For the past two years I’ve been following a checklist of things to do and eat that have kept me from sinking into my normal winter numbness and inertia. It’s felt really good to be able to be present and feel good on a daily basis. So this year I’m inviting anyone who wants to to follow my checklist with me from November 1 (first day of the fall time change) through March 31 (those first two weird weeks back from the spring time change). It’s five months, 151 days, and it takes about 70 minutes a day for me. I’ll help you modify the checklist for yourself (I take some supplements you might want to take different varieties of, and you’ll need to choose what type of daily practices to do in different categories) and then we’ll just do it. I’ll have pins made and everyone who makes it through to the end with only ten missed days will get a pin. I’m charging you money for it, $75 so you’ll keep going and won’t just drop out after the first week or the first time you skip doing it.
There is, of course, no guarantee that doing this list will keep you above water with your mood. But it definitely won’t hurt, and just the consistency alone should help keep you from spiraling away during the untethered icy weirdness of February and from thinking you’re the only one who feels a little weird about all the flashy stuff in December. I’ll have a Discord server that you can join if you want to talk about it with anyone.
This is a challenge about being kind to yourself, not about being hard-core.
I’m opening registration on October 15 so you have time to set up your own checklist and be ready to start November 1.
Also, I will be doing a readalong here on this blog of the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The subtitle of the book is “Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants,” but it’s actually about being a kind, thoughtful parent who sees the long view of the world she wants for her children and what she wants to equip them with. I had a lot of affirming and learning thoughts about my own parenting while reading it, so I hope you get something good out of it, too.
Discussion schedule:
November 30, 2020: Discuss the “Planting Sweetgrass” section, Preface through p. 59
December 30, 2020: Discuss the “Tending Sweetgrass” section, pp. 61-117
January 29, 2021: Discuss the “Picking Sweetgrass” section, pp. 119-201
February 26, 2021: Discuss the “Braiding Sweetgrass” section, pp. 203-300
March 30, 2021: Discuss the “Burning Sweetgrass” section, pp. 301-386