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Alisa Kennedy Jones's avatar

These forest findings seem like such sweet "glimmers". I've been through so many med trials with epilepsy... I completely relate to the push-me-pull-you "big" feelings. Something good this week has been arriving on the East coast... it's the first real quiet I've had in 6 months... it's like a warm bath. As kids in the early 80s, racing around on our bikes (like the kids from Goonies) my cousins and I used to decorate the woods... building little rock cairns, but nothing so artful as what you found.

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

I hope you get to bask in the warm bath of the east coast for a good long time. You deserve it! xo

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

What a sweet discovery.

I’m sure you had a bad reaction to the SNRI! That’s scary and I know how hard it is to recover from those medical traumas. Slow and steady and kind, that seems to be the best way to move forward when our bodies and minds are playing tug-of-war.

A blue jay is squawking into the sun outside my windows, his inky eyes like little black diamonds in the light. Yes, sometimes it’s the tiniest little things that sparkle with the irrepressible beauty all around us.

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Sandra Ann Miller's avatar

That's lovely, KVB. Thank you. And congrats on being brave and and listening to your body to know what to do. When the sadness stays too long, ask it to leave. You might have to do that every few mins or so (some need to be shown the door more than once). Let it know it was kind of them to stop by, but you just don't have the time for that kind of visit right now, bye! Then watch something absurdly funny. Tommy Boy. Money Pit. A Fish Called Wanda. Raising Arizona. The Ref. All things Monty Python. A couple of the Jackasses. I'm not saying these are *good* movies. I'm saying parts will make you laugh out loud. The sillier, the stoopider the better. It's like lifting weights. If one side gets the training, the other side will get weak. If sadness has had the workouts, happiness needs to start lifting.

You are one of the helpers, Kim. It's good to reach out to your kindreds. I'm here if you need anything at all. xo

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Brieanna Wilkoff's avatar

I love this tree. ❤️ Seeing those pictures almost made me cry. Thank you for sharing. I've been reflecting over the past year lately and making a list of 525 moments I'm glad I was alive to experience. Trying to include some not happy moments but ones where I felt the feelings and it was good in some way. Or tiny good moments in the midst of challenging times. This feels fitting with that.

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

This is timely. First, I truly appreciate your openness. You are courageous and giving of your personal experience. I’ve been trying to get off an anti depressant. It’s tough. I’m going to try somatic therapy. It worked for my back pain maybe it will work for depression.

I love the tree. I also seek out the positive. It does help. Yesterday, I walked our dog down our long driveway and was thankful that the home builder tarred the driveway correctly 25 years ago. Yes, the silly details make me grateful.

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Wendy Parciak's avatar

What a sweet inspiration that tree is. I needed this right now!

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

After I enlarged the beautiful decorations in the tree, I thought to myself - "there are those who create beauty and pass on life-affirming gifts everywhere! But we have to "walk" slowly enough through life to even be aware of them. And THEN we have the opportunity to exert a relatively small amount of effort to pass that beauty along. You did both. You're a high-functioning and loving human and for that we're grateful.

I readily admit that for a large portion of this earth's inhabitants, there's a pervasive sadness and angst over the direction our "civilization" is going. To feel powerless and discouraged goes along with being awake to the needs and suffering of our fellow travelers. It is not surprising that we are collectively dumfungled - please look it up for a fun and extremely relevant - Scottish word. And please hang in there Kim, your world needs you.

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Amazon Anne's avatar

We need more of this!

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Sue Ferrera's avatar

Every tear you shed makes way for the light, my friend, both metaphorically and in reality. 💜

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Donna McArthur's avatar

The decorations on the tree are an amazing example of finding Grace where we least expect it, a simple reminder that there are things at play that we don't yet understand and we can lean into that better part of ourselves, and others, when things are tough.

I'm sending you a ton of good vibes Kim, I hope each day gets a little easier as you recalibrate and navigate this hard stuff.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Beautiful, Kim. I’m so glad you noticed and shared.

May continuing to feel it all and to look for the good everywhere serve you and may the conversation between body and mind bear fruit.

I appreciate you and this wonderful tree much, my friend.

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