Letters from Tammy Strobel is a free weekly newsletter about creativity and curiosity, funded through Buy Me a Coffee.
Thank you for reading!
Hi friend,
Over two weeks ago, I celebrated my birthday with loved ones. We shared delicious meals together and good conversations; two of my favorite ways to have fun! I’m glad we celebrated early because I got a bad birthday gift — the Flu1. I thought I had COVID-19, but my rapid and PCR test results were negative2.
I haven't had the Flu for years, and I forgot how gnarly it is! The experience reminded me of a Thanksgiving holiday during the early aughts. We were visiting family in Southern California and I got the flu suddenly. I was so woozy that I fainted in the shower and cracked my front tooth3. I scared the hell out of Logan and my parents.
This time around, I've done my best to rest, rest, and rest more. I spent a lot of time in bed or on the couch. Resting and noticing daily delights helped me get through it4. For example, Logan did all the cooking and housework while I was ill. I’m grateful to have such a loving partner. Plus, Ursula the Cat has been a fantastic snuggle buddy. And we went for a drive with my mom’s dogs – Poppy and Taz!
A few more delights: it rained last week which made the fall leaves pop with color. When the rain let up, finches would take baths on top of our car port. It was fun to watch the birds flap their wings and jump around in the water. Ursula thought it was cute, too. Or maybe she was imaging an afternoon snack? She’s been awfully mischievous lately (see Exhibit A).
Earlier this week, I started to feel better; just in time for my workshop – Journaling for Joy. The workshop was part of The Simplicity Space; a learning program that was created by my friend Courtney Carver5. I haven’t taught a live workshop for a while, so I was nervous and excited. I had fun teaching the workshop and I hope the participants enjoyed it, too!
I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to teach Journaling for Joy again. I’ll announce the date and time soon!
GOOD LINKS
With that, here’s a short round-up of what I enjoyed watching, reading, and listening to recently:
1.) The cutest thing on the Internet today. {YouTube Short}
2.) Little Gestures of the Soul: Behida Dolić on how to tether yourself to happiness. {article}
3.) Keeping a journal helps you make sense of the journey. {podcast}
4.) “Hamish McKenzie talks to the acclaimed humor writer about Sex and the City fanatics, the beauty of aiming low, and … quite a lot about diarrhea.” {podcast}
5.) Online Shopping with Amanda Mull: “The Atlantic’s Amanda Mull is here to tell us the story of shopping, from the Silk Road to SHEIN hauls, and the story that emerges is one of workers turned against each other, and industrial byproducts reinvented as trends.” {podcast}
THANK YOU!
A big thanks goes to: Teresa, Annie, Simone, Heather, Sophia, Dorthe, and Jen for supporting my work through Buy Me a Coffee.
Your support encourages me to keep writing. Thanks for being here!
With gratitude,
Tammy Strobel
FOOTNOTES
CDC. (n.d.) Flu Symptoms & Diagnosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 10, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/index.html
CDC. (n.d.) Vaccine Effectiveness: How Well Do Flu Vaccines Work? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 10, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm
CDC. (n.d.) Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 10, 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
My dentist fixed my front tooth. I'm still grateful for his work. My front teeth are slightly uneven, and that's okay. When I look in the mirror, I'm reminded of my Thanksgiving adventure in the shower. I also learned to forgo a shower if I have a high fever.
Ross Gay inspired my study of delight. Learn about Gay’s work at rossgay.net.
Learn more about Courtney’s work at bemorewithless.com.