I’m here with another Simple September recap. My biggest victory over the past week has been following my gut. Because of this, I was less sterotypically productive (i.e., working hard, making money) and a lot more that-book-is-really-calling-to-me-and-I-shall-answer productive (i.e., soul-level fulfillment).
Some bigger things are happening this week, so check Instagram for the daily recap. Wishing you all a beautiful week ahead!
September 15, 2025
The vacuum started acting funny one day last month. It wasn’t telling jokes or anything (HAR!)—it just became unusually difficult to empty the bin. I was vacuuming that morning to procrastinate on something else, so I embraced the vacuum mishap as another reason to delay. And delay I did.
Early into troubleshooting, John theorized that moisture might have gotten in the vacuum when he was deep cleaning an area rug the day before. His explanation sounded reasonable, but by then I was obsessed with finding a solution. I practically disassembled the vacuum, cleaned all the parts, then watched countless DIY videos.
Two hours later, I ordered two new parts for the vacuum. I was a wee-bit frustrated that it wasn’t fixed, but I knew it would be soon. (Keep in mind that the vacuum could still perform all its functions. I just wanted a smoother bin-emptying experience.)
When I vacuumed the next morning, I emptied the bin without issue. Voila! I returned the parts when they arrived, and the vacuum has been on its best behavior ever since.
The takeaway? I kept the vacuum “problem” alive by trying so dang hard to fix it. Had I let it be, I wouldn’t have gotten behind on the tasks I neglected during the Vacuum Fixathon, nor would I have been in the UPS Store later that week returning unneeded parts.
It made me think about other “issues” I voluntarily keep alive—things I give life to every time I become obsessed with “figuring it out.”
I’ll wake up grumpy and spend the better part of the day trying to understand why—thereby perpetuating my grumpiness by giving it new energy. Or I’ll feel bloated and try to recall everything I put in my body to identify the source—keeping the bloating top of mind. In both examples, I’d have been better off going for a walk.
Years ago, I read something like this: When you’re feeling down, instead of getting caught up in the why, ask yourself how you’d rather feel. Then do something to make THAT a reality.
It might sound simple, but it was eye-opening for me. I tend to dissect the problem instead of moving forward. I get stuck in fix-it mode and never graduate to the next, most helpful step: changing my perspective.
September 16, 2025
My nervous system has been a Prednisone-induced frazzled mess the last few weeks. I sit on the couch aggressively tapping my feet while also wishing I was taking a nap. I want to burst into tears and rearrange the furniture at the same time.
Early on, when I was on the maximum steroid dose, I found myself flopping around on the couch feeling restless. I prefer cooler weather for a bath, but I decided to see if it might help me relax. And for the time I was in the bath, I felt so soothed. There was no fidgeting or feelings of agitation. I just soaked and read a book and sweated out the turmoil.
I know some people think baths are gross because you “sit there in your own filth.” But I love my own filth. I lounge in my nastiness and drink tea or coffee. Then, when I’m done, I turn on the shower for a quick wash and rinse. Because the rest of the world hasn’t earned the right to experience my filth.
These baths have been my saving grace for the past two weeks, including today. Simple yet precisely what I need. 🛁
(Now I’ll pause for a moment of gratitude, knowing it’s a luxury that I can take a bath when the mood strikes. I’m thankful for that.)
September 17, 2025
I snapped this photo of Noodle in the yard today. When I looked at it later, her sweet little [nasty] tongue made me laugh. Here’s to finding moments of humor, no matter how small.
September 18, 2025
Sometimes we all need a dog video…
September 19, 2025
Oops.
September 20, 2025
Cheers to another successful Kirkwood Wine Stroll. Ain’t no dance party like a gas station dance party!
September 21, 2025
Am I doing enough?
This seems to be a common question in today’s high-achieving society—where we’re always on the quest for “more.” It’s as though we measure our value by the number of activities on our calendar. The busier, the better.
What if it doesn’t have to be that complicated? What if success was measured by the hours of leisure we had? I’d have *crushed it* this weekend.
It’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough, but what if we’re doing plenty? Maybe the world is just doing too much.
Today, reading and napping and dog cuddling was “enough”—and I feel fulfilled because of it. 💜
We’re now entering the final [full] week of Simple September!
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