If the symptoms of an allergic reaction include nausea, headaches, fatigue and feeling generally unwell, then I think there might be a few allergens floating around. (If those symptoms also include eye-rolling, frustration, and a general air of malaise, then I think there’s a lot more than a few.)
Things I’m allergic to:
Beestings
Ant bites
Some gluten-free breads
Some as-yet-unidentified ingredient in coconut yoghurt
Entitlement
Snobbery
Trends of the fashion variety
Trends of most other varieties
Bro science
Algorithms and echo chambers
Advertisements that prey on our insecurities, while simultaneously forcing them and their ‘solution’ on to us. (Yes, you should feel bad about stretch marks. It’s not proof of the changing nature of your miraculous body, it’s actually gross and shameful. Here’s some made-up comments from someone’s made-up husband to prove it. Feels awful, doesn’t it? Oh, you poor thing. Here - we have something that might help!)
People who dwell in the binary: me vs you, us vs them, in vs out, good vs bad
A lack of nuance and the choice to remove context, intention and goodwill from public conversations
Things that help me recover from allergic reactions:
Hugs
Spending time lying in the sun, letting it warm my skin
Going to bed early
Getting up early and enjoying the silence of the house before anyone else is awake
Throwing my phone across the room
Sitting next to a crackling fire
Making things with my hands
Getting lost in a wonderful book
Using Freedom to block news websites and social media for the day
Writing
Doing something, anything, to put good into the world. (Donate, smile, share, connect)
Afternoon naps
Gardening
Conversations with like-hearted, like-minded people
Evening walks with the dogs and/or Ben and/or the kids and/or the changing colours of the sky as the sun sets
Kicking the soccer ball around at the park
Comfort-watching a movie or TV show (Hunger Games, 10 Things I Hate About You, Great British Bake-Off)
Water – drinking it, swimming in it, bathing in it
Sand between my toes
Mountains
Slow barefoot bushwalks
Spotting wildflowers
Hearing the black cockatoos calling to each other and catching a glimpse of them crossing the sky
Trying to remember that people who subscribe to a binary world-view are usually just scared, and they’re always, always human.
It’s a heavy old world, mates. But there are wonderful things in it and I think we owe it to ourselves to enjoy them. That doesn’t mean we’re ignoring everything else. It just means that many things can be true at the same time. We contain multitudes, as they say.
Take good care of yourselves.
Brooke xx
Love this list, Brooke and such a beautiful contrast to the many difficult things in our world at the moment. I love wildflowers too! I found one the other day which is native and endangered where I live. It's called the chocolate lily and literally smells of chocolate! It made my day 🙏💚
As I wait for my pizza to cook, I’m smiling and nodding as I read. I love being 51 and finally feel good in my life. I get to say what I like, what I don’t and I can ignore the rest. ❤️