Bright Things on Dark Days
five things I'm thankful for right now
Issue #42
I’m writing this the night before our youngest child heads off to a church retreat and my husband and I run away get away for the weekend. As we tumble toward Thanksgiving week, here are five things that I’m thankful for that make the day to day a little brighter. I’d love to hear your “bright things” in the comments.
1—Blue Skies and the Last Bit of Fall Color
I’m a Florida-born girl turned Tennessean.
I still remember the first November I was here, when I saw the world go dark at 4:30pm. I stopped collating papers at the printing shop where I worked and stared out the window. Is Jesus coming back today? Almost twenty-five years have passed and the time change still conjures images of the end of the world.
As someone whose disposition is highly dependent on the level of light outside, nothing buoys my mood quicker than sunshine.1 So I’m thankful that the shorter, colder days of late Fall and Winter in Tennessee at least tend toward bright blue skies. On my bike ride today I felt like I was saying goodbye to the last bit of color in the trees, but I’m counting on the blue skies to help get me through.
Two of my kids are the exact opposite of me. Their mood is lifted by cloudy, rainy days. What about you? Sunshine or Clouds? Warm or Cold? Winter or Summer?
2—Podcasts
As a curious person, I get a lot of satisfaction from podcasts.
I’d say I listen to at least one almost every day. I tend to listen to them on my bike rides or in the car and I love that I get to choose what kind of podcast I’m in the mood for on any particular day.
Maybe it’s a day for something thoughtful that will send me to the side of the trail so I can write down quotes that I can use in a future newsletter. On those days I might turn to On Being with Krista Tippet, Everything Happens with Kate Bowler or maybe Time’s Person of the Week with Charlotte Alter.
Maybe I’m in the mood for something lighter, something that will offer me a break from my more contemplative side. On those days I might turn to Happy, Sad, Confused with Josh Horowitz (interviews with actors and directors) or On Fire: The Official Survivor Podcast after we’ve watched the latest Survivor episode.
For a reason I’ve yet to determine, I’m much more likely to listen to a podcast than an audiobook.
What about you? Are you a podcast person? If so, I’d love some recommendations. Prefer audiobooks? Again, recommendations, please. Or, neither?
3—Books
Books will always be one of my first loves.
This week I’m finishing A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab and I also began re-reading The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. The Ragamuffin Gospel had a big impact on my spiritual journey about five years ago. Since I started reading it again last week, I think I’ve underlined something on every other page. The photo of the books above offers a good sampling of how I prefer to straddle across genres, rather than stick to just one or two.
As much as I love books, I’m terrible at keeping them in good condition. If you’re one of those people who keeps your books pristine, I recommend skipping the next paragraph so you aren't tempted to unsubscribe from this newsletter altogether.
I dog ear books (gasp), I take them in the bath, I spill chocolate and salsa on the pages. When I pick up a book I’ve read several times before I’m actually happy to find evidence that the book has been well-loved and not just a pretty thing on a shelf. But this week I ruined a library book and that crosses a line even for me. It took a dive in a bath and I’ll be paying the library to purchase a new copy.
What about you? Dog-ear or bookmark? Fiction or Nonfiction? Any book recommendations from your nightstand?
4—My Sketchbook
A sketchbook practice is an ever-shifting habit of mine.
Sometimes I have one with me wherever I go, sometimes I go months or years without picking one up. Over the last few years I’ve grown more consistent. Who knows how long it will last?
For now my sketchbook keeps me grounded during concentrated periods of sitting, like church.2 It’s a place I can go when I need to get something out, like the letter I wrote to my anger yesterday. You might be wondering if a letter to my own emotions belongs in a sketchbook. It appears the answer is yes. It’s also a record of the beauty I see every day.
This week my oldest daughter and I planned a date together. After both our ideas for an afternoon adventure were foiled we ended up at a coffee shop with our sketchbooks out and a piece of Tiramisu with two forks.
A sketchbook is always there when you need it (if you remember to bring it along, that is).
What about you? Have you ever used a sketchbook? Have you been tempted to try one but you’re afraid to start? Maybe you keep your hands busy with some other activity you’d recommend?
5—TV and Movies
I have friends who don’t watch much TV.
And then there is me. As one who has dealt with insomnia for the last twenty years, I have pretty much conquered the streaming platforms. Do I say that with pride or shame?
I don’t know, I just say it honestly.
I love movies and TV. This year I’ve really enjoyed going back to the old school way of looking forward to new episodes each week. My husband and I watch the current seasons of Survivor and The Amazing Race as well as The Great British Baking Show. When we’re lucky, we’re joined by our fourteen-year-old. I think the joy derives from the shared experience and also from the anticipation of the pleasure when it’s not available again until the following week. It’s something that can’t be found in solo binge-watching (which I also do).
On my own I’m enjoying Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV during my treadmill walks and this month we also watched the four-part Netflix adaptation of All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I haven’t read Lessons in the Chemistry but I did read Doerr’s book. It’s been five years or so since I read it, which is enough time for me to hold the story and characters loosely and appreciate the great filmmaking. This past week we also got caught up in the light entertainment of a limited reality series called 007: Road to A Million3 on Prime TV. Teams of two compete in extravagant, Bond-inspired physical challenges, as well as answer trivia questions in order to win money.
What about you? What have you enjoyed watching lately?
Honorable Mentions
My people, getting outside, hot baths, the plants growing in my house, chocolate (obviously), friends, sunsets, writing this newsletter, and reading great essays on Substack. Bike rides are definitely on the list but I just wrote about them last week, so I decided to give them less space this week.
Continue the Journey
answers a listener’s question. Click below for the question, stay for Emily’s thoughtful answer as well as the quotes and insightful comments.
I’m acutely aware of time slipping away as we plan to celebrate our oldest daughter’s 23rd birthday next week. What the heck?! If you’re feeling the same way, you’ll probably appreciate the latest post from
.
A Gratitude Resource
In today’s newsletter by
, he links to a printable gratitude ‘zine that you can use for yourself or for your whole family. Thanks Austin!
If you’d like to support the writing and art that I create for this newsletter, you can now contribute to my art supply fund through “Buy me a Coffee”!
Blessings from the Guest Nest,
-Aimee
The level of light inside matters to me, not just the sunlight. My kids have told me that they always knew when I was up before them if all the lights were on and all the blinds were already open.
Note to moms with younger kids: all of my children would bring small sketchbooks to church and it really helped with the wiggles. Did it make it possible for me to completely focus on the sermon, did it stop the whispers and fighting? Nope! I didn’t say it was a miracle, I said it helped.
Parents, there’s a good bit of language in this show from the contestants so it might not be age appropriate to share with your kids. Honestly, I recommend you use your own discernment with any of the shows I’ve mentioned since we’re all in different stages of life and parenting.
You’re a Florida-born, now I get it why you prefer the summer over the winter, I can do relate!!!
Lovely seeing your sketches and I really love the colours of the one with the fields and red leaves.
Bigger Speed Bumps Please. I should have skipped the section about chocolate and salsa and dog eared books. Oh. My. Goodness.
But this is an excellent list of Five Things. I do approve of your math.