Goodness Round-up

In the spirit of sharing goodness and hope in a world where it all too often feels like too much of a bad thing news-wise, here’s my September Goodness Round-up...

Nothing original in this idea, but I thought I'd have fun collecting and sharing my current faves and happy places. (And I did- it’s a real feel good exercise!) Also, I am absolutely loving the lists of others in this happy, hopeful space. So, I figured, one more such list has to be a good thing! A good thing full of goodness.

One of my absolute favourite questions to ask someone is, “What have you read lately?” so let’s start there…

I’m reading

Non-fiction:

Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee
Based on his own story and journey, Justin presents such a clear and balanced, factual and biblical, non-confrontational take on the great gay debate. His humility and inspiring love-like-Jesus approach to everyone, in spite of his very real pain on the receiving end of fellow-Christians loving-him-but-hating-his-sin, really challenged me. This is a thought-provoking and unifying read no matter where you stand or what you believe or want to believe.

Fiction:

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
Just pure, wondrous escapism! An intriguing time-travelesque concept (I’m kind of a sucker for a good time travel/out of time story) that speaks to the importance of embracing and inhabiting the here-and-now of our lives, be it the good, bad or the ordinary. And for some added goodness, I highly recommend listening as you read to the Spotify playlist that accompanies the book.

Audiobook:

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber
There is something so endlessly encouraging about someone who just says it how it is; someone who just shows up as themselves, warts-and-all. And for that reason, I will always have time for anything Nadia has to say. This is a glorious memoir (made all the better for being read by her) of her personal journey from addict to church-planting, ordained Lutheran pastor, peppered throughout with poignant stories that show how God uses the imperfect messiness of community to change hearts and mend brokenness with Their Love.

Poetry

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
A birthday gift from my three girls: there is so much beauty, hope, consolation, love in these offerings. Wendell’s passion, concern and hope for our planet will always have my heart. The title poem for this collection says it all:

The Peace of Wild Things

Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Yes, Wendell. Yes. So much yes.

I’m listening to

Music

Honest by Chris Llewellyn
The band Rend Collective hold a special place in my heart as their music carried me through a dark season of post-natal depression that coincided with moving towns a few years ago. And now it feels like Rend Collective lead singer, Chris Llewellyn’s recently released solo album is touching something deep in me again. Chris’ lyrics in almost every song on this album feel like the soundtrack of my mind over this past year. Apart from my one wilderness friend (thank you, CK) this album is the thing that has made me feel the least alone in this whole deconstructing and rebuilding journey. I still can’t listen to several of the tracks without some seriously cathartic messy crying. So. Good. So healing.

And a personally curated playlist made for me by my Sunshine Girl which is so gloriously chill and just beautiful to listen to. Plus, it’s a made-with-love gift so that absolutely adds to its charm and feel-good factor. It’s my go-to.

Podcast

Grey Areas with Petra Bagust
Like the best chat with the best friend, this podcast reminds me that I am not alone; that I am part of a community of strong, intelligent, capable, kind women who are changing the world through the choices we make. There is so much wisdom and beauty in every episode. I feel so proud of the quality wahine toa (strong warrior women) of New Zealand featured in so many of these episodes.

I’m watching

Modern Love on Amazon Prime

When I’m feeling really spent or really sore I have been retreating to my bed for half an hour (+/- my big girls) to watch an episode of Modern Love. It’s a series of stand-alone episodes based on the weekly column of the same name published by The New York Times, each one featuring a unique and beautiful love story. It’s really well done and the soundtracks are really lovely too. It’s my happy place; escapism at its finest.

I’m eating

Lots of protein! Like every two hours… to see if it improves my energy levels. My fridge is now always stocked with boiled eggs and peanut butter quinoa protein balls.
A modification of I Quit Sugar/Sarah Wilson’s Sardine Boats is my go-to lunch.

I’m making it with tinned mackerel (so much better than it sounds!) which is super cost-effective and a powerhouse of both Omega-3 and protein. I throw in plenty of herbs (parsley and coriander are what the garden is giving out at the moment) and greens (garden again with corn salad, land cress, baby silverbeet and spinach leaves); add in celery or fennel for a bit of crunch and some homemade preserved lemons (because they need using up). It’s magic on a piece of toasted sourdough smeared with cream cheese.

I’m embracing

Chaos gardening

… after reading

I’m breaking up with punnets.

Basically, clear the weeds, feed the soil, scatter all those malingering, mystery seeds tucked away in your seed box that you never seem to use, water and mulch. Wait and see what takes and hope that it looks gloriously English cottage garden-like. I’ve been flinging a leftover mix of poppy, calendula, Bishop’s flower, cornflower, marigold so hopefully it looks a little something like this!

I’m finding hope in

Seeing a Clinical Exercise Physiologist

A gift from my sister-in-law and my Mama, I had my first session with Catherine at Optimize Health this week and it was AMAZING! Like everything I had been needing for the past six months. Catherine has respectfully taken the reigns in a way that allows me to stop trying to diagnose and treat myself. The relief is significant. My only responsibility now is to follow her instructions and tune into my body and how it feels. Catherine has given me permission to be more gentle with myself; is asking me to be a safe place that my body can trust so that we can calm her the heck down. Catherine sees the possibility of a body well-managed- with kindness, gentleness, trust, confidence- in order to reach a place where there are more days filled with energy and an absence or quietening of pain. I am buoyant with hope.

I’m loving

Spring in the air

Waking again to birdsong. Sunshine making me come alive again. Lambs frolicking, wagging. Blossoms, everywhere, cannot get enough of them. New life springing from what appeared dead: gets me every spring, all that metaphor, all that magic. The curiosity of calves. Bare feet on grass. Getting gardens planted. That fresh air smell. Morning walks again. Sunrises.

This new found fact

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And a stack of new books, belated birthday presents, that arrived this week!

What have you read lately? And where are you finding goodness and hope this month?