Issue #38: Filling Our Cup

When a holiday break drops, I tend to go to war with myself. On one hand, I finally have the time to catch up on everything I need to do—well, not EVERYthing. But my hope-to-do list is long. And long overdue.

On the other hand, I’m so ragged and winded and breathless from the sprinting required to just get to this point that I just. Want. To stop. 

Kenny Rogers once sang, “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.” 

Sure, these lyrics were likely about a poker game (okay, sure…the song is literally called “The Gambler”). But I also wondered if it could apply to my holiday conundrum: “holding” space and energy for others versus “folding” into a place of rest for myself. 

For someone as restless as I am—someone with “zero chill,” as my kids and husband would say—doing nothing is HARD, fam. I’m the type of person who needs to move constantly. I’m the type of person who’d rather play the sport than watch it on TV. I’m that person during vacation who’d rather swim in the ocean or go on a hike instead of sitting on the sand with a drink.

While I have to be true to who I am, I know I also need a chance to recharge. So I decided to meet myself in the middle. A compromise. 

​This counts as folding, right? Right??

I’d spend the mornings of my holiday break doing: working on house projects, cooking, going places with the family, and catching up on appointments. 

Marveling at the skateboarders during a visit with friends in Venice Beach.

Baking cookies to share with friends and family.

And then I’d spend the afternoons just being: resting, reading, watching movies I’ve been wanting to watch (or rewatch). 

Watching Die Hard​, a wholesome holiday movie.

​While it feels good to cross things off our to-do lists, we need to make space to fill our cups. And if we want to be creative, it’s especially important. It’s where we’ll find a creative wellspring: not in the midst of the grind, but in the awe-inspiring moments discovered when we look up from our own lives.
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I often compare myself to a worker bee. But even bees need to rest. Even they shut down the grind during the winter season. And for good reason, as this comic illustrates:

Like Claire, Abi, and Hannah, we all need to recharge and stay inspired to tackle the next chapter of our journey and whatever is in store in the months to come.

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we can stop everything and hibernate until spring. Nevertheless, I hope you’re able to carve out space during this season for warmth, coziness, and rest. 

Writing Updates: 
We had a great time at the Walnut Winter Wonderland and saw lots of familiar faces. Here’s a video recap of our time there. 

Also, we’ve booked the following appearances:
1/31: A Special School Visit/Workshop for 2nd-3rd graders

3/28-3/30: WonderCon in Anaheim 

Although we have a limited supply left, you can still get your copy of Three Bee Honey on our website. 

Find us on our socials:
IG: @st.amantstories
TikTok: @stamantstories 

Recent Reads: How to Think When You Write, by the Etherington Brothers

Jon has these amazing-looking books called How to Think When You Draw, by the Etherington Brothers, with a colorfully illustrated cover that caught my eye. When I discovered that there was another book, How to Think When You Write, I had to read it. 

This book has dozens of short and easy to understand tutorials that help with narrative storytelling. Each tutorial is broken down with visuals, examples, and exercises to try (like the one below). What I loved most was how it made me think about writing projects I’m currently working on, giving me multiple ways into the story or strategies for making the plot more interesting. This book is great for both beginner and experienced writers alike!

Pet Pics:

​Little Lilo turned 3 on Christmas Eve. 🥳🥳

Finn got caught being majestic again, *sigh.*

Sanity Corner:
I enjoy game nights, especially the tried and true favorites. If a game is new to me, the best way I learn is just by doing: jumping in and trying to keep up with the group. During the holiday, we played Plunder with the kids and other family members. It’s very similar to Catan—another family favorite—but with a pirate theme. Plus, you can attack other players’ ships, so things get real. They say blood is thicker than water. But what if that blood is shed in the precarious waters of a board game? 

Sorry about those ships, kiddos! 

That’s all for this year. Thank you so much for reading and being part of my journey! :) 

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Take care,
Desi

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