13 Things You Should Hold On To Forever

(and especially if you’re burrito-ing yourself right now)

I don’t know about you, but things feel heavier this week.  Which is surprising because I didn’t think things could feel heavier.  So quickly.

If your current situation involves a desperate search for the bath bombs you bought at Lush in 2016 because the salesperson whispered something that sounded like “soothing” and “sedative” and right now what is required is for you to soak in some lavender and figure out how to dull the disappointment that your anger left behind when it got exhausted and went home?

You’re not the only one pulling up the drawbridge.  

There are times to be out there in the world.  And there are times to wrap yourself in a blanket and just burrito yourself at home.

I enjoy a good burrito.  But, let me tell you: Proper burrito-ing requires that your home have certain things available to you.  You need to be able to take care of yourself.

Which means there are things you should never, ever get rid of.  Even when you’re committed to a full-on, get rid of all the clutter, mental health tidy up of the whole freakin’ house.  

Seriously.

What do I recommend that you hold on to?   

Here’s a short list of things you should never toss out.  Don’t let go of your:

✤ best sheets.  If you’re going to be sleeping or hiding out in your bed fort, you deserve to be ensconced in the most glamorous linens in the house.  

✤ mother’s letters.  The card she sent you on your graduation?  Keep it.  Read it.  Feel how proud of you she is.

✤ one pair of jeans that really, really fit.  You’ll never find another pair.  And you’ll be really mad.

✤ ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies. Or whatever the specialty of the house is in your house.  Everyone needs a reminder that there is something sweet in the world and I am telling you that sometimes that reminder needs to come into your life as dough.

✤ favorite shampoo.  The day will come when you’re going to get up and wash that man right out of your hair and you want to do it right.

✤ sense of humor.  Even if right now it’s more sarcastic, cynical, and snarky than slapstick, bust a gut funny.  Keep it all.  

✤ belief that the world is full of honest people who desire and are working for peace and justice and equality. Trust that they will carry on.

✤ substack subscriptions.  People are writing things you need to read.  Things you want to read.  Things that will nourish your soul and give you new ways to think about things and help you know when it’s time to get in the shower.

✤ Zoom app.  You’ve got friends.  Zoom with them.  On the regular.


Hold on for dear life to these things.   

They are not clutter.  

They are not unnecessary.  

They are not taking up space for no reason like those Lush bath bombs that you haven’t used in so long they’ve disintegrated into dust that’s just gonna float on top and make your bathwater look like curdled milk.

Hold on to the things that make your home a place you can go to relax. And recharge. And reconnect with your truest, most favorite self.  

Whatever those things are, they are things that give you life, make sure you keep them close.  Make sure you’ve got them in a place you can easily find them in your home. So that you can find them when you need them.


Everyone deserves a place to go where they can relax and be safe and be their truest, most favorite self.  I call that place home.  I hope you do too.

Take care of yourself.  We need you out here.


Your burrito buddy,
Vivian