Pardon me while I rip my eyeballs away from the fourth episode of Homeworthy I’ve inhaled this morning and dab the raw skin under my nostrils after the 1000th sneeze I’ve sneezed today. 🤧
What started Tuesday as a tight and itchy throat, progressed Wednesday into a heavy head. Found me Thursday leaking from both nostrils with developing pressure between my brows and Friday fully taken over by a face that felt like an overfilled balloon, shoulders tight for no reason and forearms aching like cement had filled my veins (always a tell that my body is at war with something.)
A summer cold. Mild at best but still debilitating. I had to cancel many plans I’d been looking forward to, surrender three days to my bed, couch and bathtub AND had to break out the hideous humidifier, an appliance that makes me recoil with disgust every time I see it sitting on my bedside table but that truly, absolutely helps. I can’t stand it but I can breathe again.
Thankfully I’ve not run a fever and because of that have remained lucid enough to make the most of my downtime. Instead of fully rotting my mind and soul with endless scrolling of YouTube shorts, I’ve used this week to cultivate a more clear vision of the woman I want to be/am.
Though still leaking from nose and low energy, I’ve found new inspiration, deepened my practices and found myself feeling more present, alive and centered than ever before.
Here’s what I’ve done and discovered to make a sick week not so gross:
Actually slowing down. Not just permission to let myself sleep in and nap but a new attention to the present moment that has brought me calm and joy. Call me crazy but being present enough to feel the Advil hit and bring relief to a pounding head felt like witnessing a miracle. Slowly picking out a pretty mug for tea. Taking my time arranging the flowers Alan brought me. Wrapping a present and using beautiful silk ribbon. Sending a card to a friend for no reason. Making the mundane moments matter. Not rushing ANYTHING. This practice has made the biggest difference overall.
Making a morning ritual. I’m all for a morning routine. I have a loose one of meditation and journaling that I stick to most days but never want to feel beholden to because then, what’s the point? BUT adding some reverence to my mornings through beautiful rituals has felt wonderful and extremely elegant. Turning on a sultry jazz playlist, dry brushing my face and body in the early hours of the day and taking time to froth my half and half before pouring it into my coffee have made a huge impact to my well-being.
I’ve had this little face brush for a long time and go in and out of remembering to use it, but this week because I wanted to take extra care of myself AND get my lymphatic drainage amped up, I’ve used it every morning right upon waking and it’s been a comfort akin to climbing into bed after a long day.
Had AI design me a year-long curriculum. Since downing the 8-part documentary Life on Our Planet, earlier this summer, I’ve been addicted to (re)learning everything I feel I should already know. If only I could start fourth grade over as a 42 year old woman, I’d be the best student ever. In lieu of going back to elementary school, I’ve opted to make good use of my ChatGPT with a 52-week curriculum containing daily assignments to make me culturally fluent enough to feel confident in any room, which is my goal. It covers world history, art, fashion, architecture, design, food, wine, film and literature and I am very excited to now have no excuse to scroll. I have homework to complete, movies to watch and books to read. **Let me know if you want a link to the Google Doc I created.
Found a new YouTube idol. Okay well, curriculum aside, I will obviously still be allowing myself a bit of long-form YouTube time because: 1. they are my friends and 2. I’ve fallen in love with a new (to me) creator and his name is Nicolas Fairford. He talks about elegance and creating a beautiful life. Fashion, grooming, home and lifestyle. I could listen to the man talk about anything and in the throes of my sinuses trying to explode through my cheeks, I found great comfort in his channel. He also has a Substack, !
This episode of Homeworthy. Let’s get this out of the way, Homeworthy is FAR superior to AD. They display all sorts of homes, all over the world and don’t just feature boring celebrities. I’d never heard of Frances Shultz until I stumbled upon her NYC apartment tour today but I watched the entire hour with a smile on my face feeling I’d found a kindred spirit in her. Loved it so much.
Watched Lisa, our porch squirrel, drink water. The hollowed out rock in this video is a bird bath (obviously gifted to me by my mother) and I’ve had it on the porch for ages but until recently, Lisa has only used it for taking dumps. I’m not joking, the girl literally uses it as her toilet. Finally, her idiot squirrel brain identified it as a watering hole and watching her drink from it (don’t worry I cleaned it) has brought me endless joy.
The Humidifier. Please, for the love of all things holy, does there exist a not hideous humidifier??? If so, please advise. Until then, if you’re dealing with a cold, running it while sleeping has done wonders for my sinuses.
These eye masks. My dear friend, Kelly Strong, event planner extraordinaire, always treats me like a princess when I get the absolute pleasure to work with her and she included some of these in a care package she left in my room on a job I worked with her last year. They are self-warming and perfect for a sinus infection, headache or to relax before bed time or meditating.
The Age of Innocence. I read it forever ago but hadn’t seen the film. Yes, it was part of my curriculum but also a perfect treat while I anxiously await the next season of The Gilded Age coming this fall.
Started reading Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act. I’m nearly finished with The Song of Achilles, have been re-reading some Joe Dispenza and want to see what all the hype around Theo of Golden is about. Tossing in Rick Rubin’s book, that can be picked up and put down as the mood strikes, is great. Thanks to my dad for lending it to me.
It is now Sunday, I sound stuffy enough to still garner sympathy but my head is no longer pounding and my energy has returned to about 60% its normal strength.
I haven’t been outside in three days so we may actually venture out for dinner tonight. Mostly, I’m happy to be healing as the next two weeks are bonkers with my very own catering gig next Sunday and a trip to Wyoming for an event job the last week in August.
You can look forward to a new podcast episode dropping this Friday(-ish) and an update next Monday on how it went making a lavish grazing board and lots of treats for a friend’s very special birthday party.
I hope you are staying well and enjoying late summer. Thank you for reading, I’ll talk to you soon!
xo, Brittany
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