In a steamy bath and not even into the first chapter of “The Five Things We Cannot Change… and the Happiness We Find in Embracing Them” by David Riccho, I’m savoring the author’s thoughts. Much like the food I enjoyed earlier with friends. Sweetened Brussels sprouts with pork belly, chicken and mushroom ravioli in a brown sugary Marsala sauce—my friend Kevin summed up our Mama Stortini’s meal end with, “That was a playground for my taste buds.”
The book embodies a philosophy of “yes and.” A “yes, there’s pain” and “it has lessons,” or a “yes, people hurt us” and “we can hold on to compassion.” It’s a mechanical handhold, pulling us, skis and all, up a snowy mountain, affirming that life involves work and suffering, but we are the ones who define it, not society.
I’m out of steam. Half a day on the road, attending a kids’ birthday, dropping by my parents, visiting my best friends, and then dinner out, has me thinking an early exit from writing tonight might be best. I know not every day I write will be a home run, and so hopefully, there’s something to take away from my half day, my decision to call it in early, my acknowledgment that I’ll do better next time. Just showing up is enough. We’re enough.
Love,
Jaclynn
Going On 40 