Digest for June
A summary of what I've done and what I've learned.
If you are a new subscriber to this space on Substack titled Impressions in Ink, welcome! Make yourself at home.
I began posting reviews on Blogger in 2007. I moved over to WordPress in 2017. I made the move to Substack in May of this year. I have deleted all the material from the previous blogs-closing up shop completely. Sometimes in this life when you move on, you move on.
In April of this year, I began walking in my neighborhood. I started out walking 23 minutes, and within a few weeks I had moved up to 38 minutes. I walk in the early mornings. I wear sunscreen and a hat. I carry dog spray and a walking stick. My cellphone is in my back pocket and on silent. The road often has debris like trash or sticks. The road in several places has broken pavement and it buckles. I look at the scenery while I am walking but I also watch where I am stepping. It is important that I focus on each step, each breath, and yet, I also listen to the birds, I look for them in the trees. I look at the flowers and plants growing in the yards. I look for the community cats that belong to no one except those of us who care. I enjoy the breeze blowing. I wave and say good morning to the people I encounter. On occasion I say, “how are you today?”
In the beginning, I made myself go walking. I felt like a slug. It is now an enjoyable start for my day. I look forward to the walk. At night before I sleep, I begin to anticipate that morning walk. Walking is good for me emotionally, mentally, and physically.
I’ve read several Substack posts, and I’ve heard conversations from people that life has become increasingly stressful. There is a feeling like the left shoe is about to drop off. That feeling of what’s next. And yet, we still have to go to work, take care of kids, take care of the house, and take care of our pets which are actually family members except they have more hair.
I’ve thought about the things that I’ve learned over the years that help me during hard times. These things do not take away the stress or problem. These helpful things don’t minimize the troubles in life. But they help me to have the strength and the determination to persevere.
#1. Give grace. My inner dialogue is absolutely awful at times. If I said these things to someone else, it would be cruel and hateful. I stop myself and begin a new inner dialogue. I talk back to that impulsive, negative inner voice and say, “don’t talk to me that way! I am an imperfect person. No person is perfect. As hard as I try to do my best, I am still going to make mistakes. Other people are going to make mistakes. Give grace to myself. Give grace to others.”
#2. Remember the basics. I extend myself by caring for family which includes several cats. I give out but often forget to care for my basic needs. Something as simple as, did I drink enough water today can cause me to also wonder if I did drink water today. I’ve learned to always have a glass of ice water next to me. I keep a pitcher of filtered water in the refrigerator. If you don’t like the taste of water, add fruit. If you need to keep a log about how many glasses of water, you drink in a day. I believe there are apps for this. A simple notebook will suffice. Rest. I’m sorry if you are not sleeping well at night. I too have occasional nights when I cannot sleep. If you can, rest during the day or on the weekend, rest when you can. Turn off distractions which can buzz the brain and close your eyes and focus on each breath. When tense I tend to take shallow breaths. Instead, breathe deep and hold it for five to seven seconds and then release that breath slowly. Be careful what you ingest with your senses before bedtime. If you read or watch the news before bedtime, that can create anxiety. If you watch an adventurous type of film that has dinosaurs chasing people or it’s a film like Mobland. That may not be an appropriate bedtime activity.
#3. This is related to the last thought in number two. What can you practically do before you try to fall asleep? Pray. Read poetry. Read a Bible verse. I have a short stack of poetry books on my bedside table. Poets like Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, and William Wordsworth. I have a smallish book, Evelyn Underhill’s Prayer Book. This is a collection of her beloved prayers. Some of the prayers she wrote. The rest of the prayers were those she loved and collected. Another book I have is The Christian Book of Mystical Verse: a collection of Poems, Hymns, and Prayers for devotional reading compiled by A.W. Tozer. I recently purchased from The Daily Grace Company, Verse Map Scripture Cards. It is a set of 31 cards with a different Bible verse on each card. They have the intention of helping a person learn to verse map. However, you can also use them to place in a different area of your home as a reminder to focus on God’s Word. The card I have sitting on my bedside table is the last thing I look at before closing my eyes. The verse is Psalm 62:1-2.
I recently finished reading: Robert Frost: Selected Poems, The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill, The Secret Hotel in Berlin by Catherine Hokin.
I am currently reading: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, The Karamazov Brothers by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Storm in the Land of Rain by Silvia Foti.
What I hope to read next: A City of Bells by Elizabeth Goudge, The Hunter by Tana French, and The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings-J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams by Philip Zaleski & Carol Zaleski.
What I’ve watched and what I’m currently watching on streaming channels:
What I have watched on Netflix:
Unbroken, a documentary of the Holocaust. It is the story of several siblings who immigrate to America. They survive the Holocaust and share their individual stories.
Deadwind-a Finland detective murder mystery series. This series is my favorite with the exception of Vera.
The Åre Murders-a Sweden detective murder mystery series. This series is also a favorite.
The Glass Dome-a Sweden detective murder mystery series.
Missing You-a detective murder mystery series in the Manchester area of England.
The Snow Girl-a detective murder mystery in Spain.
What I recently watched on BritBox:
Towards Zero-a mystery based on Agatha Christie’s stories.
What I am currently watching on BritBox:
Vera, a detective murder mystery series based in NE England.
Irvine Welsh’s Crime, a detective murder mystery series in Scotland.
Reyka, a detective murder mystery series in South Africa.
What I recently watched on Acorn:
Art Detectives-detectives of art and antiques. The setting is the UK.
Safe House-a house where people are safely tucked away from a predator. I enjoyed the first series more than the second series.
The One That Got Away-a pair of detectives who are in Wales. They have a past romantic history which complicate their personal lives. It is a detective murder mystery series.
What I am currently watching on Acorn:
The Chelsea Detective-a detective murder mystery series in Chelsea, London, England.
Boglands-a detective murder mystery series in a rural area of NW Ireland.
What I recently watched on PBS Masterpiece Classic:
Miss Austen: The Untold Story of Jane’s Sister.
What I watched recently on Paramount Plus:
Mobland, a story of an organized crime family in London, England. In the first series, they are in a war with another syndicate.
Links of interest I’ve found:
I am writing out Scripture in a notebook. At this link you can sign up for weekday emails with the Bible prompts. Bible Copy Club. Writing Scripture long hand is a spiritual discipline. It slows me down to think about each word I am writing. I love this.
Screentime Sabbatical from Evangelical Magazine.
The Quiet Griever and the Comfort of God from Faithful Paradox.
On The Move, The Pilgrim People of God by Lesslie Newbigin. This article is from Renovare.
There is a river…. Richard Myerscough @thewaitingcountry on Substack.
One for the Substackers To Consider by Tim Challies.
Whatever Happened to the Semicolon? by Joel J. Miller at Substack.
Tsundoku Reading Society by Scott Postma at Books and Letters on Substack.