A Check-In

Dear Readers,

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I've got a bunch of work to do, and I've been behind on Witch's Mark, in part because the next few cards are tricky and I want to make sure I'm giving them the care and attention they deserve. Also, I don't know about the rest of you, but the world's bad news has been relentless. Watching our democracy crumble has sapped my creative energy, my spirit, and my desire to get out of bed. That's not a cry for help, it's just reality. I'm fine. I'll be fine. I'm just aware of what is happening in the world, and unfortunately it's very bad.

I appreciate your patience while I take a few weeks to find my sea legs in this new paradigm (and get some of my actual work done).

Have you been able to find pockets of joy recently? Care to share where that's coming from and where others might find it? Have you been able to read the news without dissociating or descending into despair? Nihilism isn't going to help us, and I've been trying every day not to give up completely. If you've got any tips for the rest of us, please leave them in the comments.

I have, thankfully, had a few moments of tremendous joy recently. Here are a few of them:

I took my friend, Kinga, to Paris Hilton's birthday party this weekend (can you even believe? Yes, I'm bragging, but please be happy for me), and we had an amazing time dancing to great music, watching Snoop Dogg lead the crowd in singing happy birthday, taking photos in a ball pit. It was joyous, fun, pink, and sparkly, just like Paris.

Over the weekend, my 16 month old nephew got a bike helmet and then insisted on wearing it all day. Last night, he was walking around in a bike helmet, pink sunglasses, and a diaper. This child has never met an accessory he doesn't love, and he looks great in ALL OF THEM. He is pure, unadulterated joy personified, and it's really hard to be sad when he's around.

I took my regular dance class this weekend – it was the second week in a row of a very difficult dance. I considered not going, because of how difficult the first week had been for me, but I went, and though it was still difficult, I left feeling good about myself. I'm always proud of myself when I am resilient enough to suck publicly.

My friend, Emily St James's book, WOODWORKING is coming out next week, and I'm so excited for the world to get to read it. If you have not already pre-ordered your copy, you should do it ASAP.

I made a number of beautiful witch's bell wreaths recently that brought me a significant amount of joy. I'm thinking of doing some kind of a witchy stoop sale soon where I can peddle my witchy wares to passerbys.

I used edible flowers to decorate a cake recently and it made me feel like a domestic goddess and fairy woman.

My husband got us tickets to see Luka Dončić's first game as a Laker. It was really fun, and watching Zack nudge our kids excitedly to whisper: "You're witnessing history!" was very cute.

I'm looking for joy where I can, interrupting the horror spiral when I can, and reminding myself that there is only so much that I can control. Oh, also, I'm taking my anti-depressants religiously.

There will be more from me soon, but in the meantime, please let me know how/where you've been finding moments of joy. And be kind to one another!

Love you, mean it, more soon,

Eli