It’s been a rough couple of days. Feeling tired and grumpy, overwhelmed easily. This would be so much worse if I was trying to work a real job.

I’ve been doing other things instead. Happier this way.

• Tending to a sourdough starter – flour and water and yeast and bacteria that bubbles and grows and smells like the inside of a bakery. Got her from a friend. Her name is Henrietta. She lives in a mason jar on the kitchen counter. I feed her once a day. In return, she leavens crusty bread. Best served warm, dipped in olive oil with salt pepper and rosemary. Also good with pesto. Might try with hummus.
• Weeding various gardens. Kneeling down in the dirt and uprooting unwanted plants. Sometimes I can bike to work. This is significantly cheaper than therapy and I am convinced that it’s helping to balance the neurotransmitters. I am still sailing through the same stormy mental health, but recently I’ve been sailing with a sturdier vessel.
• Taking care of other people’s animals. I am getting to know people who live close by, helping them in this small way when then need it. I have never tried to get to know neighbors like this. We aren’t best buds, but it’s comforting to think there are decent people just around the corner. Even if I know absolutely nothing else about a person, if I can tell they’re good with dogs, that’s one reason to trust them.
• Cooking food that’s mostly made of plants. Crowdsourcing recipes. Chili with corn and sweet potatoes was good. Making dinner for my family more than I usually do.
• Teaching a kiddo how to play the acoustic guitar. Strings have been broken and hastily replaced. We’ve learned what a guitar is supposed to sound like when it’s in tune. I am trying to remember whatever music theory I tried to learn when I was approximately his age. I asked him what kind of music he likes, and he didn’t know, so for homework I told him to go find himself a taste in music 🎶
• I’ve been listening to stories about various rock & roll bands. David Bowie, Iggy Pop, the Replacements, the Velvet Underground. There’s nothing like hearing about the adventures of a starving artist to help me remember that things could be worse. (If you like podcasts, try No Dogs In Space from the Last Podcast Network.)
• Picking raspberries
• Swimming after dark
• I promised myself that I would not go back to food service. I also might be helping run a food truck this weekend. Mostly so that I can say I’ve worked in a food truck

So I guess it’s no wonder I’m tired.

Hope it’s a good night.