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"The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well." – Elisabeth Kübler Ross
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5 quick things –
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Hi, beautiful.

What a time to be alive. If you are stressed out, anxious, sad, lovely, or overwhelmed, you are not alone. Here are some ways you can take care of yourself, right now:

  • Keep breathing. Take a few deep, long breaths, letting your exhale be longer than your inhale. This will help your heart rate decrease. 
  • Anchor yourself to the present moment. What sounds are happening in the room you are in? What are some colors that you see? How does your body feel?
  • Be gentle to yourself. This is not a time to push or challenge yourself. Take good care. Let yourself cancel plans; let yourself eat the things your body is craving; give guilt the day off. Be kind.
  • If you haven't already, turn off news alerts. Only read the news when you feel ready; it's a gift to your own mental health.

    Here are five other things that might help this week. ⏬
    Liza demonstrating the technique
    PRACTICE TIP
    1. one minute to less stress

    Here's a one minute practice to calm your nervous system that I love and have been using a lot this week–check out the picture, which explains it better than my words: 

    • gently cradle the base of your skull with one hand; rest the other hand on your forehead using very light pressure
    • close your eyes
    • take ten or so deep, slow breaths

    This practice is relaxing and centering and is a great thing to do to help yourself calm down and to send a message to yourself that you are okay; that you will take good care of you.
    a bunch of burned out matches on a pink background
    LONG READ
    2. on burnout

    This article about the things one guy figures contribute to his burnout is a really interesting read. 

    I've been feeling a little burned out myself, and while I have been blaming it on working too much (which I'm sure is part of it), it's interesting to explore bigger reasons, such as:

    "Metastasized independence: America’s supernatural skill to transform systemic problems and inefficiencies into personal problems and responsibilities, e.g. health care, privatization of public services, imperative to “work harder” to overcome gender- and race-based pay gaps, etc."

    Well worth the read, and a good think! Sometimes we're tired because sh*t is tiring. Eh? 
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    TO READ
    3. have the winter blues?

    I get the winter blues (aka seasonal affective disorder) really badly. And it's gotten worse as I've gotten older.

    If you get them, too, this post about practical ways to cope with winter sadness or depression can help.

    On a personal level, my own struggles with seasonal depression are why we as a family chose to make the sacrifices it has taken to rent a small apartment in Miami – which is why although I live in NYC, you see a lot of pictures of me in Florida. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity and the support to be able to treat my depression this way. It does help enormously. If you suffer from this as well, please do everything you can to take good care. An apartment in a warm place might not be an option, but blue lights, salts baths, and self love can help. 💓
    Queen Latifah in a pink coat
    RECOMMENDED
    4. take a movie break

    My publisher asked me to take my "feel good" movie recommendations out of my book because they said they wouldn't age well. I disagree. 😉

    Here's the movies worth considering if you need a nice break: 

    Last Holiday 
    Moana
    Goonies
    Clueless
    Inside Out

    "You wait and you wait for somethin' big to happen... and then you find out you're gonna die." –Queen Latifah in "Last Holiday." Watch it if you haven't yet! Watch it again if you have. :) 
    a photo of a cuttlefish. wearing 3D glasses. it's so cute!
    FOR YOUR HEART
    5. animals being adorable

    Here is a baby hippo getting brushed (?!) and appearing to really enjoy it.

    Here is a cuttlefish wearing 3D glasses (the videos are especially cute; scroll down.)

    Here is a dog who is incredibly good at spying on the neighbors.

    Speaking of Queen Latifah, I was at Indochine in NYC once and she came in... she was kind of bouncing as she walked, super swagger-y and so, so cool. She walked over to a guy she knew at the bar, PICKED HIM UP FROM BEHIND, and while his legs were dangling, started laughing riotously; throwing her head back and filling the entire place with an infectious spirit.

    I turned to my friend and said, "That is exactly what I wanted Queen Latifah to be like." I hope you get exactly what you want this week, too. See you next time!
    Love,

    MEANWHILE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA . . . 
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    Liza Kindred

    This newsletter was written on the unceded land of the Seminole and Tequesta people. (Via Native Land.)

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