❤️ Lovely reminder that like adulting, personing can be a hard and lonely experience when we temporarily forget how magic we are. ✨ You are so magic, Caroline, the way you weave stories from your consciousness and make them turn into feelings of comfort, belonging, and joy in others. 🤗
Great tips, Caroline. I became disillusioned with social media a few years back, and deleted almost all of my profiles. Instagram stayed. Every so often my husband will ask if I'm 'doom scrolling' when on it, but I only follow accounts that make me happy so can genuinely say that I am not.
As for this point: “How do they keep it together? How do they get it all done?” When I’ve been fortunate enough to glimpse the answer, it’s been some version of: They don’t. They aren’t. They have help (or other resources). Always, there is some angle you cannot see.
I find myself CONSTANTLY being asked how I "do it!" (Always with the exclamation mark.) "Super mum" is thrown at me quite often as well as more general awe, because people watch me from the outside taking my three little ones for strolls in the park and having snacks to hand etc and think I'm absolutely bossing it. What they don't see is that the house is left in a mess to get us out the door, the snacks were purchased on the way to curb a toddler meltdown when I went to the shop to buy drinks I'd forgotten to pack, I often feel horribly guilty for not being present/patient/organised enough and for at least a year - no word of a lie - I have been wearing my contact lenses in the wrong eyes (and wasting money in the process, as one of them is designed to correct an issue I only have in one eye, so costs extra.)
Noone has is all together. We are all apes in active wear. The best we can do is try to enjoy the ride before it stops.
Your conversation with your spouse struck me. It's almost like he doesn't claim to "struggle with being a person" because he understands in some way (that eludes me) that people struggle. It doesn't make us less human, it makes us more.
I've found that among a certain set of wealthy people having a personal assistant is a status symbol and often done because others do it. I've also found that the people I know who have personal assistants have the very most cluttered of lives.
Yes to simplicity whenever possible. And yes to analog over digital. And finally yes to the sanctuary of Central Park!
I am enchanted by the idea of vertical time—the time when you are so present the clock stands still and goes deep, deep. It’s also some kind of spiritual dimension, I am told. I go there rarely, but when I do—bliss!
The kindergarten self-care chart 😍 Stickers! Any physical recording of the day that has nothing to do with my phone, I love. Especially when it’s keeping track of the fun stuff! (Reading, taking a walk, etc)
Oh, I am so glad you enjoyed it. Analog fun for the win. (And I thought of you and your beach walks while writing the Thoreau part. It doesn't get much better than that!) 💕
Between the star chart (I’m really old school, or maybe preschool) and the Magician with a not-so-subtle reminder to get off my dead ass; “Isn’t there something you promised yourself to do?”, I sense that my time for waffling is about used up. Thanks for the heads-up. I’m (reluctantly) on it.
I’m on my first weekend off in a month, lying on my bed with a furry friend, indulging in newsletters that have piled up since June. Yours here is everything I never knew I needed. This bed, this cat, this phone, these words are a sumptuous luxury! Ahhhhhh FRUIT!!!!
I just read the Thoreau quotes and your wise interpretation of Carpe Diem to my friends over lunch at our country weekend away. It resonated with all. Thank you and here’s to more magic and more pressing go!
I think the goal is to be (with) the day rather than seize it. Sure, there are things to do (don't ask my air purifier the last time I cleaned the screen, though...that's what the holiday is for!), but it's more important to be present and enjoy it rather than worrying about tomorrow or letting yesterday haunt. And I technically have 3 calendars: My iCal, a leather-bound daily diary (as in calendar) and then one that was meant to be fun -- a goal/task organizer. I still like the idea of that one and it can be pleasurable, but it's also homework and, right now, I just can't. Love yours, though, Caroline. As for your boss, I can't tell you how many rich/powerful adults choose to remain helpless children. And they can because they hire people to do the adulting. xo
This was such a comforting read. Now I want a pocketbook calendar so I can (physically!) make fun dates and include cute stickers. And how divine was it to pull the Magician card?! Love that.
My goal or objective is to simplify my life. I am getting better at it but it still not where I want it to be. I do feel overwhelmed and anxious at times when I see everything that needs to get done. When that happens I meditate, go for a walk in the park., listen to music or read. I detach for a while and then I feel better at tackling some tasks. I am more compassionate towards myself. Caroline, thank you for sharing! A ray of sunshine on a rainy day.❤
❤️ Lovely reminder that like adulting, personing can be a hard and lonely experience when we temporarily forget how magic we are. ✨ You are so magic, Caroline, the way you weave stories from your consciousness and make them turn into feelings of comfort, belonging, and joy in others. 🤗
Thank you, my (magical) friend. You are so very appreciated.
Great tips, Caroline. I became disillusioned with social media a few years back, and deleted almost all of my profiles. Instagram stayed. Every so often my husband will ask if I'm 'doom scrolling' when on it, but I only follow accounts that make me happy so can genuinely say that I am not.
As for this point: “How do they keep it together? How do they get it all done?” When I’ve been fortunate enough to glimpse the answer, it’s been some version of: They don’t. They aren’t. They have help (or other resources). Always, there is some angle you cannot see.
I find myself CONSTANTLY being asked how I "do it!" (Always with the exclamation mark.) "Super mum" is thrown at me quite often as well as more general awe, because people watch me from the outside taking my three little ones for strolls in the park and having snacks to hand etc and think I'm absolutely bossing it. What they don't see is that the house is left in a mess to get us out the door, the snacks were purchased on the way to curb a toddler meltdown when I went to the shop to buy drinks I'd forgotten to pack, I often feel horribly guilty for not being present/patient/organised enough and for at least a year - no word of a lie - I have been wearing my contact lenses in the wrong eyes (and wasting money in the process, as one of them is designed to correct an issue I only have in one eye, so costs extra.)
Noone has is all together. We are all apes in active wear. The best we can do is try to enjoy the ride before it stops.
Your conversation with your spouse struck me. It's almost like he doesn't claim to "struggle with being a person" because he understands in some way (that eludes me) that people struggle. It doesn't make us less human, it makes us more.
Hi Caroline,
I've found that among a certain set of wealthy people having a personal assistant is a status symbol and often done because others do it. I've also found that the people I know who have personal assistants have the very most cluttered of lives.
Yes to simplicity whenever possible. And yes to analog over digital. And finally yes to the sanctuary of Central Park!
I am enchanted by the idea of vertical time—the time when you are so present the clock stands still and goes deep, deep. It’s also some kind of spiritual dimension, I am told. I go there rarely, but when I do—bliss!
ALL 💥 OF 💥 THIS!
As you know, I can also grow tired of human-ing.
The kindergarten self-care chart 😍 Stickers! Any physical recording of the day that has nothing to do with my phone, I love. Especially when it’s keeping track of the fun stuff! (Reading, taking a walk, etc)
This was wonderful. Thank you 🏹✨
Oh, I am so glad you enjoyed it. Analog fun for the win. (And I thought of you and your beach walks while writing the Thoreau part. It doesn't get much better than that!) 💕
😍 You’ll have to come with me on one in the fall, those are truly magical!
Oh, I would LOVE that. Any time!
Between the star chart (I’m really old school, or maybe preschool) and the Magician with a not-so-subtle reminder to get off my dead ass; “Isn’t there something you promised yourself to do?”, I sense that my time for waffling is about used up. Thanks for the heads-up. I’m (reluctantly) on it.
I laughed out loud at “old school, or maybe preschool.” Both seem like excellent (and complementary) things to be.
I’m on my first weekend off in a month, lying on my bed with a furry friend, indulging in newsletters that have piled up since June. Yours here is everything I never knew I needed. This bed, this cat, this phone, these words are a sumptuous luxury! Ahhhhhh FRUIT!!!!
I just read the Thoreau quotes and your wise interpretation of Carpe Diem to my friends over lunch at our country weekend away. It resonated with all. Thank you and here’s to more magic and more pressing go!
I think the goal is to be (with) the day rather than seize it. Sure, there are things to do (don't ask my air purifier the last time I cleaned the screen, though...that's what the holiday is for!), but it's more important to be present and enjoy it rather than worrying about tomorrow or letting yesterday haunt. And I technically have 3 calendars: My iCal, a leather-bound daily diary (as in calendar) and then one that was meant to be fun -- a goal/task organizer. I still like the idea of that one and it can be pleasurable, but it's also homework and, right now, I just can't. Love yours, though, Caroline. As for your boss, I can't tell you how many rich/powerful adults choose to remain helpless children. And they can because they hire people to do the adulting. xo
Lovely push forward into life! Thank you
This was such a comforting read. Now I want a pocketbook calendar so I can (physically!) make fun dates and include cute stickers. And how divine was it to pull the Magician card?! Love that.
My goal or objective is to simplify my life. I am getting better at it but it still not where I want it to be. I do feel overwhelmed and anxious at times when I see everything that needs to get done. When that happens I meditate, go for a walk in the park., listen to music or read. I detach for a while and then I feel better at tackling some tasks. I am more compassionate towards myself. Caroline, thank you for sharing! A ray of sunshine on a rainy day.❤
Here’s to fruit(!) and sticker charts(!) 🍊🤩
🍎🍊🍍