It’s time for a reset. 2021 has been–well, a whirlwind. The long, choking oppression of the pandemic is lifting, and we’re busier than ever: soccer, baseball, color guard, 4H, scouts, marching band, concerts (hallelujah!), even church choir. Committee meetings. Oh, and there was that minor detail of a book release this spring. Pitching, promotion, recording…
Read MoreAll articles filed in Mental Health
Time for a Reset
COVID dreams
I’ve been having COVID dreams lately. This didn’t happen to me for the first six or seven months. I often laid awake feeling great anxiety, but I didn’t dream about it. But I am now. The first time, I dreamed that the church choir I lead all got together on Wednesday night as usual, no…
Read MoreTaking On The Emotional Baggage Of My Children
When I stopped blogging frequently a few years ago, it was for two reasons. The first was that it took a lot of time, and I couldn’t justify it any longer. The kids were getting older, having more activities, and more directly professional commitments needed to take priority in what time I had for writing.…
Read MoreBigger Than Me
Sometimes, I just need to get away. No matter how much work is hanging over my head, I know I need to make the time to hike, or bike, or kayak—and always, to find a quiet, beautiful spot to sit and be still. It’s necessary for my mental health. Sometimes I get a twinge of…
Read MoreI’ve Forgotten How To Be Still
When I was in the sixth grade, I wore soft contacts that I had to stick in this boiler thingamabob every night. And every night I would open the lid and unscrew the contact case to make sure my contacts were still in there. Not just once. Again and again, until the case got to…
Read MoreThe Courage To Be Still
There are 553 books on my Goodreads “to read” list. I have at least three more flute pieces to write, and I have four novel ideas, one awaiting another major revision, and one that is 3/4 drafted. Every Tuesday and Thursday, we have two kids out of the house at 6:45 a.m. to get…
Read MoreA History of Anxiety, Part 2: The Onset of “Freaking Out”
For part one, click here. When I introduced the topic of anxiety last week, several people commented that they had struggled with it as well. Before I go on, I need to clarify that I have never been diagnosed with any form of clinical anxiety; I never saw a doctor or counselor. I went through…
Read More
Kathleen M. Basi 