Saving my life: bleak midwinter edition.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I periodically turn back to the question of what is saving my life now. (I got it from Barbara Brown Taylor’s luminous memoir Leaving Church.)

Even pausing to think about the question – or jot down list in my journal at the end of a long day – can help shift my perspective. There’s always something saving my life, even on the days when it feels like everything is killing me (and there are a lot of those, lately).

As she’s done in midwinter for the past few years, my friend Anne Bogel at Modern Mrs. Darcy is inviting everyone to share what’s saving their lives in this cold, bleak season. I’m sharing my list below, because I need the reminder to look for the lifesavers (or the bits of magic) that are all around. Bonus: I love the snapshot it provides of how my days look (and how they are brightened) at a given moment.

Here, in early February of a year that’s already been a wild ride, is what’s saving my life now:

• The La La Land soundtrack, which is full of swingy jazz, melancholy piano music and a couple of songs that make me cry.
• $3 daffodils for my desk (see above), and chats with my florist.
• My magic green coat, which garners compliments from strangers all. the. time.
• Red lipstick, especially on a grey day.
• My daily walks to Darwin’s, and checking in with my people there.
• Verlyn Klinkenborg’s wise, practical book on writing, which I am savoring on my morning commutes.
• The mornings I get to catch a ride to the train station with my husband. Those few minutes in the car together are precious.
• Texts from a few friends who are my lifelines.
• Long (or short) walks around Harvard Square: beloved streets, fresh air, the chance to stretch my legs and clear my head.
• Fleece-lined tights as the temperatures drop again.
• Piles of bright orange, tangy clementines.
• Hot water with honey and lemon, on the nights when I need a mug of warm (non-caffeinated) comfort.
• The colorful quilt made by my husband’s grandmother, which we sleep under all winter long.
• My happy lamp, Vitamin D pills, two desk lamps and all the sunshine I can get. (The days are slowly getting longer…)
• Weekly yoga classes at my local studio, where I am known by name.
• The fleece-lined plaid slippers I got for Christmas – so cozy.
• The Hamilton soundtrack, which helps me summon my courage.
• Scribbling in my journal when I can – even a few lines can help me sort out my thoughts.

Feel free to share your lifesavers in the comments, or hop over to Anne’s blog to join the linkup.