Notes on Returning no. 7
Location: New York City, NY
This week was unlike those in the past. I returned home from a three-day whirlwind of a trip to NYC, where I found myself planted in the middle of downtown on the morning of the Knicks’ parade. If you know me, I know nothing about sports, and the fact that I randomly chose a hotel that overlooked the parade is hilarious in itself. Just a few weeks before, the kids and I stayed in San Antonio, where we also found ourselves in the middle of downtown with the Spurs/Knicks game. When the Spurs won that night, the entire city blasted fog horns, sirens, and honked till 2 am in celebration. The energy was so happy and enthusiastic, but for a mom with a two-year-old, it made it hard to sleep. Anyhow, for whatever reason, the dear Lord allowed me to be in the center of both of these events.
When I returned home, I took the next two days to let my nervous system reset. First, a long Epsom soak. My legs were really sore from 25k step days. Then, I grabbed ginger shots to help with any inflammation and to boost my immune system. Having lived in Seoul in my youth, I learned from Koreans how powerful ginger is for the body. They store them in jars, and you can grab a jar from almost any convenience store. Pressed ginger shots will help if you have a sore throat, digestion issues, feel a cold coming on… or any inflammation in the body. Just be careful if you take meds because ginger is a blood thinner. I gave myself early bedtimes all week and walks in the cool parts of the day. It felt so good to go at a slower pace after being in the buzz of the city. I also did a ton of journaling and writing. Lastly, I put things back in order (a little every day) in my house. When I take back-to-back trips, things usually need a little extra organization.
Back at the beginning of the year, my sweet therapist and I talked about how I find small organizing projects soothing. Not all self-care looks like a beautifying project. For me, self-care also means having an organized, peaceful environment. It helps my ADHD calm down, and I can focus better. I make sure to pick up the house before Max, and I leave most of the time, so we don’t come home to toys everywhere. Little practices make life simpler. I also push myself to do my laundry once a week. I love that I have the ability to do multiple loads at once in my apartment complex. Last night I knocked out four loads and folded them in just two hours.
A few other updates for you guys: I began a new series about Domestic Violence on my YouTube Channel. I’m covering how to rebuild your life and leave unhealthy situations. You can check it out here. I also started an advice column here on Notes on Returning called Between Us, Dear. Both focus on identifying unhealthy patterns, recognizing your value, and creating agency in your life. You can check out Between Us, Dear here and make sure to subscribe to my latest Sunday Letter if you haven’t, so you never miss a post. I do a round-up of the prior week’s posts and send them out in an email every Sunday. I hope you all have an amazing week, and thank you for following along this incredible journey!
