What I'm Digging: January [2]
finding buoys
Sigh. It has been quite a month. January, a month of beginnings, a month to look back and forward, this year has felt a little jarring so far. Like the feeling you have when your at the start of a rollercoaster ride, and its catching the track and lunges the cart forward then back to get on the new alignment. My mind and body and heart are recalibrating on this new track, at this new pace. And if I’m real with myself, its gonna require a lot more snack breaks.
January is a time for reflection and a lot of inner work, but simultaneously it feels like the perfect month to fill ones cup. To absorb and soak up creativity in many forms. Here are some of the things that I found inspiring this month.
Reading
I didn’t quite meet my reading goal for last year, but I’d like to think its because I am in the middle of several books. That’s not really anything new for me, I suppose. I am drawn to educational books, nonfiction full of information. But I have to balance them (because let’s be real, there are always more than one) with something light and easier to read (or at least easier to read). Here’s what’s on my shelf this month.
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I actually didn’t know it was based on a book. Its the story of a young girl thrown into the foster system and follows her as she cycles through various homes and situations. As it goes with books, it is far more expansive, and I am loving it just as much as the movie.
Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively
One part exploration of gardens, one part memoir, this book is a lovely read in the doldrums of winter. From the lush description of the heat of Cairo and poetic flora accounts of English gardens, this book pinpoints all those nostalgic feelings of place.
And as always this time of year, I’m adding books to my TO READ list. Got some recommendations? Let me know!
Watching
Severance - Second season ya’ll.
Diving into some of the more intense Studio Ghibli films with the kids since they are feeling ready for it and its like turning a new leaf in our weekend movie nights!
Listening
My musical exploration has increased a bunch after starting my weekly radio show at WDRT-Viroqua, our town’s little local radio station. It has been such a fun process to spend the week sifting through music, old and new. Each week I chose a word, theme or genre to explore and I have started sharing the playlists publicly on Spotify if you want to listen!
Something Local
Last year I did my first little solo trip and it was an insightful experience for me, so I carved a tiny bit of time to do one again this year. Vastly different than last years, I spent a quick couple days in Minneapolis, exploring and working. I had the chance to bump into some friends and family while digging into some heritage experiences at the Norway House and the American Swedish Institute.
What about you? What has the month held for you? What are you listening to? Reading? Watching? Is your year starting with doomsfeelings or are you finding little positive moments?
Thank you for this post! I am finding moments of wild joy while fruit foraging, sea salt harvesting, or nature gazing. I do wake up with sadness and fear regarding this country.
I just finished reading a lovely memoir called Freckled. A lady’s tale of growing up wild in Kauai. And just started My Year of Meats. A novel which feels like it’s going to be funny and wild.
So here’s to 2024. Hold on tight!