{HMW} "Let me know if you need anything" vs. actually showing up
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Dear Reader, In the days after my mother-in-law passed away last month, our local friends just showed up for us in so many ways and we were so grateful. Some dropped off home-cooked meals on our doorstep, and one friend even sent us a GrubHub gift card with a note that said so you don't have to think about food this week. When someone removes the decision entirely, it lands somewhere deep. Of course food is one of the oldest ways humans say I'm here without having to find the right words and when someone feeds you during a hard time, your nervous system registers it as safety. But, there are so many other ways to take that extra step to show someone you see them and care about them. Show up for what matters to them — the choir recital, the improv debut, the article they wrote that nobody else noticed. Offer to drive their kids. Clean their house. If you're far away, actually come visit. When my father passed away in 2017, all I wanted was in-person visits with my closest friends. It is what I found most healing. There's something about someone really knowing what you need and just doing it, without being asked. That's a different thing entirely from a "let me know if you need anything." More often than not, that's the whole answer. Feed them. Sit with them. Show up. It really can be that simple and I can't tell you how meaningful it is from the receiving end. Your quick win: Who in your life could use that little extra care right now? Pick one concrete thing and do it this week. I'm taking 1:1 coaching clients for April and May. We do a lot of work around food, emotions, and what it means to actually nourish yourself. If you're curious, grab a free clarity call: Have it: Interesting Article Alert: Cognitive shuffling: The micro-dreaming game that helps you sleep The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist - Maybe this is the year I actually do spring cleaning...? Made it: This week's 5-Senses Sunday goes from college dining halls in the '90s to a sulfur-soaked exoplanet — with a few stops in between. I'm sharing the full story of the Chinese Food Man (a true hero of my Brandeis years), the neuroscience behind using music to interrupt negative thought spirals, a simple touch-and-breath practice for nervous system regulation you can do anywhere, and a photograph taken from inside a coral reef that I genuinely cannot stop looking at. Want it: This Sun-dried tomato powder looks SOOO good. Ingredient Spotlight: Grains of Paradise These little seeds come from West Africa and are related to ginger. They taste like pepper, but warmer and more interesting, with a little citrus zing underneath. You can order them online easily (Amazon, Burlap & Barrel, Diaspora Co.) and a little goes a long way. Try grinding them fresh over roasted vegetables, eggs, or a creamy soup. They're also excellent in spice rubs and homemade chai blends They contain compounds called paradols and gingerols that have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties. Here's more on this unusual spice Grains of Paradise Are The Best Spice You're Never Heard Of Announcements & Upcoming: What if self-care didn’t feel like another thing to get right? Bloom + Be: A Gentle Self-Care Experience is a free virtual event for anyone who wants growth, joy, and intentional living…but doesn’t resonate with hustle culture or rigid routines. 🫠 This experience is about small, meaningful shifts that expand your capacity…not overwhelm it. You don’t have to watch everything. You don’t have to change everything. You’re allowed to move gently. If you’re ready for self-care that meets you where you are, Bloom + Be might be exactly what you need.
Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman What I'm Watching: The weather - cause I'm off to Savannah, GA this weekend! What I'm Listening to: Acoustic Folk Music for Exploring the Great Outdoors What I'm Eating: Lazy Pierogi Gnocchi with dilly sour cream, apple-arugula salad That's it for me this week. I hope you all have a happy and healthy hump day! Warmly, Jenny |