Hopeful & Helpful Ed. 2
Since writing my first edition of a “Hope List”, I decided to alter the framework slightly. I am re-titling this ongoing series “Hopeful & Helpful,” as I aim to continue sharing glimmers of hope on the personal and wider scale as well as anything I learn of that I think could be helpful to others. Take what you need , pass it along if you feel so inclined, and leave the rest.
Onward to this week’s edition:
Do you know your neighbors? If not, can I gently nudge you to introduce yourself (even if it’s been an awkward amount of time and you’re worried you missed your window)? Can I encourage you to take it a step further and invite them to dinner? We’ve lived in our neighborhood 2.5 years and started with hellos, small talk, a realization we had babies within a year of each other and now there are 4 other couples on a group chat and we’ve started alternating hosting dinners. We went first and when they were over, one of the men noticed our fridge handle was loose and said, “You know this is really easy to fix right?” (Embarrassingly, my husband and I had just been sighing exasperatedly or cussing whenever we pulled on the handle and it fell). He offered to come over the next day and fix it, which he did, while also showing us so we could do it ourselves in the future. Then, a couple days later, I was walking my dog before work and my neighbor waved as she pulled out of her driveway. A few minutes later I got a text that she was picking up lunch from a teriyaki place nearby and did I want anything? Case in point: it can be wonderful to put in the effort to know your neighbors. Face-to-face connection, even with the potential awkwardness and friction, is a bulwark against so much of what is ailing humanity. We are an interdependent species. And getting an offer of teriyaki is lovely.
A dear friend who found a lump in her breast got her biopsy results back and they were BENIGN. Hallelujah! The relief. Also, a good reminder to perform self- examinations of your ta- tas every so often and talk to your doctor if anything feels off. I am proud of my friend for speaking to her doctor promptly and going to follow up appointments.
Another friend introduced me to the free app “How We Feel” and I have since recommended it to several clients who love it. It’s essentially an interactive journal that helps you identify specific feelings, reflect, and practice self- compassion and self- regulation.
You can read more about it here: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/the-how-we-feel-app-helping-emotions-work-for-us-not-against-us/I learned this kitchen tip from Amy Palanjian (of Yummy Toddler Food): when you are cooking pasta and want an easy way to add veggies, you can toss in frozen/hard veggies the last minute or so they pasta is boiling, drain them with the pasta, and they will be PERFECT. I add frozen peas to my son’s Mac N Cheese and broccoli to the protein pasta salad I meal prep for lunches- they are softened but not soggy. Highly recommend.
Poetry has been soothing to read this week in light of the inauguration, so I’ll leave a few favorites below:
The second poem is by Kate Baer.
“Where hope and fear are mingling.”
In our house, in our neighborhood, we will continue celebrating those who uplift others, engage in meaningful ways in their community, and work towards the flourishing of all.
Here’s to being stubbornly hopeful, even and especially now.