My house smells of fresh baked bread. Earlier I took a wonderfully warm loaf from the oven, said hello and welcomed it. The bread wafted a steamy soothing salutation in return.

I have spent the morning mixing, kneading and waiting for my little loaf to be. That moment of taking it from the oven warmed me. Creating, nurturing and communicating are activities I am trying to do more of. They make me feel well, and I often don’t. During my times of unwellness, I notice my tendency to withdraw into myself and lose my ability to communicate, to tell people I need help, or I need time alone. I can lose my words. I also lose my drive to make things, to create and to nurture my projects.

I spoke to my loaf and to myself today, standing in front of the oven in my small kitchen. With those words of welcome, I acknowledged this victory in what feels like a fight to be well sometimes. For it is an effort, and one that today I feel like making and continuing. I’m hoping to continue this effort by encouraging myself to write more, to communicate better and to feel better.

This blog then is to encourage me to communicate better, to write better, to create better, and to feel better. I’m doing so publicly to perhaps help me to feel braver. Welcome to the world little loaf, and little blog.