midwintersolace

World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing -- Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed | James Hoffman

#Chatterday

Well .... 🤔🫣, that was a week. So, let's focus on wellbeing, positive, and inspirational points.
Please remember this is a safe place to vent frustrations, shout out achievements, grumble, celebrate, all of it. Throw it at me, I can take it.
Let's chat. 💙

☕️ How has your week been?
☕️ Any weekend plans?
☕️ Any recommendations? 📚🎬📺

AllDebooks @Eggs how are you? 4w

AllDebooks @CatLass007 @Kerrbearlib This is a weekly check-in event to catch-up. 4w

AllDebooks @Cuilin @TheLudicReader @Soscha @AnnCrystal @Suet624 @quietlycuriouskate @Faranae @Sace @tpixie @dabbe @Librarybelle @Seabreeze_Reader @DebinHawaii @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @mhillis @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @Deblovestoread @Bookwormjillk 4w

See All 111 Comments

Librarybelle Nearly one week down…how many more to go??? On Monday, I started meditating again and really hope to make this a part of my daily life—I do well, and then something happens, and I stop. My irregular viewing of my non-Litsy social media platforms is going well, which means more reading time! Overall, though, I‘m trying to focus on the present and live in the moment. I‘m a pessimist by nature, and current events make me doubt a bright future. ⬇️ 4w

Librarybelle ⬆️ My favorite band, Our Lady Peace, released a song in 2005 titled “Will the Future Blame Us,” and it‘s been going nonstop in my head all week. That and R.E.M.‘s “It‘s the End of the World As We Know It…” except I don‘t feel fine. On a positive note, I‘ve got fun plans for Sunday and hopefully a good afternoon of reading today. Plus, the first discussion of #ChristiesCapers ! 4w

TheLudicReader Busy week of marking and chasing kids for missing assignments as semester one wraps up. Had several discussions regarding AI, too. 😖 I have quite a lot of marking to do today to be ready for submitting my marks on Monday, but I am going to make time for a visit to the bookstore and to do some reading. Also made the decision to leave FB. I am on Bluesky if anyone else is. Come find me. 4w

Bookwormjillk Happy #chatterday The best thing I can say for this week is it went quickly. I start PT on Wednesday for my hand issues so while I know it will be torture I‘m hoping for progress plus torture. @Librarybelle I started meditation again this week too! 4w

AllDebooks Just off to a 1 year olds birthday party. Catch up later x 4w

mhillis I attended a symposium on AI in Language Education today. Looking forward to a chill day at home tomorrow! 4w

Librarybelle @Bookwormjillk Admittedly, I don‘t have the best concentration for it, especially because the cats like to crawl all over me while I am meditating, but it‘s something! 4w

Chrissyreadit @Librarybelle I have felt disheartened but i think my love of history has helped a ton to know that this is an ugly cycle and there are plenty of reasons it has happened- but it is not permanent because nothing is. One of my big thoughts is there is a huge fear of how social media has been used for misinformation- but it‘s also feared because it spreads information. We will continue to read and share and i have hope ❤️ 4w

Eggs @AllDebooks Thx for asking - really challenging right now. Getting the house sale-ready, packing, crying, anxiety about apartment living, up and down stairs hundred X/day, visiting/consoling my partner in assisted living-so tired 🥱 4w

Librarybelle @Chrissyreadit That‘s a good reflection and good positivity. I‘m a student of history too, and long ago I could just see where things were going. I‘m not in the hopeful mindset yet, but maybe someday… 4w

Bookwormjillk @Eggs that sounds rough. I‘m so sorry you have to go through all of that. 4w

Bookwormjillk @Librarybelle me too with the cats. They seem to find me meditating interesting. 4w

Librarybelle Oh my, @Eggs ! Thinking of you! ❤️ 4w

Cuilin @Eggs That‘s so much at one time. Sending love. Thinking of you. 4w

Cuilin I got a steroid shot so for four days I had zero discomfort and got so much done. Working on some long term solutions with my doctor. Went to see David Grey with my daughters last night in Boston which was amazing. For a moment we could pause the anxiety of the times. @TheLudicReader Also got rid of TIKTOK, all Meta and I‘m on Bluesky. (edited) 4w

Cuilin @Librarybelle I need to start meditating again. Any tips? I used to use an app but don‘t want to pay for anything else. 4w

Cuilin @Bookwormjillk Good luck with the hand therapy. Hope the torture is at a minimum. 🍀 4w

Librarybelle @Cuilin I use the Calm app. In 2020, they had a lifetime membership at a deep discount, so I splurged and bought all of the content. I did see this post from Mindful.org on free app options for meditation: https://www.mindful.org/free-mindfulness-apps-worthy-of-your-attention/ I‘ve not tried any of these, but Mindful is a good resource for meditation practices. 4w

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I strained a muscle on the right side of my back, so during a week when I really need to release frustration through exercise, I'm limited to gentle stretches. It seems to be in the mend, though. Work was busy. It was so cold that I wore two pairs of pants. I covered for a sick colleague. BUT the weekend is here, and I'm hoping for some time to clean up a bit, to read, and enjoy the company of my guy and our dog. @Eggs Sending a hug your way. 💛 4w

Sace @mhillis oh? What do you teach? I have yet to take the AI in the classroom plunge. 4w

Sace @TheLudicReader Blergh. I know the feeling of chasing down students for assignments. 4w

Sace @Bookwormjillk I hope you have more progress than torture. 4w

Sace @Chrissyreadit I am constantly reminding myself of this (I‘m not a student of history per se but I have a working knowledge). 4w

Sace @Cuilin glad you had days with no discomfort! 4w

Sace @Librarybelle I have been back and forth about using the calm app. Maybe I‘ll give it a whirl. 4w

Sace @Eggs I‘m so sorry. That‘s a lot on your plate. I‘ll keep you in my thoughts. 4w

Sace @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick have a great weekend! Relax and refresh. 4w

Sace I doomscrolled more than I should have this week but still way less than I have in the past. Thanks to snow days I had a lot of reading time which kept my mind of things. Working on my reading journal brought me joy as well as a nice conversation with a colleague about nothing in particular, but the human connection was nice. (edited) 4w

Librarybelle @Sace Calm works for me, but I also know others who prefer other apps. Good luck! 4w

Faranae I'm not in the US, so my week was less fraught in that regard. Tonight I'm having a Burns Supper on my Twitch stream, which is a bit silly since I don't currently have a way to have other people recite, or a camera for showing a proper meal. And my bagpipe music are all midis. 😂 4w

Kerrbearlib This week I made mental health a priority. I learned emotional regulation skills & spent less time online. I‘ve been inspired by this Maggie Smith quote: “It‘s not enough to “think positive‘; you have to ‘do positive‘…Do something today, however small, to light up your own life. Or shine on someone else.” It‘s a dark time in the world & I think it‘s so important to bring light whenever possible. ♥️♥️♥️

Keep Moving: The Journal: Thrive Through Change and Create a Life You Love

CatLass007 Today is #Caturday! Every day is #Caturday! The cats are the only reason I get out of bed some days. And they take very good care of me when I don‘t feel well like Thursday and Friday because I had migraines all day. Not fun, except for kitty snuggles. Today I feel much better. This book about coffee that you have tagged is making me very sad because I love coffee, but coffee doesn‘t love me anymore. I am still able to drink tea, (cont)⬇️ 4w

CatLass007 even caffeinated tea, so it‘s not all bad. My physical health goal is to manage my pain levels, starting with migraines. My feeling is that once my migraines are no longer keeping me in bed most days. I will be able to leave the house for something other than doctor‘s appointments. I used to attend a fiber arts group and an open craft group at our senior citizen center but the instructor is now in a nursing home and those groups no longer (cont)⬇️ 4w

CatLass007 meet. I have spent a lot of time googling and have found a fiber arts group that meets every other Friday at the public library, and a group called Makerspace that meets on Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoons at another location. I also am looking at local book clubs and have found at least one that seems to be one in which I could participate. Maybe more. But until I get my physical health in better condition I won‘t be able to really (cont)⬇️ (edited) 4w

CatLass007 go anywhere. I am working at ways to be more frugal, because I spend every month agonizing over every penny I spend. Mental health also is a major priority. I am looking for mentally healthy and effective ways to resist fascism in the United States. @Librarybelle @Cuilin @Sace I have tried Calm and didn‘t find it particularly helpful. I find guided meditation a frustrating experience mostly it‘s about breathing and noticing your body (cont)⬇️ (edited) 4w

tpixie @Eggs thinking of you, your partner, and your changes. In these hectic, difficult times, be sure and pause and take a deep breath & care for yourself. 💙💙💙 4w

CatLass007 and for whatever reason that doesn‘t work for me. I have attended a meditation group that mostly focuses on breath work, but on two different occasions, we were led on more focused, guided meditation. Mentally walking across a field, through a forest,up a hill, etc. Those seem to work better for me. But that particular group no longer (cont)⬇️ 4w

CatLass007 meets. If any of you have have suggestions for meditations similar to the ones I described, I would appreciate any input you have to offer. 4w

AnnCrystal @Librarybelle I believe there's hope for the future so long as don't give up hope 🙏💝.

@Bookwormjillk may the therapy help your hand recover 🙏💝.

@Eggs keeping you and yours in my prayers. Hopefully once you resettle, the stress will be a less for you 🙏💝.

@Cuilin may you find a long time solution for the discomfort 🙏💝.

@Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick may your back strengten soon 🙏💝.

@CatLass007 may your condition become well 🙏💝.

4w

AnnCrystal Personally I am better this week mentally. We're no longer jumping out of our shoes whenever we hear sirens.

Still worried and freaking about things going on.

For meditations, my garden is my safe place 🌱💝.

Thank you for the tag ☺️💝. (edited) 4w

CatLass007 @AnnCrystal Thank you. 🙏🏽💗 I will pray for you and all my friends on Litsy. Although the times can be discouraging, I don‘t think I could give up hope when I know there are still so many wonderful people in this world. 4w

tpixie @Kerrbearlib great Maggie Smith quote! 4w

AnnCrystal Thank You @CatLass007 truth 🥲🙏💖. 4w

Deblovestoread I have to admit I‘m mostly angry, especially at the people I know who voted for this dumpster fire. So I‘m trying to use that to make some changes like get rid of Meta products, reduce my reliance on Amazon, etc. and also review the people in my everyday life. I appreciate the reminder about this not being permanent from @Chrissyreadit although at 65 if feels like it could be for the rest of my days. 4w

dabbe @Librarybelle Glad you're meditating and that it's helping you to feel better. Can't wait to discuss some Christie! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @TheLudicReader Okay, you win the teacher award. I never chased down students for missing assignments! I was like “You snoozed? You losed!“ Bad grammar intentional. Hope you get some relaxation from marking. 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @Bookwormjillk Good luck with PT; I hope it brings excellent results. 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @mhillis Yay! Hope it's relaxing! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @Chrissyreadit Thanks for reminding me of this word (as a hashtag of course): #perspective 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @Eggs So sorry to read this. You are going through so much. Holding you in my thoughts and sending 🩵🩶🩵. 4w

dabbe @Cuilin Hoping for as many pain-free days as possible for you! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Go easy and rest up! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

Deblovestoread @Eggs. I‘m sorry you are going through so much and hope once you are settled you can find some comfort and peace. @Bookwormjillk @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick and @CatLass007 I hope you all find healing and comfort from your ailments. ❤️ @Cuilin David Grey! I haven‘t listened to him in a while. Need to fix that. Glad you had a lovely outing and hope you get continued respite from what ails you! Thanks everyone for sharing! ❤️ 4w

dabbe @Kerrbearlib #dopositive Love that, and thanks. 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @CatLass007 Meditation doesn't work much for me either. Here's a silly game I play when I want my brain to shut off: I take the alphabet and think of a category; then I try to come up with answers for each letter. Example: For “names of authors“ I might think “Alcott, Louisa“ or “Ann Patchett“ (both ways, of course). Then for B, maybe “Browning, Robert“ and so on. It really helps shut off my worries. 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe @Deblovestoread So with you! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

dabbe How I got through this week:
1. A Trump Countdown timer: it actually helps me to see the numbers SLOWLY going down. 😂 Link: https://shorturl.at/Ai7s3
2. This song performed by Sydney Christmas. I have played it over and over again. She is STUNNING. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjyy4tYZFDc&list=RDpjyy4tYZFDc&start_radio=1
3. Creating my own mix of ambient sounds: https://asoftmurmur.com/

Sending all of you 🩵🩶🩵. #thistooshallpass 4w

Deblovestoread @dabbe Somehow #1 gave a spark of joy and although I had seen #2 before watching today made me tear up. Thanks for that! ❤️ 4w

Cuilin @CatLass007 speaking of walking meditation I just finished an amazing book on geotherapy,

Weathering

dabbe @Deblovestoread Seeing those numbers move is reassuring! And I am now Sydney's biggest fan! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

CatLass007 @Deblovestoread I‘m 63 and I understand what you‘re saying. I‘m tired of being angry though. Making constructive steps like ridding yourself of Meta products, reducing your reliance on Amazon, and reviewing the people in your everyday will be emotionally healthy for you (and all of us) and I hope will help reduce your anger. @Kerrbearlib I like the way you think. I‘m looking up books by Maggie Smith right now. @Librarybelle I‘m looking up (cont)⬇️ 4w

CatLass007 mindful.org Thank you! @eggs ❤️🙏🏽❤️ @Cuilin Thanks for the recommendation! @dabbe I will look both of these up. (edited) 4w

AllDebooks @Librarybelle I feel so much better for moving off SM. Living in the moment is the only way to live, especially in such uncertain times. X 4w

AllDebooks @TheLudicReader I'm on Bluesky, but forget to use it. I mainly use Litsy now. Time in a bookshop is always time well spent. X 4w

AllDebooks @Bookwormjillk sounds painful but I hope it's worth it for long term relief. X 4w

AllDebooks @mhillis I find AI terrifying. I really need to learn more about it. 4w

AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit there is always hope. 💙 I've been following a lot of positive folks drawing attention to misinformation and what we can do to fight back, like AOC and Rebecca Solnit 4w

AllDebooks @Eggs you were on my mind. I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time. Do you have support or help in dealing with the house? I wish you rest and strength to see you through these awful changes. X 4w

AllDebooks @Cuilin I bet that was a lovely distraction for an evening. 4w

AllDebooks @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick glad you're feeling better. Enjoy your down time. X 4w

AllDebooks @Sace I absolutely bloody love this. Connection is key to getting through these tumultuous times. Ease up on the doomscrolling, tho. I drove myself batty over it during Brexit. 4w

AllDebooks @Faranae sounds like it will be a blast. Enjoy x 🥃 4w

AllDebooks @Kerrbearlib I agree with Maggie Smith. That quote is going in my journal. 😍 4w

Sace @AllDebooks I just corrected my comment because I meant to say that since I doomscrolled more than I should have it was still LESS than I did 2016-2020. I can do more good going out and connecting with others. Or staying in and reading and keeping my bad attitude about my neighbors in check 😂 4w

AllDebooks @CatLass007 🐈😻 Chronic illness is so debilitating. All you can do is take it one day at a time. Wishing you better so you can get more out of life. This time of year is tough for me, healthwise. It's why I started the #MidwinterSolace event as a way to connect with others. X 4w

AllDebooks @AnnCrystal I'm glad it's ben a calmer week. My garden is my happy place too. 4w

TheLudicReader @mhillis Any interesting takeaways about AI from your symposium? 4w

AllDebooks @Deblovestoread No!!! 65 is young, and this is a transient time. Yes, it's scary, but I think enough people will oppose the divisive, destructive changes he wants to bring in. Particularly so now it's obvious 4w

AllDebooks @Deblovestoread he's just in it for big business. I'm doing the same, avoiding all these troublesome companies. 4w

TheLudicReader Ugh, right @Sace “Is there anything I can do to get my mark up?” Um, yeah. All the crap you should have done during the semester. 😂 4w

AllDebooks @dabbe that countdown is going to be obsessed over. 😅 4w

AllDebooks @Sace yes, that's the time period I was lost in it, too. I blame covid. 4w

TheLudicReader Omg, @dabbe, Sydney Christmas! I started crying practically as soon as she started singing. Thanks for the link. As for chasing students…I wouldn‘t chase any of them if I had my way, a deadline is a deadline. Sadly, not our district‘s pov. 4w

AllDebooks @TheLudicReader just finished watching her. She's incredible @dabbe thanks for the link x 4w

CatLass007 @AllDebooks Today hasn‘t been too bad. I‘m really glad to be part of this group you‘ve established.❤️ 4w

AnnCrystal @AllDebooks 😘🌱💝💝💝. 4w

Sace @TheLudicReader I hate when they ask what they can do to bring up their grade. “Why yes. It‘s easy. Go back in time and do the work!” 4w

mhillis @TheLudicReader It was so interesting because some presenters were using AI as language teachers and others as language game developers. There are some gaps in our understanding of each other‘s needs but we learned a lot through discussing this 🙌 4w

mhillis @Sace I teach English to Japanese university students. I‘m interested in AI and literature language teaching too!! 4w

Kerrbearlib @Sace it can be hard to stop doom scrolling, can‘t it? I‘m working on reading or writing instead of scrolling, but it‘s hard to put the electronics down sometimes. 4w

Kerrbearlib @AllDebooks I‘m so glad you like the quote! ♥️ 4w

Kerrbearlib @dabbe you‘re welcome! 4w

Kerrbearlib @CatLass007 #Caturday makes everything better! I hope you enjoy Maggie‘s books if you decide to read any. The one I tagged really helped me after a friend‘s death. I think it‘s a good read for anyone experiencing change or loss. I may reread it soon, I think it will be helpful with all that‘s going on in the world. 4w

Sace @mhillis I teach novice level Spanish to US high school students. I‘m an old dog and I struggle with new tricks. I‘m only just trying CI/ADI techniques. 4w

Sace @Kerrbearlib same l! I‘m trying to just stick to Litsy! 4w

dabbe @AllDebooks IKR? 🤩😂🤩 4w

dabbe @TheLudicReader I know, but it still sucks that you have to do it. I would, too, in this climate today. RE: Sydney “Merry“ Christmas: I can't stop watching her. Her rendition of “Over the Rainbow“ and “My Way“ made me 😭 as well, but “Tomorrow“ really hit it for me. She is unbelievable! 🤩 4w

dabbe @AllDebooks YW! 🩵🩶🩵 4w

CatLass007 When I worked at HBO in Manhattan, I was able to look out the window in the cafeteria at the National Debt Clock across the street. It was kind of depressing watching the numbers keep climbing. Eventually, National Debt stopped climbing so steeply and the billionaire who put it up had it taken down. The National Debt is skyrocketing again and his Foundation put it back up. But even as slowly as the Trump countdown clock is going, it makes me happy 4w

CatLass007 @Kerrbearlib Do you think her books would work well as audiobooks? Particularly Keep Moving, the inspiration for the journal? 4w

Eggs @AllDebooks Thank you. My partner‘s daughter is helping manage her dad‘s stuff. Two of my daughters live 3-4 hours away, though my youngest lives 20 minutes away and came for several hours last weekend to help with taking down the paintings and making trips to goodwill etc. I just want it to be over. I have decluttered to the MAX!!!😅 - feels good 4w

Kerrbearlib @CatLass007 I think so, yes! 4w

Eggs @Bookwormjillk Thank you Jill🥰 This too shall pass.., 4w

Eggs @Librarybelle Thank you 🙏🏻 4w

Eggs @Cuilin Thank you🥰 Thanks for the love💞 I still have a lot to be grateful for - his heart is well and he‘s grateful and sweet. 4w

Eggs @Sace Thank you for the 💭 s; I‘m just grateful he survived the cardiac arrest - it could have been fatal. He is so grateful and sweet 4w

Eggs @dabbe Thank you 🙏🏻 💗😘 4w

dabbe @Eggs 🩵🩶🩵 4w

39 likes111 comments

Welcome to Litsy!

Trending Hashtags

Trending Books