This morning I read a newsletter from Amanda Mays, and in it she included a writing prompt:

“What was the practice or ritual that sustained you through difficult times?”

What an excellent question! I love her newsletters. And her Insta account is calming and filled with what she calls “celebrating dailiness“. Check it out!

This year has been…well, there aren’t even words. To paraphrase a line from Buffy, “It sucks beyond the telling.”. SO much.

But there’s still good things, like the roadrunner who perched on a chair on the porch, staring at the screen door with look as if it was thinking, “Excuse me? Is the drive-thru window closed??”

Or my cat, who disappears all summer long, every summer, except to eat; when the weather is changing she’s back to cruising the house, asking to be pet and paid attention to. Sometimes a bit too often, actually. It’s as if she needs to make up for all she missed in during the hot weather.

As for what practice that has sustained me? I had to think about it. There are a few things I do on a regular basis, but they don’t necessarily help me through this tumultuous time. They just are.

Then it hit me. Every evening my other half heads to bed at least 3 hours before I do. He’s the morning person, I’m the night owl. Somewhere along the way this year, I started to lightly massage his back while reading a book (I’ve been on an Elizabeth Hunter kick since I discovered her Elemental Mysteries series) by the light of a large Himalayan salt lamp. The orange glow is bright enough to read my old keyboard Kindle by, yet soothing enough that it doesn’t wake him. This has been the routine every night for months. So much so that when I get in bed, he automatically turns over, even if he’s not fully awake.

The massage helps him sleep, the books calm my frantic mind, and the light winds down the evening…it’s a ritual that we would both miss if it ended.

Have you come across a writing prompt lately that made you think? Comment, please!! 🙂

Much love,
Pip

©Pip Miller – September 2020