This felt like I was reading through a day dream I want to have about my future life and home. How beautiful.
I think about my own mortality more than I would like to admit, since I am still struggling daily with chronic health issues, but I cannot muster the strength to understand my spouse or other loved ones.
I would love to hear about where you dream of living- you have your eye on a place already? Do share so my dream of a future can continue to live on in my head.
Ah, Kelsey. Thank you. I feel for how difficult is it to have enough to grapple with the complexity of spouses, friends and things outside yourself whilst chronically ill. I remember that well and it cuts so deeply. I’m so sorry you’re in that right now. If you ever want to talk about what you’re going through, I would be happy to lend an ear. But I know that too can take some energy, so no pressure. ema@sunshinehouse.xyz 💙
I have got my eye on a place. Stepped out of the car when we went there on a whim last summer and had an instant feeling of: *Oh, here it is.* Been back three times since. It’s a tiny town called Lincolnville in Maine. I adore it.
So kind of you to share and be open to lend an ear. Appreciate that and may take you up on it.
Ah Maine...I am going to Maine for the first time next summer with family and will have to see if I can stop into Lincolnville- just the name I adore it.
I am also going to mark off in my iPhone calendar (which I use for work and personal life) when my cycle is going to be so I can *hope* to plan less work and meetings and more rest in for August. Hoping it will help.
I love to hear of folks headed to Maine. Never felt more peace any place. Very excited for you! Do you know which part of the state you’re headed to?
Lincolnville has two parts: Lincolnville Beach, which is on Route 1 (stop at Dot’s!) and Lincolnville Center. Both are lovely, but Lincolnville Center is what I love most. Nearby Belfast is also super charming.
I really think even that first bit of awareness is something and can begin a slow change for your body. It may seem small, but I believe it starts to signal to your body that you’re paying attention and listening. An herbalist (up near Lincolnville actually) suggested even just physically moving slower and more intentionally during your bleed, or sleeping alone for more inwardness and quiet.
We are heading to Acadia, but I am most certainly adding Lincolnville to my spouse and I’s itinerary as we travel!
And yes, awareness, I am currently bleeding and very aware of it- as I don’t sleep well, but I intentionally made time today to nap and am proud of that small (yet big) time I set aside for my body and me.
Oh wonderful! Well, if you take Route 1 you’ll head straight through Lincolnville Beach. 95 is faster, though less exciting. Belfast/Lincolnville is just 1.5 hours from MDI. Hit me up if you’d like recommendations because Lord knows I have them. :D
I’m sorry to hear you don’t sleep well but I’m glad you’ve managed a nap. That is big! All the naps people try to make us take as babies and then they give us no prizes when we nap as adults. Ridiculous!
I love how you are thinking about all this. It’s so beautiful to live more and more with the seasons - inner and out! I’d recommend Christiana Peterson for more on mortality - her Substack is mystics and misfits (I can’t tag in the comments apparently). This week I started my period and just happened to have planned two very busy days with my kids 🙃 I got to squeeze in a nap one of the days, but I am definitely looking ahead to august to make sure that doesn’t happen again. If I lived in sync with my cycle I would have a full week off - the 2 days leading up to my period, and the 5 days of bleeding - to rest, reflect, journal, snack, go for walks. I wouldn’t clean or cook for myself either! I’d have simple, nourishing food prepared in advance or my spouse would take on those roles for the whole week of the month. Dreamy!
Thank you for the recommendation, Lindsey. Mystics and Misfits—I like it already!
Cyclical living with kiddos is something I wonder about, so I really appreciate you sharing. I feel like a lot of people would say it’s impossible to do but it sounds like you did what you could *and* I wonder if even just the awareness you have for that change makes a difference. From other things you’ve shared it sounds like it does.
I love the sound of your full week of inner winter cocooning. So dreamy. I think even if we both get to squeeze in just a few cycles like that before we reach our wise years we’ll gain a lot. So much can come out of just one cycle.
This felt like I was reading through a day dream I want to have about my future life and home. How beautiful.
I think about my own mortality more than I would like to admit, since I am still struggling daily with chronic health issues, but I cannot muster the strength to understand my spouse or other loved ones.
I would love to hear about where you dream of living- you have your eye on a place already? Do share so my dream of a future can continue to live on in my head.
Ah, Kelsey. Thank you. I feel for how difficult is it to have enough to grapple with the complexity of spouses, friends and things outside yourself whilst chronically ill. I remember that well and it cuts so deeply. I’m so sorry you’re in that right now. If you ever want to talk about what you’re going through, I would be happy to lend an ear. But I know that too can take some energy, so no pressure. ema@sunshinehouse.xyz 💙
I have got my eye on a place. Stepped out of the car when we went there on a whim last summer and had an instant feeling of: *Oh, here it is.* Been back three times since. It’s a tiny town called Lincolnville in Maine. I adore it.
So kind of you to share and be open to lend an ear. Appreciate that and may take you up on it.
Ah Maine...I am going to Maine for the first time next summer with family and will have to see if I can stop into Lincolnville- just the name I adore it.
I am also going to mark off in my iPhone calendar (which I use for work and personal life) when my cycle is going to be so I can *hope* to plan less work and meetings and more rest in for August. Hoping it will help.
I love to hear of folks headed to Maine. Never felt more peace any place. Very excited for you! Do you know which part of the state you’re headed to?
Lincolnville has two parts: Lincolnville Beach, which is on Route 1 (stop at Dot’s!) and Lincolnville Center. Both are lovely, but Lincolnville Center is what I love most. Nearby Belfast is also super charming.
I really think even that first bit of awareness is something and can begin a slow change for your body. It may seem small, but I believe it starts to signal to your body that you’re paying attention and listening. An herbalist (up near Lincolnville actually) suggested even just physically moving slower and more intentionally during your bleed, or sleeping alone for more inwardness and quiet.
We are heading to Acadia, but I am most certainly adding Lincolnville to my spouse and I’s itinerary as we travel!
And yes, awareness, I am currently bleeding and very aware of it- as I don’t sleep well, but I intentionally made time today to nap and am proud of that small (yet big) time I set aside for my body and me.
Oh wonderful! Well, if you take Route 1 you’ll head straight through Lincolnville Beach. 95 is faster, though less exciting. Belfast/Lincolnville is just 1.5 hours from MDI. Hit me up if you’d like recommendations because Lord knows I have them. :D
I’m sorry to hear you don’t sleep well but I’m glad you’ve managed a nap. That is big! All the naps people try to make us take as babies and then they give us no prizes when we nap as adults. Ridiculous!
I 1000% would love recommendations! I'll shoot you an email ◡̈ Thank you!
I love how you are thinking about all this. It’s so beautiful to live more and more with the seasons - inner and out! I’d recommend Christiana Peterson for more on mortality - her Substack is mystics and misfits (I can’t tag in the comments apparently). This week I started my period and just happened to have planned two very busy days with my kids 🙃 I got to squeeze in a nap one of the days, but I am definitely looking ahead to august to make sure that doesn’t happen again. If I lived in sync with my cycle I would have a full week off - the 2 days leading up to my period, and the 5 days of bleeding - to rest, reflect, journal, snack, go for walks. I wouldn’t clean or cook for myself either! I’d have simple, nourishing food prepared in advance or my spouse would take on those roles for the whole week of the month. Dreamy!
Thank you for the recommendation, Lindsey. Mystics and Misfits—I like it already!
Cyclical living with kiddos is something I wonder about, so I really appreciate you sharing. I feel like a lot of people would say it’s impossible to do but it sounds like you did what you could *and* I wonder if even just the awareness you have for that change makes a difference. From other things you’ve shared it sounds like it does.
I love the sound of your full week of inner winter cocooning. So dreamy. I think even if we both get to squeeze in just a few cycles like that before we reach our wise years we’ll gain a lot. So much can come out of just one cycle.
It does help just to know where I am in my cycle even if I can’t do much about it 😅