This morning, republishing an old favorite essay of mine. Each time I sit with it, I think how ridiculous it is that I permit the tiny stresses of my life to derail an otherwise great day. I experience a radiating gratitude for the people in my life who sometimes seem peripheral — neighbors, carpool pick up line moms — and who turn out to be the magic glue that keeps me together. I re-center on how extraordinary the very ordinary is. A great reminder for me this week.
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Leave the door ajar,
enough to let joy sneak up on you
so that you laugh when you are washing the dishes and notice that your husband is carrying a Barbie doll in his back pocket,
and you remember that you are on a moonwalk, living out the exact space fantasy you dreamed about when you were on that Jetsons ride in Orlando at the age of eleven, watching the young families around you.
Stay open to the neighbors,
who turn out to be guardian angels in disguise,
treating you tenderly when you’ve fallen, and bringing by dinner and crates of activities for the children
when illness visits.
It is so easy to ball up like a fist, to coil inward, to rush by acquaintances while wearing AirPods and an air of focus,
but really,
what is life but a string of surprises anyway?
And so what use is it to pretend you might hide from its inevitable shower of thunderbolts?
I often run through the rain with my shoulders raised to my ears, forming a provisional and profitless umbrella with the flat of my palm, as though I might force the droplets away by sheer willpower, by drawing my body taut against their fall.
How ridiculous, I think —
the contortions to which I will go
to avoid a little water.
Let me lower my shoulders, let in the rain,
and permit myself to be surprised by joy.
Post-Scripts.
+On seeking joy.
+On how comparison steals our happiness.
+What’s in your house?
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Shopping Break.
+A new sleeveless version of our favorite linen set.
+Absolutely can’t live without these wipes. They tone, cleanse, hydrate — they do it all! I always pack a handful of these for travel but also sometimes use them post-workout (when in a rush) or after a hike. My SIL has been visiting and I gave her a few of this brand’s other products to test — she was raving about this toner (now ordering for myself, too). I also just opened a bottle of this cleanser and am already hooked. Love the botanical scent of all of their products and — more importantly — their straight-forward efficacy. I find all their products do what they say. Chic new branding doesn’t hurt either!
+Gorgeous ombre crochet dress, on sale for under $200!
+Speaking of crochet: this under-$100 red top! Ordered to try! Also own and love this tomato red crochet top (on sale for $29!), but it has a very different vibe.
+Follow Suit restock here and here! Runs TTS – so cute.
+I know we’ve been talking lots of swimsuits lately, but OMG this new Marysia print…!
+Adorable $150 dress.
+Seersucker MZ Wallace! Thanks to a reader for flagging this. I still love mine!
+Cute summer tee.
+Gauze shorts in a rainbow of colors. (I also love my Alice Walks but they are spendier!)
+Ordered this dress.
+Obsessed with both this and this from Pam’s new collection!
+Elegant white linen shorts.
+More fun fish charms and pendants!
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