It’s funny how excited we get about a tiny bit of snow in this part of the South. I woke up to a light blanket of white and by the time I got home from the gym and took these photos it was mostly gone. It’s still a pleasure to see no matter how fleeting. I’m looking forward to an afternoon of hot tea and reading under the covers, and later a delicious spicy soup for dinner to warm us up. It’s a grey but beautiful Saturday.
I definitely appreciate having a sense of humor about the ridiculous world of health and fitness, especially the dash we make to the gym in January hoping for instant results. Carolyn Figel’s daily animation series Working Out from A to Z started out as a take on just that. In my mind she nails it with these unexpected and perfectly witty depictions of a sometimes misguided and overly serious gym and self-improvement culture. That guy doing planks? That’s me, my love/hate relationship with exercise personified. Carolyn’s ace typography and sound selections make these bizarre scenes all the more brilliant. Here’s to working out and not taking yourself too seriously in 2016. Check out the rest of the series so far and find more of Carolyn’s work on her website.
sweater//Achro, earrings//Young Frankk, jeans// Levi’s 501s, boots//Rachel Comey
This particular outfit has been on heavy rotation since my husband bought me a beautiful sweater by Achro for Christmas (and these Levi’s have hardly been taken off since I bought them in Cincinnati). The thick ribbing and detail on the collar plus the modern charcoal grey color have made it my go-to for the more frequent chilly days. It’s the perfect addition to my collection of elevated basics–sophisticated and elegant with heels yet comfortable enough for lounging on the couch, even when your couch is currently being stored at your dusty and unfinished home renovation. I still feel totally at ease and warm no matter where I am.
the only photo of 2016 on my phone so far
Now that all our family has gone back home I finally have a chance to sit down and think about the new year. I’m finding it hard to believe it’s 2016 when my mind is still stuck in 2015–waiting, in transition. Moving on to a new year with things still looming over us unresolved (the house, for instance) isn’t ideal, but perhaps that’s the best reason to look forward and rest in the knowledge that we have hope in Christ.
This year my desire is to focus on what I want to do rather than where I’m lacking, which I admit is a subtle and perplexing distinction. Being aware of my deficiencies is good, but not when it’s my main focus, when I’m self-critical and harsh to the point that I reject the Lord’s redeeming grace and love. This year is about organizing and meal planning more efficiently, downsizing our belongings again, getting out of the house often, visiting Nashville, exploring our city frequently, picnics, picking up my cameras more and my phone less, serving others, spending time with David, spending time with friends, making use of and appreciating what I have, enjoying stillness and resisting the pressure to fill every moment. This year is also about redefining comfort–looking less to food and drink to relax and unwind and not escaping life’s difficulties through endless television and laziness, but finding comfort in good health and moderation, in enriching art forms, in scripture, and in the sustaining satisfaction that comes only from the Lord.
2016 is sure to have its rough moments, but grace will still abound.