You're Allowed to Enjoy Something

The biggest or smallest thing

Hi friends,

SO! We’re on week four of WFH/preschool from home/everything from home here in New York and it’s definitely ROUGH. So so so so necessary, but not easy just the same. Frankly, everything is terrifying and hard and we’re all longing for the day when this is all over. I’m sure you’re feeling the same way.

But there might also be a small part of you that’s happy about something. I know, it’s bonkers to think about it, when everything is just bad. I mean, everything is bad. Except maybe, you have been able to read an extra book or two lately. And maybe, at the end of the day, when they’re giving you sweet goodnight kisses, it’s not so horrible to have this extra time with you kids. (That’s the only time I have that particular feeling, lol.) Maybe you’re getting some writing done, and you feel good about it. Maybe you had an excellent idea on one of your walks and something fell into place in your WIP. We’re all supposed to be working as “normal” (lol), those of us who can work from home, so maybe you got good news. Maybe your book sold or your query worked or you got a grant or a prize or a gold star from a beta reader or teacher. Maybe you like baking bread and you’re getting really good at it and that makes you happy. Maybe it makes you happy to see your family or friends eating that bread and you’re glad you could do that one, small thing in a time like this. Maybe there’s a really beautiful tree in your yard. Maybe you’re finally watching that show and everyone was right that it’s great and it makes your evenings fly by and you can’t wait to watch more tomorrow.

I hope that you have any one of these small feelings, or the big ones, too. It’s ok to feel good about something now. I promise. You’re even allowed to talk about it online or with friends, though I’m sure the state of the world will temper your enthusiasm a little, and maybe that’s ok, too. Please, share your good news. I am desperate for good things on Twitter and Instagram. Share, share, share. And trust that everyone knows that in doing so, you’re not ignoring, diminishing, or negating all the horrible things going on in the world. Trust that people want to celebrate you and want to hear that you’re happy, too. Trust that there will be some troll somewhere that will say well that’s GREAT for YOU but the rest of us are suffering! and know that they are talking about their suffering and not your joy and both of those things can exist at the same time and neither diminishes the other. You’re allowed to feel joy and still know that everything else is bad and not getting much better anytime soon. Life is a rich tapestry.

It’s ok to enjoy some things right now. You don’t have to be productive right now, but if you are, and it’s working, then it’s ok to be proud of that. It’s ok to rest and process and maintain, too. You aren’t only allowed one emotion right now. I hope you find glimpses of joy throughout your days and weeks, that it gives you respite from despair, that you feel free to feel it all in (more or less) equal measure.

Please stay safe.

OXOXO,
Kate

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