Issue #29  //  Small Joys on the Horizon 🌈

via @mytherapistsays

From Gill: 

Make a list of things you’re looking forward to after lockdown.

Have you also been hearing this advice a lot lately? I started making my own list this week:

- Hugging everyone
- Visiting family
- Hosting a cocktail party
- Traveling
- Dancing to live music
- Working from coffee shops
- Eating food cooked by someone else

I didn’t get much further because, honestly, it just made me sad. Seriously, what doesn’t belong on this list?

I like the sentiment behind the exercise, but most of my items feel so far away right now. I don’t know when I’ll be able to see my family or plan a trip or have a party again – and that uncertainty is really tough. I’d like to revisit my list at a later date, but for now, I’m trying to reframe it to focus only on the things I’m looking forward to in the very near future.

Spain is cautiously de-escalating lockdown measures over the next few months. Barcelona will soon move into Phase 1 of 4, which means we can gather in groups of up to 10 people with social distancing, go to restaurant or bar terraces at reduced capacity, and travel within our province.

Like everyone, I’m still figuring out my comfort level with all of these changes. But a few things on my short-term wish list are:

- Taking the train outside the city to go hiking
- Meeting a friend or two for a socially distanced terrace drink
- Continuing to take daily walks
- Swimming in the sea
- Eating amazing summer produce (it’s strawberry season!)

The sadness and uncertainty still remain – and I know they will just be part of the package. But it does help to think about small joys on the horizon. What’s on your list?

🎙 Latest Episode: Embracing Emotions at Work, with Liz Fosslien

We're really excited to talk to Liz Fosslien – the awesome illustrator/co-creator of Liz and Mollie and the book No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work.

Liz shares tons of research-backed tips on how to express our emotions and care for our emotional health at work. With everything we're all dealing with right now and as many of us are trying to balance work and home life, her advice is so relatable and welcome.

• Listen to the episode and read the show notes 

👉 Steal This Tip: Liz Fosslien Edition

At the beginning of the day, I write down the three things that I want to accomplish that day. And then I always do the hardest one first.

It’s hard to do, but it’s interesting to look at what you’re feeling. Because often you’re most stressed about something because it either requires the most work or it’s the highest stakes.

👋 ICYMI

Episode 21: Personality Types in Relationships & Life, with The Dudes 🎙

We recorded this episode together in person last summer and invited our husbands, Darren and Brian, back for their second guest appearance on the podcast (listen to their first appearance in Episode 8: The Dudes!), to talk about personality types in relationships and in life.

Listen to the episode.

😄 Things We Text Each Other

Melia, after a FaceTime chat with Gill (the little video window of yourself can be misleading!):

😍 Stuff We Love Right Now

On the Interwebs  🖥

From Melia: 

• Why We’re So Tired and Brain-Fogged
  A couple of recent articles have helped me understand why many of us have had trouble focusing and sleeping during the pandemic. Uncertainty is a big stressor on the brain, and “allostatic load” is the wear and tear the body and brain experience from being stressed out. Learning this has given me compassion for myself when I feel lethargic and anxious and take longer than usual to accomplish tasks. When the kids are acting out, I remind myself of their own allostatic load and say out loud, “I know this is hard for everyone.”
  

From Gill: 

• She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
  Melia and I grew up watching She-Ra, and I’m excited to see how Netflix and DreamWorks are updating the show for a new generation. Showrunner Noelle Stevenson has hired an all-female writing staff, and NPR notes: “In the original show, the princesses are white, skinny and presumably straight. The new rebellion includes women of color. They're women in all different shapes and sizes. And there are women who love other women.” 💪
  
  

On Our Screens & In Our Ears  📺  🎧

From Melia: 

• The Power of Paradox

  I loved every minute of Brené Brown’s Unlocking Us interview with Mark and Jay Duplass, who are incredibly evolved and honest human beings. Favorite parts: their affinity for “Sartre and fartre” (highbrow + lowbrow is comedy gold for me) and their commitment to staying with things (conversations, relationships) when they get hard. I had forgotten that Gill had sent me the audio version of their book, Like Brothers, and I can’t wait to finish it. Thanks to Margaret Pinard for nudging me to listen to this ep!

From Gill: 

• Soulful Mix  
  I’ve been listening to this “Sunday Morning Brunch” playlist nonstop lately, which delivers on its promise of “a colorful mixture of blues, soul, retro pop, and R&B ranging from the 1960s to modern day.” Related: I also can’t get enough of The California Honeydrops.

On Our Plates   🍽 

From Melia: 

• Nutella on Everything
  One of my quarantine treats has been Nutella. I’ve recently rediscovered my love for the creamy, comforting chocolate-hazelnut spread. Mix a spoonful into your coffee or oatmeal, drizzle it on vanilla ice cream or crepes (make some sweet ones in addition to savory!), or just eat it plain. Next on my list to try: Nutella Banana Bread.

From Gill: 

• Savory Crepes
  The past few days, Brian has been making savory crepes for breakfast, filling them with whatever tasty odds and ends we have in the fridge. My favorite so far: herbed goat cheese and roasted tomatoes. Basic crepe batter is simple, requiring only flour, butter, eggs, and milk. Or if you’re like us and have sourdough discard you want to use, try this recipe.

If you like the Semi-Together podcast, why not share the pod with a friend who would enjoy it? You can also become a patron here.  

Until next time! 

Love,

Melia & Gill 😘😘

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