Greetings From

Ember & Bloom

Hi friend,

I have a question for you.

How is “I’m fine” like an umbrella?

I know. It's a strange comparison. On the surface, they have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

One is something you say when someone asks how you’re doing.

The other keeps you dry when it rains. But recently, I realized they have something very important in common.

Two words I got very good at saying

“I’m fine.”

Sometimes I meant it. Sometimes I didn’t. Sometimes it was simply the easiest answer to a question that didn’t have an easy answer.

But I never thought of those words as something I was using.

Until I thought about the umbrella.

And that’s where things got interesting.

This week, I’m writing about the connection between those two things:

“I’m fine.” + ☂️

It’s called I Look Fine. I’m Not Fine.

And if you’ve ever looked perfectly okay on the outside while knowing there was a very different story happening underneath, I wrote this one for you.

Something to Try

Revisit something you loved doing as a kid.

Do a puzzle. Swing at the park. Color. Blow bubbles. Jump in a puddle. Eat the cereal you haven’t had in years. Put on a song you used to dance to and dance badly to it again.

Think back to the things you did before everything had to be useful, productive, or have a purpose.

What did you love simply because you loved it?

Pick one thing and revisit it this week.

You don’t have to turn it into a hobby. You don’t have to be good at it. You don’t even have to tell anyone you did it (although if you want to reply to this and tell me about it, I would LOVE that!).

Just give that younger version of you a little time to come out and play. Just for fun.

I’ll meet you here agaiday.

Until then, take one small breath and know that it’s enough.n next Mon

Hugs 💜💚

-Gladys