The Five Minute Friday writing community gathers weekly to write for five minutes about a prompt, and post it.
This week’s Five Minute Friday writing prompt is PRESERVE.
So just how, exactly, does one preserve one’s sanity? Is there a recipe? Is there a difference between sanity preserves and just sanity jam? Would it be lumpy from whole thoughts floating in the juice of dreams and wishes? I’ll bet there’s at least one method that involves bourbon.
Canning vanilla bourbon peaches is my favorite way to preserve the perfect peaches of perfect summers. Sitting on my winter shelf, they remind me that summer does exist and isn’t just a fever dream. It will be warm again, and sun will make the tops of my feet too warm, and I’ll wish I hadn’t forgotten a hat to keep the top of my head from getting a sunburn.
Preserving my sanity lately has been a matter of awareness. This is hard for someone who spent many, many years dissociating to survive. I need to be aware of my limits, both physical and emotional. I need to be aware of whether I’m overdoing and setting myself up for future resentment. If making someone else’s life easier or happier means sacrificing my own peace or health, that’s not a net gain. If it costs me my peace, it’s too damn expensive.
Preserving my sanity has included making sure I take a round-block walk twice a day (to the happiness and delight of my dog and my person’s dog). Their immediate doggy joy at all the little things on a perfectly routine walk helps preserve my joy.
ps. If you want to make them, the recipe is “Drunken Peaches,” and can be found in The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving. They should be left to mellow for 4-6 months at a minimum, and are divine over ice cream.
A very creative and vulnerable take on this week’s prompt.
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. I went back through your blog to start reading previous posts. Your writing is raw, and beautiful, and honest. Maybe some day you will put it in a book? I am sure many people will be able to relate.
There were no options to comment on your other posts (unless I missed it), so I came back here to let you know how much I’m enjoying (in a sad and empathetic way) reading them and praying life WILL get better for you.
What a kind thing to say. Thank you! I had to turn off comments on old posts because I was getting so much spam, but maybe they’re old enough now that it’s safe to turn them back on.
I appreciate your kindness and your sharing your thoughts.