Dum Spiro Spero

Home for the weekend (last) - fun and stressful like most family visits are. Got a lot of physical activity, cleaning the garage, cleaning the workshop, cleaning the dog, well, you get the idea. Cleaning clutter literally, I was able to devote some time to cleaning (or at least ruminating on) some emotional clutter.
I talked to a friend before leaving. He also has to tackle the THING. He shared empathetic and gentle words. It is always so easy to be kind to someone else with the THING. I am struggling to be at least as kind to myself. I did not know the South Carolina state motto, Dum Spiro Spero. It was perfect timing - as a LOT seems to be these days. While I breath, I hope.

One thing to read immediately: This month's issue of Oprah magazine. Wow. The article on binge eating felt like it was written just for me. I think it may feel like that for many. Following a binge, the author, Ann Lamott, writes "I felt like a manatee alone in an aquarium." It's funny, I have certainly long identified with the manatee. I am NOT alone. None of us is.