Katherine Nicolai

I was still standing in front of the window with the curtain in my hand. A gust of wind blew a thick wave of flakes against the panes, and I could feel the chill of it on my skin. I could get back into bed. That was always a lovely option. But I thought about another that I rarely took. but would feel so good right now. A morning bath. Oh, a morning bath.

I was still standing in front of the window with the curtain in my hand. A gust of wind blew a thick wave of flakes against the panes, and I could feel the chill of it on my skin. I could get back into bed. That was always a lovely option. But I thought about another that I rarely took. but would feel so good right now. A morning bath. Oh, a morning bath.

It sets the perfect tone for a day when you don't have to rush off to anything. It says, today we are going slow. I stepped into the bathroom and opened the tap over the tub. In the cabinet, I looked through the bottles and jars. I had some Epsom salts, good for soaking when my body was achy. As well as a jar a friend had gifted me with rose petals. and grains of lavender mixed into the salts.

It sets the perfect tone for a day when you don't have to rush off to anything. It says, today we are going slow. I stepped into the bathroom and opened the tap over the tub. In the cabinet, I looked through the bottles and jars. I had some Epsom salts, good for soaking when my body was achy. As well as a jar a friend had gifted me with rose petals. and grains of lavender mixed into the salts.

It sets the perfect tone for a day when you don't have to rush off to anything. It says, today we are going slow. I stepped into the bathroom and opened the tap over the tub. In the cabinet, I looked through the bottles and jars. I had some Epsom salts, good for soaking when my body was achy. As well as a jar a friend had gifted me with rose petals. and grains of lavender mixed into the salts.

It smelled wonderful, but last time I used it, I'd been picking the lavender out of my hair for a few days. Instead, I reached for the bottle of pearly bubble bath and trickled a stream of it into the steaming water. As the tub filled, I got a fresh towel and washcloth from the linen closet, my book from the bedside table, and a tall glass of water from the kitchen.

It smelled wonderful, but last time I used it, I'd been picking the lavender out of my hair for a few days. Instead, I reached for the bottle of pearly bubble bath and trickled a stream of it into the steaming water. As the tub filled, I got a fresh towel and washcloth from the linen closet, my book from the bedside table, and a tall glass of water from the kitchen.

It smelled wonderful, but last time I used it, I'd been picking the lavender out of my hair for a few days. Instead, I reached for the bottle of pearly bubble bath and trickled a stream of it into the steaming water. As the tub filled, I got a fresh towel and washcloth from the linen closet, my book from the bedside table, and a tall glass of water from the kitchen.

It's strange what feels indulgent to you at different stages in your life. When I was younger, I wouldn't have been staying home to take a bath on a Saturday morning. But here I was. Maybe it is a gift of aging. A growing understanding of what is enough. And a capacity to enjoy it when you have it. In that first minute in the hot water, my mind went peacefully quiet.

It's strange what feels indulgent to you at different stages in your life. When I was younger, I wouldn't have been staying home to take a bath on a Saturday morning. But here I was. Maybe it is a gift of aging. A growing understanding of what is enough. And a capacity to enjoy it when you have it. In that first minute in the hot water, my mind went peacefully quiet.

It's strange what feels indulgent to you at different stages in your life. When I was younger, I wouldn't have been staying home to take a bath on a Saturday morning. But here I was. Maybe it is a gift of aging. A growing understanding of what is enough. And a capacity to enjoy it when you have it. In that first minute in the hot water, my mind went peacefully quiet.

I wasn't thinking much of anything, just feeling the heat and the relaxation in my muscles. I stretched out in the tub and closed my eyes, I could hear the wind blowing around the house. And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool,

I wasn't thinking much of anything, just feeling the heat and the relaxation in my muscles. I stretched out in the tub and closed my eyes, I could hear the wind blowing around the house. And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool,

I wasn't thinking much of anything, just feeling the heat and the relaxation in my muscles. I stretched out in the tub and closed my eyes, I could hear the wind blowing around the house. And I thought about the squirrels and rabbits digging deeper into their dens, curling around one another for warmth. I picked up my book and read. When the water started to feel a little cool,

I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth and scrubbed, and eventually felt ready to get out. As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child. Being wrapped in a warm towel and how safe and happy it had made me feel.

I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth and scrubbed, and eventually felt ready to get out. As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child. Being wrapped in a warm towel and how safe and happy it had made me feel.

I just turned the hot tap back on and let it run till it was piping again. I sipped water, soaked up my washcloth and scrubbed, and eventually felt ready to get out. As I reached for my giant bath towel and wrapped it around me, I had a memory of being helped out of the tub as a child. Being wrapped in a warm towel and how safe and happy it had made me feel.

I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job. of being the steward of my own happiness and safety. And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way, I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window.

I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job. of being the steward of my own happiness and safety. And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way, I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window.

I smiled at myself in the steamy mirror. I'd taken over that job. of being the steward of my own happiness and safety. And while I hadn't been very good at it at the beginning, it had taken practice and unlearning some things along the way, I was now adept. I protected me. I was safe with me. I was happy with me. I pulled on a robe and stepped back into the bedroom to peer out of the window.