Welcome Back! How Are You?

Alphabet City, NYC
I loved Heather by Caitlin Mullen and Brawler by Lauren Groff
My beloved 17 yo cat was diagnosed with carcinoma last April and given weeks to live (we opted out of radiation). He’s still alive and doing rather well!
I’m worried about our country, the world, climate and my cat.
I’m proud that I worked for over 20 years in a field helping children and youth impacted by domestic and sexual violence. I’m also proud that I left when I knew it was time.

* Where, generally, do you live?
– Southern Oklahoma. Howdy!
* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? (I watched Solomamma on the flight.)
– I haven’t been watching or reading much thanks to a bit of perinatal depression, but my husband and I are currently watching season 3 of Lioness.
* What has brought you joy lately?
– My English Bulldog, Olive. She is my little bestie and she loves laying on the couch with me when I can’t force myself to do anything else. She’s seen so much of my life so far and I can’t wait to see how she does as a big sister in a few months!
* What are you worried about these days?
– I am already mourning that my husband and I will no longer be just a couple anymore. This was a planned pregnancy and we are both so excited to grow our family, but this has been such an emotional transition. I felt like I was predisposed to postpartum depression, but I had no idea it might affect me BEFORE the baby was even here. I’m thankful for great doctors that trusted me immediately about my feelings and prescribed meds that are helping overall. I still have a bit of a ways to go before I’m out of these trenches, and I’m sort of worried (but trying to stay optimistic) for what postpartum will bring.
* What’s something you love about yourself? xoxo
– Outside of the pregnancy, life has thrown a lot at me this year. I love that I’ve just kept going.

I wasn’t going to actually post this, but I have become a bit of an advocate for discussing anxiety/depression during pregnancy. It’s a symptom that never seems to be discussed and can be so isolating. I felt like a terrible mom – I no longer cared about my pregnancy, had regular intrusive thoughts, and could not get off the couch. If anyone else is going through something similar, you’re not alone, or a bad mom, and you don’t have to wait on that next appointment to ask for help!

* Where, generally, do you live?
Boise, Idaho!

* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately?
Circe. (Late to the party. On the privilege of being a human instead of a god. Love it.)

* What has brought you joy lately?
My garden. I eat a big tomato salad every day.

* What are you worried about these days?
My father (mid-80’s) was on a psych hold in the hospital this week. He hates getting old (not just old, but elderly) – it seemed to happen gradually and then all at once.

* What’s something you love about yourself?
I’m a really good mom. :)

1. Where, generally, do you live? Southern California
2. Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? Streaming: Lucky and Furious – both feature bada$$ female antiheroes. Movie: Tony (about a young Anthony Bourdain)
3. What has brought you joy lately? My son who took a leap, moved to Thailand, and is making a documentary about the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.
4. What worries me lately? Finding my encore career at 63 after leaving the corporate world. And everything about our current administration’s policies.
5. What’s something you love about yourself? That I am learning how to be kind to myself and truly be my own best friend.

1. Bay Area
2. I LOVED The Invite. Also watched The Drama on Hulu and find myself thinking about the premise quite a bit and how much we know (or don’t) people we are close to in our lives. People’s stories are so rich and complex. I just finished listening to: When We See You Again which was written by the mother of one of the hostages that was killed in Gaza. It was tragic and terrifying and beautiful and insightful and hopeful. Also just listened to Open Throat which was so quirky and entertaining and blessedly SHORT! And went a free screening of Thelma and Louise which totally holds up 35 years later!
3. Seeing Catherine Newman at a reading. She was just as delightful IRL as on the page!
4. Besides the state of the world, on a more personal level, my beloved senior dog who I fear is approaching the end. Also my elderly uncle who lives across the country and just recently lost his wife.
5. How much I’ve learned to reserve judgment and give myself, and others, grace. It makes me feel lighter.

* Las Vegas, NV
* I enjoyed rewatching the Tom Holland Spiderman movies although I haven’t seen the new one yet!
* I made a summer bucket list that has been fun to work through. I included both big things (a trip) and small things (bake cookies).
* Worried about finding the balance between what I need to do and what I want to do (and what I have energy to do) in order to create a life I love.
* I love the way I’ve given myself permission lately to not take things too seriously. I’ve been reading silly YA novels that sound fun, knitting a hat that’s a wonky shape because I’m learning, and wearing strange outfits to walk the dog. Getting older is fun.

Welcome back!
* I live in Ghent, Belgium
* I just finished ‘the very definition of love’ by Sophia Benoit, relaxing and just what I needed
* whatching my kids land in the summer holidays, seeing how they found their calm and
* the reality of climate change, which was very visible here during the summer, combined with a growing feeling of hopelessness, that it can only get worse
*I love the flexibility of my body and mind during a difficult period in my life

Where, generally, do you live? Austin Texas and Fayetteville, Ark
Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? I am DEVOURING The Calamity Club via Libby audio. Those Mississippi accents!
What has brought you joy lately? The friendships I’ve cultivated in my 50s.
What are you worried about these days? My aging mother. She lives several states away and is low income.
What’s something you love about yourself? 1) I’m a terrific listener: I don’t interrupt and I ask thoughtful questions. 2) I remember my friends’ birthdays and anniversaries and always send a text.

Welcome back!
– Waving hi from a cosy corner in Gothenburg, Sweden.
-I am loving Slow Horses, Pachinko and Widow’s Bay (new AppleTV subscriber here). Gary Oldman, just wow…💜
-What gives me joy lately – I try to see, like really look and see and marvel at the faces of people around me when they smile. I get a warm glow or lightning jolt from how beautiful these people look when I let myself to truly see them
-I’m worried about my parents’ declining health, and to some extent, my own state of health
-I’m embracing my eye crinkles as a sign of grateful and graceful aging

Welcome back! Outside of DC, just found The Heart Doc on Prime Video (Australian show with several seasons – yay!).
My youngest styling his hair brings me joy – why he thinks that plastering it down with gel is the way to go is beyond me, but the innocence of him being proud in how he looks is priceless.
Worried about my kids and school – oldest now in 6th and that’s the age where I can finally really vividly remember what my life was like then, both with awesome school activities and friend groups. I don’t see any of that happening yet for my kid and it worries me.

* Just north of Chicago
* We are the Champions – episodes on Netflix about extremely niche contests, like dog dancing and chili eating. A delightful bunch of people embracing their specific interests and weirdness
* Spending time outside since the weather is finally a little nicer
* Besides the really big stuff like democracy and all, I’m anxious about my 8th grader’s upcoming school year. Last year he had a super supportive teacher in a subject that is hard for him, and this year we’re back to a previous teacher who just kind of let him struggle. He’ll need to self-advocate a lot this year, which will be good practice for high school, but is still a big adjustment.
* What’s something you love about yourself? xoxo

Hi Jo! Hello from rainy Montreal where the autumn crispness is dipping its toes into the dregs of summer. I just finished the TV adaptation of the Testaments which I really enjoyed, much less violent and disturbing then the Handmaid’s Tale. I watched my godson graduate from med school yesterday which was so moving! I am worried about my anxious nephew who is back living with us and is starting back at school today (after flunking out last year). I would say that I love my ability to be kind to my body right now. It’s put on a lot of weight with medication and hormones, and I just want to focus on moving and nourishing it. I started taking Pilates reformer classes and I’m looking forward to seeing how I improve over time.

*North Shore of Boston (by farmland and the ocean)
* I loved the Bombing of Pam 103 on netflix (fascinating and moving story from recent history) and the End of Oak Street (great summer movie). The Atlantic has also been killing it lately.
*Beach walks, local food events, meeting friends at the farmer’s market, a perfect latte or flat white, my two fluffy golden retriever monsters.
*Whether I’ll ever get to be a mother. My husband and I have been living through IVF hell for the last year and got bad news this morning from our most recent (4th) cycle.
*That I’m good at finding (or making) small moments of happiness even when things are really hard (been relying a lot on that lately!)

Welcome back!
* Where, generally, do you live? Arlington, VA
* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? (I watched Solomamma on the flight.) Just finished Birding with Benefits – loved it!! Reading The Correspondent now.
* What has brought you joy lately? Hanging out with my family
* What are you worried about these days? Everything and nothing. First day of school, the state of the world, AI, my husband’s upcoming knee surgery, my job (I work in global health), and then I go hang out in my garden or with my kids, and I feel okay. We’re going to be okay.
* What’s something you love about yourself? xoxo

Where, generally, do you live? Bloomington, Indiana
* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockton. Ride or Die —fantastic!
* What has brought you joy lately? Finding so much joy in new moments friends in my late 40s) giggling like 14 year olds over silliness.
* What are you worried about these days? Our environment / global politics and the impact on an all people in our world.
* What’s something you love about yourself? My big heart and quickness to laugh.

Welcome back from beauiful Cornwall!
I was born and still living in Athens, Greece.
I saw both films in summer cinemas:
1)”Odyssey” (full of mistakes and miscast, only Hathaway was really good) and
2) “8 1/2” by Fellini (still a masterpiece after 60 years)
Next week I am going to island Naxos for ten days, can’ t wait.
My laugh I think, so everybody says.

+ Munich, this town has always been good to me. And I really like my neighbours.
+ Haven’t watched this series yet, but found it intriguing. https://www.instagram.com/p/DcWqh9rNmEo/; I saw this (it’s 4secs on insta haha) and I really liked it. Humans are fantastic https://www.instagram.com/p/Db-ZuVjFDyB/ and feel this lightness: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbbc83TI4ZR/ I listened to it on repeat. It makes me know that all is good. And this, too, real music: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcRP_9WxnWH/. Went to an art exhibition, felt like this https://www.instagram.com/p/DcAL8HiNbv9/

+ My friend and her baby. I am so so happy for her
+ my directionlessness
+ I like how my head works and which creative ideas it has & puts into action

PS: If the question would have been, what do you wish for: A car that can do this and the feeling to go along with it with the person sitting next to me in it: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbQ-iGqopRp/

I live in Canada.
We’ve been laughing hard at “Children ruin everything” as it seems to accurately reflect our daily life.
Playing Skip Bo with our child these days is very fun.
I am quite concerned about the political tensions between your country and mine. I find it quite difficult and hope that I can keep coming back to this community and that the comments and thoughts shared by all of you can help me.
This may sound very vain, but I love my sense of humour. I make myself laugh.

*Virginia
*Watching Sterling Point (I’m 40 but it’s still a sweet, nostalgic, perfect little end of summer watch) and reading Emily Henry Happy Place (her books are always easy and great)
*Making cheap smoothies in my cheap magic bullet blender. That, and soaking in all the sun I can.
*My dad’s seemingly failing health, money, having limited time in general (single mom)
*Generosity and my sense of humor.

Good morning!

* I live in Nashville, TN.
* Just finished watching “Your Friends and Neighbors,” which can’t return soon enough, and started “Slow Horses,” which I’d rebuffed for a long time but is so grippy.
* THE LEAVES HAVE STARTED FALLING. This is the most joyful of joys because it means the sweltering summer days are coming to an end.
* Something small I’m worried about is I still haven’t booked the flight and rental car for a trip scheduled in October. Don’t know why I’ve put it off, but it’s completely overwhelming to me.
* I love that I’m not complacent.