what's saving my life: fall 2023.

candles, naps, and a few more good things.

My baby girl is due in six weeks. If she’s like her big brother, we’ll have a little more time before she makes her arrival, but of course, there’s no way to truly know.

Due to her impending arrival and my propensity to #doallthethings, there hasn’t been much time for writing lately, as I’ve been furiously working through a probably way longer than reasonable task list that I’d like completed before she gets here.

I’ve also been dealing with some of my own big creative questions (surprise, surprise), contemplating a rebrand of this Substack, and more, which has caused my all-or-nothing self to lean more into the “nothing” of publishing my writing. I’ve thought about sharing another post of this sort for a little while, but held back, for fear that it would be too commonplace and simple, especially when part of me says that the only “important” writing is the long, slow, and profound.

But then a recent post from Emily P. Freeman reminded me of the importance of this seemingly simple and perhaps, to some, unnecessary practice:

Noticing once may not have a huge impact. But a regular practice of naming what’s saving your life right now is a way to see your life as you live it.

It’s a way to honor the highlights of your own self-care, the relationships you cherish, the small gifts of daily life.

It’s a gratitude list with slant.

So, in the midst of this season of pre-baby preparation that doesn’t leave much time for completing the deep, slow, potentially profound writing… here’s my gratitude list with slant for this season of life. I hope it encourages you to notice the things—big or small—that are saving your own life right now.

1. Trader Joe’s Vanilla Pumpkin candles.

I recently learned about Trader Joe’s seasonal candles and I’m genuinely shocked that I didn’t know about them until now. For about $4, you can get a beautiful candle with the scent of the season and it’s utterly delightful.

For fall, they have a Vanilla Pumpkin scent (among others, but this one appealed to me most), which I eagerly picked up and have been burning with joy in recent weeks. The scent isn’t overpowering at all, and burning it each night as I sit on the couch with my husband is a wonderful way to end our days.

2. Clearing out clutter and getting organized.

Whether to friends at church, people in my Buy Nothing group, or folks on Facebook Marketplace, one by one I’ve been getting these things out of my home that we no longer need in this season of life and it feels so good.

Related to this, clearing out stuff we don’t need has opened up space to better organize things we do need, which also feels great, especially in anticipation of a new little one coming into our home.

3. Daily naps.

See aforementioned “6 weeks until due date.” This mama is achy and tired basically all the time, so taking daily naps has been the best.

4. Making serious progress on my to do list.

I’m someone who perpetually has what is probably best called a completely unrealistic to do list, but the majority of the things on that list are things that I genuinely want and need to get done one day.

Knowing my own propensity toward productivity always, I’ve been really intentional about trying to get through as much of my to do list as possible (while still making time for other important things like time with my husband and son and those daily naps), so I’m better able to be present and really enjoy the newborn season when our daughter arrives.

I definitely had a few moments of overwhelm, but after brain dumping and getting the list itself a bit more organized, I’ve been able to make some serious progress in the last few weeks. It’s still unlikely that all of it will be done before baby girl makes her arrival, but the list is now to a point where it actually feels like it’s under control for the first time in ages, and that’s a huge win!

5. The newest season of The Great British Bake Off.

It’s my husband and my’s favorite show. We look forward to it every fall and so far this season has been a delight, which is no surprise at all.

If you don’t subscribe to Netflix, it’s worth it to do so for a month or two while this show runs, at least in my opinion.

6. Date night swap babysitting.

I mentioned in my list from spring that we had started doing date night swaps with my brother and sister-in-law. While the weeks my husband and I get to go out will always be something saving my life, I’ve been loving the weeks we get to watch our nieces as well.

We didn’t grow up near any family, so it’s been so much fun to see the relationships develop between our son and his cousins. He gets so excited when he sees them, and I love watching them all interact with each other.

7. All things autumn.

Cliche, perhaps, but autumn is hands down my favorite season, and after a hot, gross summer, the weather has finally cooled down and I am here for it.

Give me all the scarves, boots, layered sweaters, apple chais, changing leaves, simmering soups, crunchy bread, cool weather, pumpkin muffins, and everything else that makes fall an utter delight.

That’s it for me today, friends! (And very possibly until sometime after baby girl arrives… we’ll see!) Now it’s your turn… what are some things saving your life this fall?