The night before Thanksgiving, I did a guided meditation on the 10 Percent Happier app called “Gratitude for Benefactors.” The meditation asks the listener to call to mind a person who helped them in some way. The first person I thought of was, surprisingly, a teacher I had in middle school. I haven’t seen her in years, and I had never before thought about how much she encouraged me or the learning opportunities she provided.
Read more
Due to the current state of the pandemic in the U.S., we’ve decided to cancel our planned trip to see my mom for Thanksgiving. As I’ve written in past years (here and here), Thanksgiving was always a big day in my family. It’s been many years now since this holiday looked like it did in my youth, but I believe this will be the first year that I won’t spend Thanksgiving with my mom and at least some of my extended family.
Read more
This is my last week of maternity leave. I don’t plan on having any more kids, so heading back to work on Monday marks the end of the newborn season of my life. I had anticipated having children for a long time, and after I had my son, I’d looked forward to experiencing a second pregnancy and birth, and to welcoming a daughter. I have my ideal family now, but it’s a little bittersweet to think that I won’t be doing it all again.
As hard as it will be to leave my baby on Monday, I’m eager for something of a return to normalcy. I’m not sure what normalcy even means in 2020, but maternity leave can feel like a pause in life, and I think I’m ready to hit play again.
Read more
Over the past few months, I’ve been working on tuning in to my body. The first lesson that Kara Loewentheil teaches in her coaching program is that emotions are physical sensations in the body. To process an emotion, you have to allow yourself to feel the physical sensation and then name it. When I feel a lump in my throat, a knot in my stomach, a racing heart, or heat rising in my face, I now stop and take note of it. I observe the physical sensation with curiosity. I ask myself, what thought is causing this emotion? What can I learn from it? What is my body trying to tell me?
Read more
In this occasional series, I share what I’ve been reading, watching, thinking, and doing.
What I’m Reading:
Audio, while doing chores: How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi.
E-book, while nursing the baby: How to Raise an Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims.
Occasional porch reading, while the baby sleeps: Money: A Love Story, by Kate Northrup.
Recently finished and recommended to a friend: Untamed, by Glennon Doyle (this one resonated with me WAY more than I expected it would).
What I’m Watching: Younger
What I’m Listening To: So many podcasts! (I have a lot of time to listen to things right now.) A few favorites: So Money, Crushing Chaos with Law Firm Mentor, Wealthyesque, Simple Families
Current Hobby: Hobby? What’s that? I enjoy going for long walks with my newborn. I’ve been contemplating taking up tennis at some point in the future, when I can fit it in.
Where I’ve Been Recently: The only place I’ve gone since January is to Nashville, for a medical appointment.
What I’m Looking Forward To: The end of this pandemic!
Where I’m Going Next: I’m making a quick trip to Pennsylvania to visit my mom. Beyond that, who knows — I won’t be flying again anytime soon.
Latest Personal Project: In an effort to squeeze in some more physical activity where I can, I’ve been doing daily push-ups, adding one more each day. I’m up to 27 now. We’ll see how high I can go.
Inspired By: The women lawyers in some of my online groups who have managed to pivot and grow their practices during an economic downturn. I love reading about their creativity and resourcefulness.
Recent Moment of Joy: Singing along to Beatles songs in the car with my 2.5 year old son.
Grateful For: 12 weeks of maternity leave.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Alexis