Issue #33: Tune Out Or Tune In?

​Sometimes, I feel the urge to detach from my surroundings. The noise, chatter, small talk, and other social detritus can be so overstimulating. When that happens, I try to find an opportunity to sneak away and just be. By myself. 

However, there are times when I can’t leave. I’m stuck there. Stuck with the noise and the chaos. That’s when my earbuds come into play. I can tune it all out—well, most of it—and hyper focus on what I need to do. 

But sometimes, WE, dear reader, are the ones who need to quiet down. Take the earbuds off and tune in. Stop our constant yapping and just listen. 

Recently, we took a short trip to a cabin in the mountains. Right after breakfast, we ventured as a family on a long hike that we didn’t finish until lunch. It was tiring, yet so rewarding and necessary. We took our kids, who aren’t avid hikers, but they were willing to push themselves and step up to the challenge. 

On our way up, we saw a mother deer and her fawn. We saw lots of birds and squirrels, and we even came across a scarily large black diamondback snake attempting to cross our path. 

One of my favorite moments—despite the demands and the sweat and the kids’ occasional whining—was about halfway through our hike. By that point, we were pretty high up the mountain and we took a short break to drink some water. 

The four of us agreed to stop talking or making noise and take a moment to tune into the sounds of nature. 

We listened to the wind howling softly from the highest mountain peak. Like an invisible wave, it made its way down through the trees and past us tiny humans. We listened to the birds calling out to each other. The woodpecker diligently worked on a nearby tree. We listened to the pine tree branches gently brushing against each other. It all felt so much bigger than us. 

It was a very brief moment in our trip, but it was one of my favorite memories. We all saw, heard, and felt the richness of tuning in. 

And I realized that maybe it’s not so much about needing to constantly detach from our environment. Maybe it's more about seeking opportunities to connect with the right surroundings. 

Here’s a picture from our hike:

Writing Updates: 
THREE BEE HONEY is now at the printer!! 

Here’s a quick sample of the custom sketches our generous MVBee-level supporters will receive. Each one was hand-drawn and unique. 

Needless to say, Jon is the true MVP for our MVBees.

Note: If you contributed to our campaign and have not yet replied to our survey, please check your email asap to complete your order. Thank you! 

Current Read: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life: A Memoir, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

The format of this book is so interesting! Just as an encyclopedia is structured, this memoir is broken up into sections based on alphabetical order, where Amy shares intimate, random, funny, and poignant details of her life. She finds the nugget of profound truth in the most mundane moments, and each entry was short and sweet. 

Amy’s quirky writing style is relatable as she reflects on topics we’ve all thought about but rarely discuss as well as challenging our assumptions. Once I finished, I wanted to read more. While I was saddened to find out that she passed away several years ago, I’m grateful to have discovered her. Her writing had an impact on me, and I will definitely seek out more of her books in the future. 

Pet Pics: 

Finn and Amelie being symmetrical and sleepy and whatnot. 

Sanity Corner:
Speaking of tuning out, a friend of mine suggested I try listening to binaural beats when doing anything that required focus, like writing or reading. I tried this channel on YouTube (pictured below), and man, it is so helpful. Because I don’t want to hear other sounds, I listen with headphones (not just on the computer speakers). 

This background music is especially useful when I’m in a noisy space. But even if I’m alone, these sounds guide me into a deep workflow. It is so effective that I have to set a timer so that I don’t forget to check work messages or track other tasks. If you want a little more focus in your day, give it a try. Got any other focus tips? Feel free to share!

That’s all for this month. Thank you so much for reading! 

Feel free to share this little newsletter with a friend and/or a favorite frenemy! :) 
(^^^just noticed my alliteration there)

Take care,
Desi