On rest and finding inspiring creators

A list of reads and listens to help you feel engaged with the world

Hello Dear Ones,

April came and went, just like that. Most times, I’m good at putting boundaries for when my schedule and capacity feel like enough. Well, then there are those weeks where I’ve pushed myself too much and I am now in bed with what I lovingly call “the crud.” 

It’s not exactly a cold or the flu per se, but a condition where my body is screaming for some kind of rest (aka body aches, brain fog and feeling oh so tired). In this case, it is a break from my brain making even the simplest decisions (anyone else have thoughts running constantly throughout the day, and then can’t be bothered to decide what to have for dinner?).

Instead of forcing myself to move through it, I am working on accepting where I am and knowing the answer in my little break this week is to seek inspiration from elsewhere. Namely, in the beautiful creations from others.

So here’s a curated list of what I’ve found to have added value and inspiration the last several weeks. I’d love to hear what yours are, so leave a comment and add it there (and others can check it out as well!).

Enjoy

xx Sarah

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Searching For Enough is a reader-supported publication, exploring how we can show up when we're not influenced by the noise of the outside world and embrace the fact that we're enough just as we are. You can become a paying member at anytime if you find value in the work I do. It’s also a way to thank me, helping me with the financial resources to keep going and making it possible to keep it accessible. Thank you ❤️

Read

Caroline Donahue

’s beautiful essay about her experience with a skin condition that led her to a deep discovery about herself and ultimately how she reclaimed her body by getting a tattoo.

When it's time to rewrite the story

I’ve been a long time fan of my friend

Cait Flanders

’s writing and insights, and her recent essay on breaking up with everyday self-help content. I agree, it’s helpful to read books or consult other content when you need to learn specific skills (like investing, for example) but more often than not the more general stuff leaves me feeling like I’m not enough. I won’t spoil the post, you’ll just have to read it yourself.

What if there's nothing wrong with you?

Yes, it’s about crying. And grief. And how our current interests and never-ending questions are born from a parent’s death. Glad I stumbled upon

Lani

’s work and a writer I am sure I will keep returning to. 

That time I cried a lot in class

Rachel Ooi

’s exploration of whether you should ask “Where are you from?” is so nuanced and well-thought out. A good read whether you’re of Asian descent or not. 

Should you ask me where I am from?

Love the honesty

Jessica Rose Williams

puts into her writing, and her reflection on a year of dating in Paris is no exception. As someone who has been married for almost 14 years, I still took a lot out of reading this piece. 

A year of dating in Paris and this is what I’ve learned about love

Listen

I listened to this talk/meditation by Tara Brach and it came at just the right time. Her explanation of the difference between being overwhelmed and feeling stressed felt spot on. I was on a little hike near my house when I listened to it, and thank goodness I was mostly alone because I cried until there were no more tears.

My son and I are obsessed with the Mandarin Monkey podcast, where the hosts — a native English speaker husband and Chinese native speaker wife — talk about various life topics using Chinglish (a mash of Chinese and English). They’re so entertaining and I’m learning some new vocabulary along the way.

Books

Geena Rocero’s memoir, Horse Barbie about her trans journey and model career was a delight and had me enraptured from beginning to end. Her writing and self-reflection was beautiful, and the epilogue about being realistic about life being hard and joyful at the same time left me thinking for days. 

I returned to some of the exercises in Beth Kempton’s book The Way of the Fearless writer, even if it was to jot down short words in five minutes. I wrote a more detailed review here if you want to see what the book is about before committing. 

Let me know if you check any of these out. And again, would love to hear what you’ve read or listened to that have inspired you in the comments.

Until next time,

Sarah