Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Nineteen

Hey there Journal Gang,

As we enter a new week of journal club, we’re thinking of you and hope that your journals are serving as a therapeutic outlet through all of the sudden changes and adjustments we’re all experiencing. Even though our journal club meetup is on hold, we’re maintaining that spirit of camaraderie and community through our journals each week. Life feels a little more strange with each passing day right now, but we're all doing the best we can to adapt, be positive and resourceful. Keep on keeping on! Using journaling, letters and other creative outlets to help us process things has been invaluable.

Last week we spent some time pondering our appreciation of loved ones. When life shifts dramatically, it’s more important than ever to communicate and connect with people that love and support us, and visa versa. Our instagram share a card event has been cathartic for us as well; connecting with you, sharing circumstances and encouraging words brought a little extra light into our days. We are feeling super grateful for all the amazing people in our lives right now. When it gets down to it, what is life but the joy of sharing all it has to offer with others?

So, what’s this about silver linings?
We may be collectively socially distancing right now, but a major global event like this can unite us in purpose and spirit. It can make you reevaluate your priorities, values, what self-care means to you, your world view, your routines, goals, and count your blessings. So, pretty much everything! Though it oftentimes feels like an ominous and uncertain situation, nothing is life is so plain in black and white. Even the most trying circumstances have a silver lining laced within. Everyone processes emotions at different rates and in different ways, so it’s OK to be exactly wherever you are right now! It’s absolutely normal to experience anxiety and stress when things upend your normal life. Things will get better. Let's uplift our thoughts this week and focus on those little silver linings within.

Maybe you’ve been able to :

• Spend more time with your immediate family
• Connect with distant family more often through letters or technology 
• Make your pets happy by being around more often (keeping those tails wagging!)
• Finish lingering home improvement projects
• Read more
• Write more
• Catch up on sleep
• Start or work on an art/craft hobby
• Dive into a personal passion project 
• Go for more walks
• Explore the outdoors
• Work in your yard
• Try new recipes at home
• Get a jump on spring cleaning or organization
• Catch up on your favorite show 

…These are a few of the silver linings that come to mind!

So, what are your silver linings?  Think about what small gift each of these days of late have to offer, and how you can lean into them to help you grow, heal and move forward.
While everything is still uncertain, and can feel scary at times, know that for every negative, there is a positive hiding in there..somewhere. Many things may be out of our control, but we can control being kind to ourselves (and each other!), embracing the here and now(easier said than done, we know!), looking out for others and just simply doing the best we can. One day at a time, friends. Slow and steady..we’ve got this. Hang in there!


Be well, and Happy Journaling,
xoxo
The Antiquaria Team

Antiquaria Journal Club | Week Thirteen

"Never give from the depths of your well, but from your overflow."

Rumi

Hey Journal Gang! We hope you’ve had a great past week with your Journal and exploring the world of Haikus. How did your experience go? Do you have a favorite Haiku from the week? If so, let us know about it in the comments! 

We’re officially halfway through Winter, and it’s been snowing a lot here in Colorado recently. As the season goes along, it can be easy to start missing the sunshine, warmth and greenery of Spring and Summer days. Are you feeling that way? With Valentine’s Day coming up this week and Winter weather going strong, we’ve got our mind on self-love and self-care.. Often Valentine’s Day is love focused outwardly; expressions of love for others being the central theme. This is definitely something to appreciate and it’s important to let people know you care! But expressions of self-love and self-care are also important, and a big key to feeling content, empowered and confident. With busy lives and caring for others, it’s all too easy to let it fall to the wayside. This week, we want to get in touch with those little things and make way more time for self-care.

So, what are some of your favorite ways to nurture yourself? Maybe it’s embracing the Hygge lifestyle, especially in Winter. Hygge: “A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being, and is regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture.” Think candles, warm blankets, mood lights, hot tea, and a general cozy, simple living vibe! If you’re extroverted, maybe your self-care involves making time to be social and relax with friends. If you’re more of an introvert, maybe it’s allowing yourself time to be alone, rest and recharge, free of guilt. Maybe it’s getting a manicure, getting into skincare, or indulging in various small simple pleasures. A gourmet chocolate bar, buying nice sheets, getting yourself flowers, less screen time, reading a book, spending time with pets, finding time for physical activity, or working on a passion project that you’ve been pushing to the back of your mind.

There are SO many ways to take some time for yourself and make your own wellbeing a priority. Take some time to reflect on the ways you’d like to embrace self-care, and explore those things in your journal! So this week, treat yo self. Buy yourself those flowers, eat that chocolate, take that nap. You deserve it! Enjoy the small things.


Happy Nurturing, and Happy Journaling!

xo
The Antiquaria Team