My first blog post looked forward to everything that 2020 would bring. Little did I or anyone else know how much this year would out preform itself.

Travel plans were cancelled, birthdays were celebrated online, school for the kids was a mix of apps and zoom and work felt tenuous. Even now uncertainty in my life hovers over me and all of us trying our best to navigate a global pandemic and racism and police brutality here in the US.

It hasn't been remotely easy emotionally and mentally I have had to be very deliberate in making sure I schedule in time away from others to read, bathe, walk and do something creative.

Reading has definitely been a big piece of my comfort during this time. I've read and reread my library books. I've traded text and marco polo videos with mom friends about our current reads and recommendations. I've finally sat down with a few sorely neglected books and ones I bought on impulse and have been pleasantly surprised ( Circe by Madeline Miller being one of them).

With all these stories woven throughout the weeks I've been able to break up the tense monotony of these months into something brighter. Yes we're all inside ( and hopefully well) but for a few hours we can be transported elsewhere, with people imagine or real, to the past, present or some daring future.

If you've found yourself doing the same, I would love to know what books you've read that have helped to bring out the feel good feelings:)!

Love, Kioni