Ordinary Magic of the Day

September 18, 2025

Today’s been one of those foggy-brained,

can’t focus, slightly disoriented kind of days.

Not terrible. Just bleh.

So instead of trying to force clarity

or pretend I’m full of wisdom,

I decided to chase the small stuff.

Not breakthroughs, just comforts.

Not lightning bolts, just tiny sparks of good.

Here’s a list of today’s Ordinary Magic:

the little things keeping me upright, human,

and at least 40% less likely to lose it today.

1. Oat milk mochas. Warm, creamy, and just bougie enough to feel like self-care in a cup.

2. Beyoncé’s Levii’s Jeans. There’s something about the groove I’ve been loving lately. It makes me move different.

3. Online ordering and delivery. There are only two restaurants in Ketchikan that deliver and let me order online—but when I’m tired, overstimulated, or just don’t want to talk to anyone, they’re basically Michelin-star miracles. No phone call. Just click, eat, survive.

4. The freedom to choose. How I spend my time. Who I give my energy to. What I do with this one precious life.

5. Protein oatmeal with peanut butter. Nothing fancy. Just warm, filling, and dependable. Which, honestly, is the vibe I’m going for these days.

6. Smoked salmon fillets from Safeway. Zero effort, high payoff. It’s giving “I eat healthy” energy.

7. My body. She’s been underused this year, and I feel it—but she’s still strong, still capable. I know I’ll find my way back to her.

8. My cats. One jumps on my chest in the middle of the night. The other lovingly claws my face to say hi. Somehow, I love them more for it.

9. Texts from Desiree. Her TikTok Shop Christmas list is growing by the hour. She’s a planner. And a riot.

10. Conversations with my son. Today we talked about ethics and whether he should accept money for a class event. I love his brain.

11. Texts from a friend celebrating her success. She’s working her ass off. And she trusts me enough to let me cheer her on.

12. Deep talks with an old friend. The kind where you remember who you are without trying to explain it.

13. An empty suitcase on my bed. Because I get to see Emily tomorrow. And honestly, that’s enough to make everything else better.

14. My lower back, acting up a little. It hurts today. Which only makes me more grateful for the many days it doesn’t.

15. Electric heaters that look like fireplaces. Fake flames. Real comfort. Instant cozy. Zero chopping wood required.

Fog rolls in sometimes.

In the weather, in my brain, in my body.

But I’m learning that I don’t have to wait for the fog to clear to feel alive.

Sometimes all it takes is a mocha,

a text from someone I love,

or a warm room with fake firelight.

Ordinary magic.

It’s not flashy.

But it finds me when I choose to look for it.

And it brings me home.