Wintering + bread making + pandemic:
January has felt long and slow, but as you’ll see I found a few ways to cope! At the beginning of each year, I usually feel so much energy and inspiration. This year is different - it’s probably because my body realizes that we are in year three of the pandemic. It’s so tiring to be up against this pandemic on top of all of its affects ON TOP of all the usual challenges of life personally and systemically. And I know we all feel it in different ways. With the surge of omicron, there were and are so many embodied echos of pandemic anxiety from 2020. I’m trying my best to keep things moving with lots of self compassion…thank goodness for bread.
sourdough journey:
This month was the start of my exploration with sourdough starter! The process was way more involved than I expected, but I love how it slows me down. As I’m home all day, the sourdough bread process helps me from sliding into my winter depression. Especially during Jan/Feb, it doesn’t take much for me to start feeling down and lose the whole day in bed (which is totally ok and needed sometimes.) Watching the whole process over a full day (and a half) is so fulfilling. I’m definitely hooked now! I’m looking forward learning more ways to apply the sourdough starter. So stay tuned.
If you’re interested in starting, this is the recipe I use and the YouTube video I watched that goes with it.
week 1 (of trying my hand at sourdough bread making):
week 2:
I teared up when it came out like this! I wasn’t expecting it to work out like how it did. It was so satisfying to see it all come together at the end! I wish you could smell and taste it…it’s so fragrant and the texture is amazing. Crusty and crunchy on the outside and bouncy on the inside.
As I was prepping the starter, I made these cheddar crackers from the discard:
week 3:
I applied what I learned from week 1 + 2, and I got to have more fun in the design for round 3! The texture was even better than the second week. I enjoyed it with cream cheese and smoked salmon. OMG divine! Now that I think I can count on the consistency of the bread, I’m excited to start gifting them to my friends. As I try more recipes, I’ll be sharing them with you, and if you have any that you love - please send them my way.
more liberation etsy shop:
Last summer I started a little project on the side, and now it’s become something that brings me so much joy and helps sustain my work. As it is Black History Month, I wanted to highlight that for all my BLM merch 100% of the proceeds goes to a Black organization and for the next few months - it will be going to Englewood Arts Collective. This will be active not only February, but for as long as I run the shop. As a non-Black POC, I believe it’s important to do my best to do my part in not commodifying the BLM movement while doing my own personal work in confronting internalized anti-Blackness. If you haven’t checked it out recent, visit MoreLiberation!
anchors:
ALOT of work and movement is happening in therapy. As unpredictable things are popping up, I sometimes struggle in projecting fears prompted by past traumas onto my partner. I’m always looking for signs and similarities from my past in order to be prepared. And in so many ways I have compassion for myself, because I want to learn from my past - and I’m doing my best in protecting myself. But sometimes those guards can get in the way with what’s really here. So my therapist and I have been actively working on having anchors to remind me of what is here and real. Such as photos of my partner and I at the beach when things DID work out and remembering the way he meets me and is so rarely defensive when I bring up things. Another anchor is going through a list of ways that what is here is different from what has happened - instead of fixating on the similarities. Sometimes it’s so hard to be connected to the present reality, but I’m so thankful for people and resources in my life that helps me stay grounded.
Wordle:
I was introduced to WORDLE a few weeks ago, and now almost everyone that I know plays it! It’s so fun. I do it every morning, and I love that it’s a simple/short game - and I can talk about it with friends!
book:
The ones we’re meant to find by joan he
I’ve been listening to this book as I was the dishes and other house chores. I’m committed to it now, but I have to say that it’s not on my top list of books. If you like young adult literature and dystopian narratives, you might like it!
meditative watercolor workshop at guild row:
I taught my first workshop of the year three weeks ago, and it was so refreshing to start the year with the group. I always feel the participants ready to release control and play. If you’re in the Chicago area, the next one is on February 19 11:00am-1:00pm! Register here (proof of vaccination required + masked during the session).
happy wintering:
Hope you find rest and warmth during this season. Dance + sing when there’s energy - and laugh with your chosen family. Sending lots of love!