Earth Day, Everyday!

​Today is Earth Day. I spent most of my day in the office, but when I did step outside, I smelled the fresh and lively scent of rain. The smell of rain makes me feel alive. I don’t know how to describe it, other than it feels so fresh and clean. The smell reminds me of my childhood, running out onto the street in front of my parents’ house to feel the rain, or the aftermath of a storm. I loved running onto the street bare foot, so I could really feel the rain. It has always felt electrifying, to me. I heavily identify as a PNW gal, so loving rain is a part of my identity. For picture day my sophomore year of high school, I wore a dark red sweatshirt, that was almost a belly shirt because it was too small. My hair was curled and ratted to the heavens, a clear sign that I was back combing my way through teen angst. my eye liner was a thick-black-smoky eye, that I thought made me look older. The red sweatshirt said something along the lines of “Seattle girl. Rain loving. Coffee drinking. Does it look like I belong in a grunge band?” AND I LOVED THAT SWEATSHIRT. I felt like a badass, who demanded to be seen and heard with that article of clothing. In hindsight, I probably looked like a poser. BUT we all grow into the version of ourselves we wish to be. Hopefully. Or maybe not, because I also envisioned some really bizarre fashion choices that I am GLAD didn’t come to fruition. I AM BLESSED that my mother confiscated my bedazzle machine in junior high, after I tried to bedazzle my volleyball spandex. I cringe at the haunting thought of me bump-set-spiking my way through out the season, in glittery orange shiny-hiney spandex. PURLEY BLESSED (thank you mom). Although I dodged the bullet with the bedazzler, I made plenty of horrendous fashion choices that occasionally wake me up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night when I remember them, vividly. I try to tell myself that we all have to go through the bad clothing trends, sometimes. Bad fashion choices perhaps made me a gentler version of myself. I can assure anyone reading this that I am INDEED nicer/humbler when I think of my sparkly-pink-pumps that were several inches too high for a 14 year old Libby to be strutting into church, or the skin tight-soul sucking-zebra print dresses (yes, multiple) that hung in my childhood bedroom closet. See? I feel so humble as I type this! When I envision myself as a little old lady, I kind of like to think that I will revert to some of my flashier/sparkler fashion trends. I think I would be a fun old lady, with a foul mouth and glittery eyes. F-U-N. I am currently typing this in my bed, wearing a Patagonia fleece and black yoga pants. My style at this moment is comfort, and I am happy with that. The outfit I am wearing is perfect for this rainy spring evening. I cracked the window in my room, and the draft is both brisk and welcomed. As this pandemic has stretched on, I have found a lot of beautiful moments in the spring weather. As crazy as the world seems, and is, we have nature to ground us. When I feel overwhelmed, I try to breathe in the fresh air. Earth Day is a great reminder to take care of this MOTHER earth, and each other. I had coffee on my balcony the other day, and the sunshine revived me. Sunshine is medicine for my soul. I hope everyone had a moment today, to sneak outside and enjoy a moment of mindfulness with nature. And to end this wordy blog, I just did a full body stretch and yawn in my bed, to look down and notice I am wearing mismatching socks. Some fashions choices live on forever! Namaste to everyone who can’t wake up enough in the morning to notice what socks they pull on!
-Libbs