This spring weather, y’all. I don’t even know. We’ve had temperature swings worthy of my native West Texas: 80s and humid, 40s and raining, nearly every point in between. Swift-moving clouds, flashes of sunshine, sudden downpours and so much misty rain.
In some ways, the weather is reflecting the state of my soul: fitful, unsettled, often unpredictable. I am dealing with a lot of recent transitions and the fallout from the past year-plus of big changes. Sometimes it’s all I can do to keep up, brew myself a cup of tea and keep going. (Donia Bijan’s words about “the only thing to do” are running through my head every single day.)
In that spirit, I decided it was time for another list of what’s saving my life now: because something, or someone, always is. My lifesavers, in this topsy-turvy spring, include:
- That benediction I love at Morning Prayers on Tuesdays. “May God go before us to lead us…”
- My favorite black ankle boots: good for nearly all weather and comfortable for long walks.
- Poetry by John Daniel, John Terpstra and Brian Doyle.
- A recent visit from some beloved college friends and their little boy.
- Tulips in all shades of lipstick red and pink. (See above, for evidence from the Boston Public Garden.)
- Also: budding lilacs. The first lilies of the valley. Every new green leaf I see.
- Playing Twenty Questions with my friends’ 10-year-old twins the other night and laughing ourselves silly. (Partly because they’re still figuring out how it works.)
- The wise, funny, earnest Senior Talks at Morning Prayers, given by graduating students as we wrap up for the year.
- My daily walks around Harvard Square to my places, especially the florist and my beloved Darwin’s.
- Lauren Winner’s wise words about middles.
- My umbrella, fingerless gloves and sunglasses, all of which I’ve been keeping handy. (See also: crazy weather.)
- Long, long walks around Cambridge with a dear friend.
- The hilarious sixth installment in Jodi Taylor’s series about time-traveling historians. (I’m the crazy person cracking up on the train, reading it.)
- Unexpected moments of connection with friends and strangers.
- As always: lots and lots of tea.
What’s saving your life these days? Please feel free to share in the comments.
cakes, tea and dreams 
I really enjoyed your chapel talk, Katie, and I love this post, too! This idea is so, so uplifting and important. Saving my life right now: black tea in the quiet of afternoon nap time, the brilliant greens and blooming flowers, toddler hugs, red toenails, trips to the library, picnics with friends at the park with the giant oak tree, gazing wistfully at my husband’s gorgeous curly hair.
What a great list, Kara. The library and pretty toenails are saving my life, too!
Where are your black ankle boots from? I’m on the hunt!
Mine are from Clarks, a few years ago, and I LOVE them.