My husband has been away on a business trip this week; he’ll return later this evening. The house has been weirdly quiet. I was working from home before the pandemic, and quiet days felt ordinary to me then, but it’s very different now that I have been sharing the home office space with my husband for almost three years. Without having him around to fill my office area with cheerful energy, it just seems like a big, empty place.

While it’s also fair to note that sometimes he has interminable meetings that leave me craving a quieter space, this week has brought into focus how blessed I am to have a loving family—along with others who brighten my life such as kind friends, helpful coworkers, and readers who take the time to write encouraging comments on this blog. Many thanks to all!

Nurturing Thursday was started by Becca Givens and seeks to encourage self-nurturing and to “give the planet a much needed shot of fun, support and positive energy.”