Day 51: I lit some fall-scented candles in the morning when I was writing and could still smell the scent when I came home from work. I love fall. It’s my favorite season.

Day 52: Birds circling in the sunset. I stood for maybe five minutes and watched a flock of birds float in the shifting current of the wind, seemingly going nowhere, just flying together in the dying sunlight.

Day 53: Reprioritizing. Instead of diving head-on into my stress, I took a deep breath in the moment and shifted my priorities. Stress lowered within minutes.

Day 54: I wore heels. My husband said my outfit needed them. I haven’t worn heels in almost a year. I hate the feeling but I can’t deny the way they make me look. (Thinner!)

Day 55: I tried something new. On the spur of the moment, my husband and I went out for sushi instead of making dinner at home. We sat in a cramped corner of Little Tokyo, at a counter with mostly Japanese-speakers, and just pointed to the fish that looked best. Now we have a new favorite—Red Snapper.

Day 56: I went out to drain the pool to prepare for winter and got in the water instead. It was freezing but worth the last little gasp of summer before I let it go.

Day 57: Despite my better judgement, I drank a horchata con espresso. It’s a blend of rice milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon with a shot of espresso. Back to counting calories tomorrow. Today, it was a real joy.