Hoping You're Well

Hello Friends,

Hoping you’re well this week. We are just past the equinox, autumn here in the northern hemisphere, and vernal in the southern. I love the equinoxes, perhaps because I was born a couple of days just past one, or perhaps because the autumn equinox in particular signaled that the filthy, hot, Los Angeles summer had finally drawn to a close and winter rains would not be far behind.

I loathed Los Angeles summers and as soon as I could, moved north to San Francisco where the air was cooler and the culture also better suited my temperament. Five years ago, I moved still further north, to a place with more trees and a lower cost of living.

All of this is to say: sometimes we need to make changes—small or large—to keep ourselves as well as possible. I shifted what I eat when I figured out certain foods exacerbate my chronic illness. I know I feel better if I write most days, and take long walks. I need a certain amount of work and a certain amount of down time to refill the well.

I know my communities feel better the more help we can offer one another, and the more time we can spend simply checking in. Whether that is tea with a trusted friend, a weekly online writer’s check in, movie night with family, or joining mutual aid efforts for local communities going through a tough time. Checking in makes a difference.

I check in with myself daily. I check in with friends and family at least weekly. I keep my finger on the pulse of larger community on a semi-regular basis.

We all live in various overlapping ecosystems. It’s up to us to keep noticing.

Whether it is spring or fall where you are, today I want to know:

How are you checking in? And why?

best wishes — Thorn

Bookshop Witch is up for pre-order! The ebook launches on September 28th. Print to follow.