What helps you feel refreshed?

It's hard to believe it's already the middle of May. Spring has flown by and we are already starting to feel the emergence of summer in LA. As a Midwesterner, I'm learning that seasons are a slightly looser term in California, particularly in Southern California. From my observations, I've gathered that summer in Los Angeles feels like warmth and sun, the peak of cactus flower blooms, and roses in my neighborhood garden that are as large as my palm. As someone used to the sharp demarcations of seasons of St. Louis, it's interesting to live somewhere so temperate and so consistent over most of the year.

My husband and I have both come to realize that we are both people who are dependent on the presence sun for our well being. We are energized by an opportunity to be outside and feel warm; our energy immediately plummets on dark, cloudy days. These last few weeks, we've tried to take advantage of every sunny day to take a walk, admire the flowers, and bask in the sun. It's been a small ritual that has helped me feel refreshed and energized even in the midst of busy work days and life transitions. It's also reminded me that as much as I absolutely love vacations away, there are also small things in my day to day life that help me feel refreshed amongst the daily grind.

This week, I've been rereading yung pueblo's book Clarity & Connection. I love his poem on creating space for our own rejuvenation.

He writes:

know your sources of rejuvenation:

the amount of solitude you need to feel fresh again

the activities that strengthen your creativity

the people who light your spirit

I've been thinking about these tenets and how they play into my own ability to feel refreshed and restored. I know time in solitude is essential for me, a discovery I only fully realized in adulthood as a self-proclaimed extrovert. I love time in silence, especially unstructured free time with no agenda (perhaps a result from years without agency in medical training?). I have also recently been trying to make an active effort to be creative, even though I've never identified as an "artsy" person. I try to find time to do something with my hands - whether it's play with clay or try out the ukulele or write poetry - something that exercises a part of myself outside of the dimensions of self-judgement.

Finally, I do my best to prioritize time with people I love - whether in person, quick phone calls. I am blessed with people in my life who light up my spirit with their presence and I appreciate yung pueblo's reminder that our time together, even when I feel busy and overwhelmed, can be a grounding source.

Creating time for these activities is tough- there is often little societal support or encouragement to do things with no agenda or no end goal of "productivity." As hard as it is to prioritize, I try to keep in mind that my own  ability to be the clinician, friend, family member I want to be is dependent on carving out this space.

What helps you feel refreshed and rejuvenated? What practices have you built into your life?

We'd love to hear from you.

With gratitude,

Anu & Laura

PC: Santa Monica Neighborhood Walk