Mostly.

Ok, I know I said my next post would be about ADHD resources and strategies but it’s not ready yet… It’s kind of becoming a bigger project. I’ve probably written about 3,000 words so far and I’m not even done. 😱 So now I think I’d prefer to split up everything into multiple posts. I promise I’m still working on all of that and will share it soon. 

In the meantime, I’d still like to write and share updates about other stuff. Because I’ve got a lot going on!

My Version of Spring Break…

After my last post “Why Does Adult ADHD Feel So Shameful?” I decided I needed to give myself a mental break. With SXSW happening in town and area schools on Spring Break last week, I decided I was on Spring Break too. We didn’t go anywhere. I just forced myself NOT to write and work with my hands instead — though for some reason that made me WANT to write and so I gave in by the end of the week. Can someone help me reverse-psychology myself so I can write when I’m supposed to? Thanks! 

So what did I do instead? Get my hands dirty. Literally. I’ve been cleaning up our landscaping, pulling weeds, putting down weed barrier fabric (I got 800 square feet of it at Costco!), trimming dead stuff, and tidying up our flower beds. We’d neglected our lawn for at least the last two years… so it’s a lot of work, and I’m very, very sore. But it’s also super rewarding, and gardening is supposed to help with depression and stress. 

(Side note: I’m curious about what will run out first: the 800 square feet of weed barrier or the 1,000 feet of Kirkland brand aluminum foil. I suspect both will outlast me. This question will be the unfinished business that keeps me here as a ghost. My soul will not rest until I get an answer. I’ll have to remember to tell any future children about this, just in case. I’ll leave instructions on how to reach me via ouija board or medium.)

Other chores I’ve completed include spray painting (with chalk paint; it’s the laziest way to do it) a small table we have outside for deliveries as well as a frame I found at Goodwill for under $3. The latter should be making appearances in the backgrounds of photos soon since it’s for my office. A few weeks ago my brother gave us his 88-key digital piano with weighted keys, so I rearranged the living room furniture to make space for it. I’ve also been decluttering and moving things around the house, tetris-ing our shit into every available nook, cranny, and closet.

Ooh, I finally got a sturdy umbrella with a stand for the backyard. We don’t have a covered porch which generally isn’t an issue since our backyard faces east and we get shade pretty early in the afternoon. But the mornings can be brutal on an especially sunny day, so the plan is to set up to work in the shade while Ladybird basks in the sun. She loves it when I’m outside with her. I tied her harness to our front porch column so she could hang out with me while I fixed up the front yard. It was cute and annoying at the same time. She’s a high energy puppy who gets bored easily, just like me. (Yes, I’m a puppy.)

Our neighborhood had a community garage sale so I gathered a bunch of things to give away and thankfully everything got picked up. Plus, our neighbors left out a giant ottoman that didn’t sell so we took it in. It needs a good rug-doctorin’ but other than that, it’s in really good shape. It’s pretty big and fits our home nicely. We’ve put it in the corner of our living room by the windows so Ladybird has an extra comfy seat to bark at the children and elderly neighbors who walk by.

I started taking mushroom supplements to help with my energy and focus until I can get meds again (my next appointment is tomorrow), and I think they’re actually working because I went from not being able to read to accidentally reading FIVE books at the same time.

It’s a little unnerving to willingly ingest cordyceps every day. I plan to write a review about the gummies I’m taking so you’ll hear more about ’em soon.

What I’ve Been Reading

FYI, the links below are affiliate links which means I may make a small commission if you click on a link below and make a purchase within 24 hours — at no extra cost to you.

The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Buy it on Amazon: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle

Or order from your local bookstore via Bookshop.

I just finished listening to the audiobook which I got through Audible months ago. The book itself isn’t very long, but sometimes it was hard to get through — not because Amy is a bad writer. She’s a PHENOMENAL writer, super funny, and after listening to her book I’m an even bigger fan now. But she’s very honest and shares some terrible and cringey things that have happened to her. Some of the content may be triggering. 

I was shopping for vitamins at Costco when listening to her chapter on how she lost her virginity (which is not how you think the story will go) and tried my hardest not to cry – though Costco was extra super packed that day, and people would’ve assumed my tears were due to that.

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works — A True Story by Dan Harris

Buy it on Amazon: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Or order from your local bookstore via Bookshop.

I have one more chapter left on the audiobook, so I’ll probably be done with it by the time this is published. It’s pretty dense with information but I highly recommend this book for anyone (especially cynics and skeptics) who is hesitant to try therapy, meditation, or mindfulness.

After experiencing a panic attack live on Good Morning America, Dan Harris wanted help but he also wanted answers. It takes a few chapters to get there, but I think the context in the beginning is needed to understand the rest of the book. I don’t think I would’ve finished it if I was reading it with my eyes because of that, but it was quite enjoyable to listen to while doing yard work. He’s a journalist, so he’s a great storyteller.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

Buy it on Amazon: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Or order from your local bookstore via Bookshop. 

Several years ago a friend told me about Jenny Lawson but I only started reading her book — and now blog – in the last month. Long story short, this book is about dealing with mental illness, and it’s hilarious. This is the first one I’ve read, so I can only assume her other books talk about that too. As you may have noticed, I love humor writing. Plus I get to support a fellow Texan!

I know I’m not alone in how I feel about my own mental illness journey, but it’s still so validating to read someone else’s experiences. She and I are very different people, though there is some overlap in our disorders, so it’s interesting to get inside someone else’s head for a change. She’s from West Texas but now lives in San Antonio and even has a bookstore there! It’s only a little over an hour away, so I’m definitely visiting soon. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Simple Techniques to Instantly Be Happier, Find Inner Peace, and Improve Your Life

Buy it on Amazon: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Or order from your local bookstore via Bookshop. 

This is a new addition that I’ve mostly been skimming through on my Kindle. I’ve read so many self-help books at this point (and have been going to therapy for a decade) that the information itself isn’t new, but I do like how the information is presented. 

There are some sections that might turn off people. It gets a little “woo woo” sometimes, but the CBT stuff is legit. If you’re new to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, this is a good intro with some solid strategies and coping skills. 

The Stopover (The Miles High Club Book 1) by T.L. Swan

Buy it on Amazon: Paperback | Audiobook | Kindle (Available on Kindle Unlimited)

Or order from your local bookstore via Bookshop.

Ok, hear me out. This is not embarrassing to share AT ALL...

I wanted to read a romance book that felt easy to read, and so far this one is pretty entertaining. It’s the first book I’ve read that is, ahem, raunchy 🤭, but it’s also well written. (I tried reading 50 Shades and couldn’t get through the first chapter.)

It’s pretty explicit and NSFW. 🍆 You’ve been warned!

In Other News

• I’m getting better at replying to texts and emails. 
• I’m freelancing more and in the process of onboarding with a potential new client.
• I’ve written a few more jokes for my next standup set. 
• I’ll be in an improv show in April and am auditioning for another that will run in May and June at the Hideout Theatre. More info to come.
• I’ve been meditating every day AND practicing mindfulness throughout the day. I’m also revisiting previous distress coping skills I learned but since forgotten. 
• I was interviewed by a UT student and got to share my writing career so far. (If you’re reading this, thanks Ale! 👋🏼)
• I really loved “The Last of Us” and am sad we likely won’t see a new episode until 2025.
• I finally fell down while walking Ladybird. She saw another dog and wanted to play so she pulled really hard. I was wearing the wrong shoes and couldn’t stop myself from sliding and falling forward. My brother witnessed and did not intervene until I yelled at him for help. He said he doesn’t like to get between dogs and their owners. At least it was funny.
• I’m alive and well and very grateful for the opportunity to slow down and recover.

So, anyway, enough about me. What have y’all been up to these days? Have you read any of the above books? Got any others to recommend? Let me know!