This excerpt from shiny bits seems relevant to the seclusion we're all experiencing right now. And a reminder of how important it is to feel the earth beneath our feet and the sun on our faces. "Days passed without time. Dorie slept late into the mornings, the light disorienting her when she opened her eyes. She ate tiny morsels like rations, not speaking so words lost their meaning and the world abstracted. Books became her sustenance--immersing herself in their pages was a tonic for the despondency she felt about her separation from the real world. She longed to sink her feet into the cool under-layer of sand, to feel the salt-sticky film on her skin after dipping into the water. Dorie reached for her coat and hat and stepped outside. Walking across the dunes to the beach, she felt as if awoken from a dream, released into a version of the world scrubbed clean, bright and pure. The green hat that Harriet had knitted hugged her head, spreading warmth through her slightly

I posted before about the importance of connection. During this quarantine state we're all in for the moment, I have come to realize even more acutely how vitally important connection is--whether it is a connection to self, community, or the landscape we call home. Being connected to ourselves means enjoying one's own company. Being connected to home means finding solace in that familiarity, comfort in the place we feel safest. Being connected to community, however, is where we may be struggling most right now. I've always considered myself an extroverted introvert--I love people but I need my alone time as well. I have realized over the last couple of weeks how much of an extrovert I truly am, how vital my community is to me--my family, my friends, my network, even just strangers with whom I share a smile or hello in the park. I am so thankful for our technology that enables us to stay connected, if not physically, at least socially. I devour posts from friends