What's saving your life right now?

My top ten list for you!

Nov 11, 2023

Barbara Brown Taylor tells a story in her book, Leaving Church, about an invitation to speak where the host asked her to share what is saving her life right now. It’s easy to name what is killing us and takes discipline to name what is saving us. I love asking and answering this question.

I’d love to hear your short list and here’s mine:

#1 Novels becoming miniseries!

I mentioned this series in last week’s piece on grief - it was my favorite book in 2022. Beautiful to see it come to life. I miss the commentary from the pup, 6:30, but it’s worth a watch. Another novel I loved, All the Light We Cannot See, became a miniseries on Netflix and it is SO GOOD. Enjoy!

#2 Christmas on November 1st

Our home is surrounded by oaks and pines and since America is hell bent on making darkness come at 4:30 pm, it feels like Christmas to me! My mom brought some blow ups for the yard (Cinderella, Santa on a monster truck, and a ninja) so we’re on our way to Griswold status. It’s possible we’ll receive our second HOA violation for this but I’m prepared to defend our life choices.

#3 Nobody Cries When We Die

I’m reading this incredible book by Patrick Reyes for a class I’m taking on vocation and God’s shalom. We were assigned three chapters and I cannot put it down. His reflections on poverty, higher education, community, and Christianity are life-giving. Here’s a quote from bell hooks that Patrick shares as he compares the competitive individualized approach to vocation versus those who are raised to value community over competition.

“Competitive education rarely works for students who have been socialized to value working for the good of the community. It rends them, tearing them apart. They experience levels of disconnection and fragmentation that destroy all pleasure in learning.”

Phew. True in the workplace, too.

#4 Oprah’s Favorite Things

I love it every single year, even if I don’t buy a thing, it is such a pleasure to go through the list. I’m very into the marshmellow lounge set and got a few gift ideas as well!

#5 Laneige Lip Mask + Gloss

Not me buying a bunch of these on Amazon Prime Day because it was half off! I’m obsessed — you put this mask on while you sleep and wake to moisturized lips ready for gloss. A little night treat that morning you will thank you for!

#6 Green Chef

Okay, so this is our second meal kit box and the best for my specific health needs. Blue Apron is fabulous but tricky, tricky, if you have any food allergies. Green Chef is a bit more expensive because organic and allergy sensitive but we end up balancing out by not ordering Door Dash too many nights a week. We’re eating scallops and surf n’ turf and delicious risotto… all things we’d be far too lazy to ever shop for and make on our own.

#7 Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai Latte

If you ask any of my ten-year-plus friends, they’ll tell you that I was anti-Starbucks. Neighborhood coffee shop, solamente, por favor! Then I had kids, and traveled a whole lot more, and you know what, Starbies can have all my money on their little get double points if you load your card app. This latte is so good — I need to chill before we go broke buying ourselves “a little afternoon treat because we worked today.” But seriously, don’t bother with the peppermint mocha — this is so very yummy.

#8 Little fizzy drinks

My husband got me on this train, and I am never getting off. For sober people, and people who need a little afternoon treat for answering emails, this is a legit, necessary situation. Poppi cherry limeade, Liquid Death severed lime, Grapefruit Italian soda at Trader Joes, Tangerine Italian soda from Whole Foods, Healthaid Kombucha Citrus Immune Boost… I could go on for days. And yes, we absolutely go to Chick-fil-a every single week for a bag of their ice because we are not ready to spend the big bucks on a pellet ice machine. Pour overs, all around!

#9 Opportunities to give

I just spent the last 30 minutes look at footage of Palestinians walking in droves from their homes to God knows where. It’s devastating and makes me feel helpless. Like I shared last week, I focus on my small life and also, find ways to advocate and give. Call your senator here — takes 30 seconds. Some organizations we support that are not related to this but causes close to our heart: Treasures | Abara | Justice Rising

Many of you are thinking about end of year and holiday giving. These organizations maintain high levels of financial integrity with the majority of resources going to the people they desire to serve. If any of you have given toward the crisis in Gaza, please do share where you gave!

#10 Minding my own business

Ya’ll wanna fight on the internet about GTC (or is it TGC?) doing what it has always done — DISLIKE WOMEN — go ‘head. Want to act like a dummy and say Israel has every right to bomb women and children, that’s gon’ be your problem with Jesus, not mine. You think millennials shouldn’t wear a long list of items but you are wearing what we wore in the 90s? Okay, fam, if you like it, I love it.

We not doing it today, tomorrow, or ever. I’ll be here minding my own business, cause if it’s not essential, I ain’t fighting with nobody on the internet or in real life.

#11 BONUS: YOU

Thank you for being here, for reading these words, for sharing, and for responding. I treasure your emails and comments when you feel like it. You are a gift to this world.