The thing about being chronically ill or chronically fatigued or having chronic pain is how much time you spend trying to figure it all out. Where is the pain coming from? Is it new? And, is this important pain? It eats time and time is the architecture of our interests, which become part of our identity. Chronic health problems (illness, fatigue, pain) become a hobby not of your choosing.
I recently attended a weekend workshop with Jillian Pransky, a yoga teacher. In using quotes or passages of writing, she’d refer to them as “seed thoughts.” I couldn’t keep my brain off of how lovely that idea was.
So here are some things I’ve noticed, little everyday things that have been seeds in my thoughts, growing luscious gratitude towards the good parts of my day.
1. Things You’ve Not Yet Seen: The Sealey Challenge and Poetry Collections
Speaking of mystery and sleuthing in general, I could probably spend a year just reading about books about to be released. It’s often easy to spot the lists of novels soon to publish, but less so about volumes of poetry. For some reason I’ve missed seeing The Sealey Challenge before - for the month of August, the poet Nicole Sealey challenges folks to read a book (or chapbook) of poetry each day. Find inspiration online by using the hashtags #TheSealeyChallenge #SealeyChallenge. You can find book-length poetry collections on various free sites, like Obooko, or lists of free books like this one on reddit, or free books on readers like Barnes & Nobles’ Nook reader. There are also options from free readers associated with libraries, like the Libby app.
As for things you haven’t seen yet, there are still plenty of poetry books to be published in 2023. A smattering that caught my eye (besides the emoticon poetry anthology coming out, because I’m sure that’s been talked of enough):
Paying for Gas With Quarters, Aly Allen. A veteran, a parent, a human with a unique voice on universal topics.
Night Logic, Matthew Gellman. Grief, bullying, sexuality and compassion. Oh and beauty, a lot of beauty.
The Burning Key: New and Selected Poems, Beatrix Gates. A new anthology of this poet whose simplicity is staggering.
Lent: Poems, Kate Cayley. Poems and lyric essay which are comforting in their own way, a validation of ambivalence and burnout.
When I think of God, I think of hiding. The way a child hides. In hope of being found.
-Kate Cayley
2. Poems
So many gorgeous poems I found this last month (ok, month plus). Four I loved in particular are by Marty McConnell, Ra Avis, Shel Silverstein (yes, indeed!), and David Whyte. Links to the full poem and snippets of my favorite bits here:
Freda Kholo to Marty McConnell, by Marty McConnell
don’t wish away
your cracked past, your
crooked toes, your problems
are papier mache puppets
you made or bought because the vendor
at the market was so compelling you just
had to have them
Walk on Anyway, Ra Avis
The world is
being covered in cement,
pulled apart by gravity,
and is always, always spinning
to its end.Tiny defiant human–
Get up.
Get up,
and save it anyway.
The Folks Inside, Shel Silverstein
Inside you, boy,
There’s an old man sleepin’,
Dreamin’ waitin’ for his chance.
Inside you, girl,
There’s an old lady dozin’,
Wantin’ to show you a slower dance.
So keep on playin’,
Keep on runnin’,
Keep on jumpin’, til the day
That those old folks
Down inside you
Wake up … and come out and play.
The Truelove, David Whyte
Years ago in the Hebrides,
I remember an old man
who walked every morning
on the grey stones
to the shore of baying seals,
who would press his hat
to his chest in the blustering
salt wind and say his prayer
to the turbulent Jesus
hidden in the water,and I think of the story
of the storm and everyone
waking and seeing
the distant
yet familiar figure
far across the water
calling to them
3. Podcasts
I haven’t been listening to many podcasts of late, but my go to is always Today Explained from Vox Media. I love the deep dive into a subject in the news, and I truly love how their anchors Noel King and Sean Rameswaram often just react in the moment to details about the news. My absolute favorite episode of late is Honey, they stole the bees.
4. Playlists
I stumbled across the artist Victory earlier this year, and her music is outstanding. It makes sense then that her taste in music, in her playlist on Spotify would also be amazing.
Late into 2022, I found the blog/newsletter The Good Trade and feel deeply into admiration with whomever sets their playlists. This one on easing into the day called Gentle Morning is sure to have some tracks you might not have found yet.
5. Treats and Treasures
First, treasures. I’ve been trying to enjoy more tea, as a mindfulness practice. There are some great resources on the Sipsby site if you’d like to know more. And that has led to being mildly obsessed with hand painted mugs with tiny little flowers. Like this one on Etsy. It’s also possible my nascent pottery career is leading that way.
Or better yet, this one from Lafleurartisane’s Etsy shop. Possibly just obsessed with their entire shop consisting of ridiculously detailed pottery.
Also on my covet list? These tiny pearl bookmarks. I love how small they are. As a bullet journal enthusiast, I can see using these instead of my washi-tape tab habit.
As for treats, I’m unfortunately back on the gluten-free team which makes my search for the perfect lemon cookie a bit difficult. These Lemon Almond Flour Cookies look amazing though.
This poem may also be titled, “A Very Earnest Answer To The Man At the Library Who Read a Poem He Wrote Called, “Why Should I Save the World if I Won’t Get Laid for it?””
Maggie, I really loved reading this - most especially your music and podcast recommendations. Thank you for writing and sharing. ❤️