Music is so great during times of change, during times of travel,
Especially listening to something familiar and just singing right along… I am truly excited for you and your family — and facing a big change with one eye open — wildly and deliciously poetic (I hope you recover soon) 😘
Moving can be so hard…but I’m excited for you (though I will miss having you in Pittsburgh!). As far as practices go, lean into the light whenever you can; take note of more than you might normally (journal details, voice memo sounds, take more photographs) to help establish your new sense of place; learn the new birds and plant names; remind yourself to breathe by singing along to music you love; fashion your family even more into a little lifeboat so you can mutually lean into each other when things feel hard. Big love!
Thank you for all you shared here, Violeta. I love esp what you said about establishing a new sense of place—new birds and plant names feel key,a nd I appreciate that esp coming from you, who is always noticing, noticing
Music is always a big go-to for me as well. I just made a playlist called “transitions” for my own big life change - one that is equal parts heartbreaking but also exciting. I’ve been listening to it nonstop and sharing with friends who are also navigating changes. I put “In Between Days” on there after your post a month or so ago.
ahhh thank you for this, Lyss! love so many songs on here and excited to check out the ones that are new to me -- i'm obsessed with that new Fiona Apple/ Iron & Wine one...i'm sending you good energy for your own big transition...xo
Wow, Emily, I'm so excited for you and your family. I think the dramatic change of scenery (and blue skies, we always called Pittsburgh Little Sky Country) will be amazing for your creative practice. AND I totally get the more reluctant and melancholy pieces. One of my favorite movies I like to return to in times of change is "Sliding Doors" because I love the themes of parallel lives and it's just a fun movie. I also just listened to Sarah Polley on Kate Bowler's podcast and I think you'd enjoy the interview. Sending all of you love as you get ready for this change.
Thank you so much, Shana! I love that you think about skies and the power of change of scenery—Nico and I have been talking about how "a new sky" could be good for us. I'm starting to move into being more excited than anxious finally... I love Sliding Doors and forgot about it (Gwyneth in the 90s with a bob!) Thanks, too, for this podcast rec, and all the love xo
Emily, you'll be missed in Pittsburgh for sure. My girls also only know here in Point Breeze, which is kind of magical in such a different way to my rural/wilderness childhood. "What do you turn to in times of change?" Oh boy, first I flatly refuse to accept it and sit in that denial for a bit. Then I turn to my closet and start playing dress up, much as I also did as a child. Having an "armor" of sorts ready to handle the change allows me to accept it.
Thank you for all of this, and for saying that you first "flatly refuse to accept it" -- I FEEL THIS. I love that you play dress up (of course!)—loooove thinking of that as "armor" -- need to hang before we go in august! xo
I go for the familiar when I’m in a state of change - comforting rereads or music that I know from the opening notes. We’ve had my eldest starting school a couple of months ago which has been a big change, for me as well, because even when she was in preschool we were only apart 3 days a week. I’m rereading India Holton’s pirate/witchy gaslamp fantasy-romances. While they have their serious parts, most of the time they’re very funny. Also listening to a lot of Taylor Swift
Thanks, Jessica! The familiar is so powerful! I need to check out India Holton's books—haven't read them—TSwift has been a comfort me, too, lately. She's so good at nostalgia.
Wow! It seems like everyone I know if re-locating to the West Coast in one way or another. I will definitely miss having you around the Pittsburgh area, but hoping you’ll come back for visits, even after you’ve made LA your permanent home! And this will be lots of fun for your family too! Hope you love it out there!
Thanks, Dana! We're just going to LA for Nico's sabbatical, and then we'll be back in PGH! A year or two is the plan. But I will miss Pgh and the Mads very much! going to keep teaching online for Madwomen, though, so that will be a good grounding force :)
How fun! You should definitely connect with Erin Flinn when you’re in LA for the longer period. She’s been there for almost 25 years and knows all the fun things
Emily we are in Pittsburgh and my kiddos were all born at Magee, too. My husband and I were transplants to Pittsburgh and we often reflect how it's the only place our kids know. I reliably turn to laughter during times of change. I return to familiar shows or movies (usually 90s) that make me laugh.
Music is so great during times of change, during times of travel,
Especially listening to something familiar and just singing right along… I am truly excited for you and your family — and facing a big change with one eye open — wildly and deliciously poetic (I hope you recover soon) 😘
Thank you, Elizabeth! appreciate that positive poetic spin on the one eye! hope you're well xo
Moving can be so hard…but I’m excited for you (though I will miss having you in Pittsburgh!). As far as practices go, lean into the light whenever you can; take note of more than you might normally (journal details, voice memo sounds, take more photographs) to help establish your new sense of place; learn the new birds and plant names; remind yourself to breathe by singing along to music you love; fashion your family even more into a little lifeboat so you can mutually lean into each other when things feel hard. Big love!
Thank you for all you shared here, Violeta. I love esp what you said about establishing a new sense of place—new birds and plant names feel key,a nd I appreciate that esp coming from you, who is always noticing, noticing
Music is always a big go-to for me as well. I just made a playlist called “transitions” for my own big life change - one that is equal parts heartbreaking but also exciting. I’ve been listening to it nonstop and sharing with friends who are also navigating changes. I put “In Between Days” on there after your post a month or so ago.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XS4lJ3qgffCOy3zoZifo1?si=e0CB4C19QcqO7LfaefHObg&pi=u-gjsUyo5_RQeQ
ahhh thank you for this, Lyss! love so many songs on here and excited to check out the ones that are new to me -- i'm obsessed with that new Fiona Apple/ Iron & Wine one...i'm sending you good energy for your own big transition...xo
Wow, Emily, I'm so excited for you and your family. I think the dramatic change of scenery (and blue skies, we always called Pittsburgh Little Sky Country) will be amazing for your creative practice. AND I totally get the more reluctant and melancholy pieces. One of my favorite movies I like to return to in times of change is "Sliding Doors" because I love the themes of parallel lives and it's just a fun movie. I also just listened to Sarah Polley on Kate Bowler's podcast and I think you'd enjoy the interview. Sending all of you love as you get ready for this change.
Thank you so much, Shana! I love that you think about skies and the power of change of scenery—Nico and I have been talking about how "a new sky" could be good for us. I'm starting to move into being more excited than anxious finally... I love Sliding Doors and forgot about it (Gwyneth in the 90s with a bob!) Thanks, too, for this podcast rec, and all the love xo
Emily, you'll be missed in Pittsburgh for sure. My girls also only know here in Point Breeze, which is kind of magical in such a different way to my rural/wilderness childhood. "What do you turn to in times of change?" Oh boy, first I flatly refuse to accept it and sit in that denial for a bit. Then I turn to my closet and start playing dress up, much as I also did as a child. Having an "armor" of sorts ready to handle the change allows me to accept it.
Thank you for all of this, and for saying that you first "flatly refuse to accept it" -- I FEEL THIS. I love that you play dress up (of course!)—loooove thinking of that as "armor" -- need to hang before we go in august! xo
I go for the familiar when I’m in a state of change - comforting rereads or music that I know from the opening notes. We’ve had my eldest starting school a couple of months ago which has been a big change, for me as well, because even when she was in preschool we were only apart 3 days a week. I’m rereading India Holton’s pirate/witchy gaslamp fantasy-romances. While they have their serious parts, most of the time they’re very funny. Also listening to a lot of Taylor Swift
Thanks, Jessica! The familiar is so powerful! I need to check out India Holton's books—haven't read them—TSwift has been a comfort me, too, lately. She's so good at nostalgia.
Wow! It seems like everyone I know if re-locating to the West Coast in one way or another. I will definitely miss having you around the Pittsburgh area, but hoping you’ll come back for visits, even after you’ve made LA your permanent home! And this will be lots of fun for your family too! Hope you love it out there!
Thanks, Dana! We're just going to LA for Nico's sabbatical, and then we'll be back in PGH! A year or two is the plan. But I will miss Pgh and the Mads very much! going to keep teaching online for Madwomen, though, so that will be a good grounding force :)
How fun! You should definitely connect with Erin Flinn when you’re in LA for the longer period. She’s been there for almost 25 years and knows all the fun things
Thanks, Laurel! Yes, would love to connect with Erin!
Emily we are in Pittsburgh and my kiddos were all born at Magee, too. My husband and I were transplants to Pittsburgh and we often reflect how it's the only place our kids know. I reliably turn to laughter during times of change. I return to familiar shows or movies (usually 90s) that make me laugh.
Thank you for this, Kathryn! Yes to laughter! I'd love to know any favorite 90s shows/movies that make you laugh...