Evening benediction, plus some random thoughts and art
I turned fifty this week!
Peace to those up too late
who cannot keep their eyes open much longerPeace to celebration
sometimes in the very midst of sorrowPeace to the good night,
which wraps her arms around you
& tells you: Rest. Be still.Peace to waking up tomorrow
a little different than you are today.from 365 Days of Peace: Benedictions to End Your Day in Gentleness and Hope
Hi friends! I turned fifty a few days ago, which is a very strange experience. I still feel like a kid most days, wondering where the grown-ups are and why I have to do all the chores around here and pay all the bills. But also like a kid in that I love all the same things I loved when I was little: riding my bike, wandering through the woods daydreaming, swimming, drawing, reading and writing, making music however I can.
Probably the main theme of my life has been getting back to that girl as much as I can, and in my forties I did it better than I ever had before. If I hope anything for my fifties it’s that I’ll learn to be even more childlike; let ten-year-old Jessica take the wheel more, though not literally because she doesn’t know how to drive.
Speaking of looking back on our younger selves, my friend D.L. has a really cool photo essay up over at
, where they examine the role that protesting has played in their life:
D.L.’s essay tackles some really intense topics, but when I read it, ten-year-old Jessica said, “Look at all those cool protest t-shirts! I want to make one, too!” So we, I mean I, did. I mainly did it for fun, but then I thought I’d share it just in case anyone wants one. All proceeds will go to Together Rising, which is an amazing women-run charity that “transforms our collective heartbreak into effective action.” The question is one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, particularly during election time.
Ten-year-old Jessica has been really into rainbows on a black background lately. Isn’t it striking? You can get the t-shirt at my Bonfire store.
What about you? What does your inner child like to do? Have you asked them lately? Maybe they’d like to read a graphic novel or go get ice cream? Join a neighborhood soccer league? Stay in bed on a rainy Sunday and watch anime all day? Let me know in the comments!
In love and hope,
Jessica
My 10 year old would swim and ride bikes at the beach all.day.long. Sigh as she crawled into bed, cool sheets feeling divine on my sun kissed skin ☀️
Hi! Hm, the link still works for me. Maybe try on a different device? FYI, Together Rising shut down since I posted this, so the profits no longer go to them.