time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.”
10/31/21
“In Halloween, we see echos of the Gaelic festival of Samhain, which marked the arrival of the “dark half” of the year. Samhain was a way of marking that ambiguous moment when you didn’t know who you were about to become, or what the future would hold. It was a celebration of limbo.”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Light the past; see the future
In Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, Katherine May writes of the magic that the cold months bring: “It’s s time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.”
In late October, as summer moves into the past but winter has not yet arrived, a space opens up. During ancient fall festivals, we celebrated this moment of in betweenness, looking back to remember those loved ones who have passed while preparing for the winter ahead and all that comes after.
To reflect is to look out from yourself in order to see back in. In that way, the past can be a mirror to the future. Maybe in the midst of your own fall festivities, you will light a candle for things past and see a glimmer there of things to come.
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
Wondering what to do with cilantro stems, egg shells, or kale stems? Don’t toss them! Check out Food Waste Feast and “stop throwing out perfectly good food.”
Try your hand at Day of the Dead Bread, from chef Margarita Carrillo Arronte’s Mexico: the Cookbook.
If you’ve been reading about the supply chain lately, consider this article on why “It’s time for Americans to buy less stuff.” (OK, maybe this one isn’t “fun” exactly. But we found it enlightening.)
Become a citizen of your bioregion
Tucked into the daily sights and sounds of the modern world, the ancient one is still there. In How To Do Nothing, Jenny Odell invites us to “identify as citizens of the bioregion as much as (if not more than) the state. Our ‘citizenship’ in a bioregion means not only familiarity with the local ecology, but a commitment to stewarding it together.”
October 10, 2021
“It’s possible to understand the world from studying a leaf. You can comprehend the laws of aerodynamics, mathematics, poetry and biology through the complex beauty of such a perfect structure.
It’s also possible to travel the whole world and learn nothing. ”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Become a citizen of your bioregion
In How to Do Nothing, author Jenny Odell invites us to “identify as citizens of the bioregion as much as (if not more than) the state. Our ‘citizenship’ in a bioregion means not only familiarity with the local ecology, but a commitment to stewarding it together.”
In central Texas, home of CoffeeSock, the bioregion includes a dizzying array of native trees, plants, soils, birds and other critters. Take a walk near our shop on any given morning, and you’ll spy red oak, bald cyprus, and pecan trees. In November, you can gather enough bounty to make a southern pecan pie. Keep walking and listen closely. You’ll hear the high-pitched trill of a red tailed hawk or the trickster calls of the mockingbird.
Tucked into the daily sights and sounds of the modern world, the ancient one is still there. Grab a book about your area and begin noticing. Before you know it, you’ll see and hear your bioregion everywhere. Share it with your neighbors and friends and family. Cherish it together, and keep it healthy for next century’s citizens.
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three cool clickables. And just so you know, when we list products, it’s just because we like them. We’re not sponsored by anything but our dreams and imaginations.
We love Thich Nhat Hanh and have this book on our wish list.
Our minisocker, Buckley, loves snacks (who doesn’t). But he also loves the planet and wishes the packaging was more eco-friendly. Then we discovered Off the Eaten Path composting program. Woot!
Wondering about the native people who inhabited the lands you now live on? Discover the tribes, territories, languages and treaties of your region at Native Land Digital.
Celebrate yourself and sing yourself
What do you celebrate and sing about yourself? Your style, your brain, your heritage, your killer baked goods? Take a minute to reflect alongside Walt Whitman.
September 26, 2021
“You are not lucky to be here. The world needs your perspective. They are lucky to have you. ”
One idea to keep it slow and simple… Celebrate your self and sing yourself
Walt Whitman’s gorgeous 1892 poem, “Song of Myself” begins with these words:
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
When you think about it, it’s so simple. What I am, what I contribute—it’s part of the fabric of the world around me. Same goes for you.
So what do you celebrate and sing about yourself? Your style, your brain, your heritage, your killer baked goods? And while you’re filling your own cup with self love, remember as Uncle Walt does, that you’re as good as filling us up too. So thank you for being you!
And some clickable fun!
We love to discover and share, so we’ve added three sharable clickables just for fun.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! Check out the PALABRA Archive at the Library of Congress with hundreds of poets and writers recorded at the Library and locations around Spain and Latin America.
You must try Molly Baz’s recipe for Sour Cream & Onion Biscuits! They are the yummiest biscuits I’ve ever made. And I make them all the time now. Perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee.
And from the “things you didn’t know you needed until you got one” file, Corina’s sister gave her a Kula cloth for hiking and camping adventures. Pee in the woods, but keep it safe, sanitary, and trash free!