Hot enough for you??? Well . . . step into the Sanctuary. I can’t guarantee cooler temperatures, but I can promise a bit of respite, a few moments of peace, and a chance to breathe. (And if you are wondering about this Sanctuary business, you can click here and learn all about it.)

Ready?
Let’s go!

Let’s begin with some music this week . . .

When Brian Wilson passed away a couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed hearing all the Beach Boys songs again, as well as to the many covers and tributes that popped up everywhere for a few days. I particularly liked this one from the BBC (which is 10 years old and features Brian Wilson himself) (also a baby Harry Styles). . .

Here’s a link to an article in The Guardian that talks about the release of the recording/making of the video. If you scroll to the end of the article, you can find a list of all the artists who contributed to the recording. (Y’know . . . if you, like me, were playing “Who’s Who” while watching.)

Now, something to make you laugh – and then hit the “follow” button.

A month or so ago, the Instagram algorithm sent me here . . . to Melani Sanders’ (@justbeingmelani) “We Do Not Care Club.” And ohmygoodness! Friends! Melani has really hit the nail on the head!  So far, over a million women experiencing perimenopause and menopause — and those of us who are POST-menopausal, too — have rushed to become “members” in her club (which, of course, has no membership requirements). Melani, who is very humbled by her new-found fame, was even featured in a New York Times article earlier this week. (That’s a gift link there, so you should be able to read the article even if you aren’t a NYT subscriber.)

I have been following Melani since she launched her club, and I’ll tell you . . . she’s a highlight of my day whenever she posts. If you’re on Instagram, I Highly Recommend. All the stars. All the hearts. We need a laugh these days, and Melani’s account is a breath of fresh air.

Next up . . . some wise words to keep in mind.

I know that many of you follow Sharon McMahon of SharonSaysSo (@sharonsaysso) fame, so these words will not be new to you. But I think they’re important, wise words . . . and worth reading again (and again). Especially now. When everything is just . . . So Much. Too Much. (And that’s a photo of a little “vignette” in my garden.)

If the world feels like too much right now, it’s because it is. You’re not broken for feeling lost. But not everything that’s loud is true. And not everything true will shout. You don’t need all the answers to take one step. 

Start quietly.
Start smaller than you think you should.
Don’t wait until you feel ready.
Start because it matters.

The future is not yet written.
Let that be the hope. And the responsibility.

— @sharonsaysso

It’s so easy to be overwhelmed, and to feel like there’s nothing we can do . . .  or that we’re too old to do it. These words from Sharon remind us that . . . it’s okay to start small. It’s okay to start quietly. Just starting . . . just doing something . . . is what matters.

Let that be the hope.
And the responsibility.

And, finally, let’s end the way we started today . . . with music!

I first discovered Charles Yang through a 30-second Instagram clip from a music account I follow. (I follow a lot of musicians, dancers, and artists. They keep me sane.) Anyway, as soon as I heard/watched the little clip featuring Charles Yang (one badass violinist, for sure), I knew I had to share it with you all — but MORE of it. (Because 30 seconds just isn’t enough.)

Here. See for yourself.

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And that’ll do it for this week, my friends.
I hope you found some . . . sanctuary . . . here today.
At least for a few minutes.

Enjoy the weekend!
Find some joy.
Protect your peace.

Go make stuff.
And don’t be afraid to start small.