Lately I’ve been thinking about how the ways I take care of myself don’t look very impressive from the outside.
No big adventures. No dramatic life changes.
Just quiet routines that slowly add up to a life that feels calmer and healthier.
I shared a few of those small habits in this video.
How I take care of myself living alone (my Boring wonderful life) ✦ introvert diaries PNW
A Few Things From This Video
I thought I’d also share a few of the things that came up in the video for anyone who was curious.
Knitting Pattern and Blocking
I noticed a few comments asking about the shawl I’ve been knitting in the video.
The pattern I’m using is from North Bay Fiber. It’s a knit-on-the-bias shawl made with fingering-weight yarn.
It’s been a really enjoyable project — the kind you can pick up in the evening and just settle into for a while. Thank you to everyone who taught me how to block. There was a little bit of a learning curve, but it wasn't hard at all.
Kidney Stone Update
The kidney stone surgery — and the two stents that came with it — is finally behind me. I never want to go through that again.
The good news is that now that I know better, it’s something I can hopefully avoid in the future. My doctor’s main advice was actually very simple: drink a lot of water. Specifically, about 2.5 liters a day.
He didn’t recommend following a strict low-oxalate diet because, in his view, it can sometimes do more harm than good. Many foods that are high in oxalates are actually very healthy — things like fiber-rich foods, spinach, grains, and fruits — so cutting those out entirely isn’t always the best approach.
Since the surgery, I’ve had several follow-up appointments. They did ultrasounds of my kidneys to make sure they weren’t enlarged and checked my bladder to confirm that I’m emptying properly.
Thankfully, everything has come back completely normal, which is really great news. It took quite a while to recover from the surgery, so it feels really good to finally feel like myself again.
Cutting My Own Hair
Yes, I trim my own hair on occasion so I can spend a little less money. My haircut is pretty simple, so I can usually go about six months before I need to think about going to the salon for a professional cut.
In the meantime, I’ll just snip the ends a little bit every couple of weeks. I cut straight up into the ends instead of straight across so it still looks clean and natural.
The scissors I use make all the difference. And honestly, I love that it helps me stretch the time between salon visits — because let’s face it, haircuts can get pretty expensive these days.
Hiking at Lacamas Creek Trailhead
That park was so amazing. I was so happy to have found it and spend some time listening to the sounds of nature and the rushing water along the trail.
Hiking has always been one of my favorite things to do, and getting to include Georgie in it makes it even better. We moved slowly through the park, taking in everything around us — the trees, the water, and of course Georgie stopping to smell absolutely everything… and yes, probably peeing on most of it too.
Lacamas Creek Trailhead
Moments like that make me really happy.
It’s also become a really important part of how I’m approaching slow living right now. Walking and hiking feel like a gentle way to take care of my body while I’m losing weight, especially because I want to move more without risking injury.
The park is called Lacamas Creek Trailhead, and it’s part of a large park system in Camas, Washington, just east of Vancouver. It’s actually not that far away and offers so much to explore. I barely scratched the surface of all the trails that are there.
The Table
I also host a small membership space here on the site called The Table. I called it that because I picture it as people gathered around a table — probably with a piping hot mug of coffee or tea — talking, listening, asking questions, and sharing their experiences. We also have a small book club there where we will read and talk about books together.
If that sounds like your kind of space, you’re always welcome to pull up a chair to "The Table".
By the way, I painted that coffee cup. It was so much fun, and I’ve really been enjoying spending time with my paints and getting back into art again.
The Table: A small, thoughtful space for conversation, shared experiences, and slowing down together.
