Welcome to my blog titled ‘Five Things’ where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. I’ll also share a quote I find meaningful as a point of focus for the week. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.
So here are this week’s five things, starting with the quote of the week…
“People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider's webs. It's not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of the cobblestones in her hair, and just spat out a tooth as she rises for another go.”
I’ll be in RI this weekend for the Annual Rhode Island Author Expo on Saturday, December 7th from 10 am - 4 pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick! Signed books make excellent holiday gifts, so if you are in the area, come check us out. With over a hundred local authors, you’ll likely find something for the readers on your list. The event is also packed with panels, author Q&As, raffle items, and more. I’ll be hosting a kaffeeklatsch focused on the pros and cons of using a pen name at 11:30 am and moderating a panel titled “Pathways to Publishing” at 2:45 pm. Hope to see you there!
We are slowly settling into our winter home here in the southern California desert. As with any project large or small, things always seem to take longer than expected. Finishing our outdoor space has been no different, but we were able to host the family here for dinner this week, and my mom and dad helped decorate for the holidays, so it’s feeling rather cozy now.
I’ve recently started a meditation practice. I’ll admit, I was skeptical as to whether or not I’d notice a difference day to day. The last time I seriously worked with meditation I was in medical school, and everytime I’d relax and try to Zen out, I’d fall sound asleep! These last couple of weeks, though, I’ve been using an app. I’ll choose a five to ten minute guided meditation in the morning and another before bed, and I actually notice a difference. It’s subtle, but my sense of well-being feels solid. During the day, if something rattles me, I can recenter more quickly. I guess the practice is worth the hype!
Last week, while family was in town for Thanksgiving, we made a trip to Joshua Tree. Although I’ve been once before, every time we visit a National Park, I’m reminded of Planet Earth’s beauty and diversity. If you have a chance, it’s worth the trip!