"Gentle, Gentle" Books: Cozy Manga

This January I have been reading a lot of what I am calling "cozy manga." These are low-stakes, character-focused stories that leave you feeling good. Three of these "cozy manga" series include Cat + Gamer, I am a Cat Barista, and BL Metamorphosis.

 

Cat + Gamer is a fun series about a hardcore gamer who ends up adopting a cat and her adventures as a new cat owner. It is fun to see the main character describe raising a cat in terms of gaming (leveling up, unlocking new skills, skill stats, etc.). The best part of the story is that at the end of each chapter there is a page from the cat's point of view.

I Am a Cat Barista is a wonderful series about a cat barista who runs a cafe that can only be found by those who are worn out and tired. He is able to pick the perfect drink or meal to make any customer feel better even if they struggle to articulate exactly what is wrong. Note: There are sad moments from the cat barista's kittenhood we slowly learn about. 

BL metamorphosis is the story of the unlikely friendship that develops between Ichinoi, a 75-year-old elderly woman, and Urara, a high school student, over BL (Boy Love) manga. I find seeing Ichinoi getting fully immersed in the Boy Love fandom, aka the queer manga fandom, is adorable. I enjoy following Ichinoi from accidentally picking up her first BL manga to going to her first manga convention. There are not enough stories about multigenerational friendships between women around shared passions.

My Star Word for 2025: Caring

For the last several years a pastor friend of mine has drawn a star word for me. Star words are an alternative to the more traditional New Year's resolutions. As concepts, they are less stressful and are less prone to "all or nothing" thinking than resolutions. In addition, as concepts, they are something you can't do wrong. I find they are a cool addition to the other guiding principles I pick each year for myself.

For this year my friend drew "caring" for me

Which fits well with my other 2025 guiding principles.

2025 Throughlines 

By Dreaming Ace

2025 Throughlines

My star word “Caring” 

My mantra “Gentle, Gentle”

My action plan “Throw Away the Plan”

Bonus guiding principle “Hell, Yes”

2025 Throughlines

To help me map the journey

So that I can thrive not just survive

To help me fulfill the adventure

So that I can thrive not just survive

To help me be rooted in myself

So that I can thrive not just survive

2025 Throughlines 

My star word “Caring” 

My mantra “Gentle, Gentle”

My action plan “Throw Away the Plan”

Bonus guiding principle “Hell, Yes”

 

"Hell, Yes" refers to my traditional last book of the year. A reminder to think about what I actually want to do in any given moment https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6442749-hell-yes

"Gentle, Gentle" Books: The Boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse

 This year I will be writing about some of the "gentle, gentle" books that I read and enjoy. 

I hope this helps others to find "gentle, gentle", calming, peaceful, and joy filled books to read.

Both my first book of the year and my first "gentle, gentle" book of the year is The Boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse by Charlie Mackesy which was brought to me via a free "Take a book, Leave a book" display.

This story is what taking a nice warm bath or drinking a cup of tea feels like. I also appreciated how the wisdom contained in this story works individually (you can open to any page and enjoy) as well as working collectively (while there is no real plot a journey still appears) 

To fully enjoy it is important to note the story is classified as children's, so it is very comforting but not new concepts. I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to read a calming story about friendship or who wants to read something that feels like a big gentle hug. 

My Goodreads Review:

This was a lovely "gentle, gentle" way to start a new year. I feel like this is the kind of book I will open randomly through out the year because it is the kind of wisdom that is good to read again and again. Thank you, person who left it at the "Take a book, Leave a book" at my local library.

And if like me you don't always know what to look for when you want to read a "gentle, gentle" book since that is not a widely used category:

On StoryGraph it is labeled:  Reflective, Inspiring, Hopeful

Note: This book is beautiful but uses a semi-cursive font. I was able to read it pretty easily despite not typically being able to read cursive like fonts but it still feels like it is important to note if you struggle to read challenging fonts.  

Themes and "TARDIS Goals" for 2025

 

Many of us are thinking about what we want from the upcoming year. Instead of more traditional resolutions, I pick themes. I find themes to be less stressful and easier to keep up all year long.  

This year I am choosing a combo of previous ones that have worked well: 

1. "Gentle, Gentle."* This is a reminder to be gentle with ourselves.  We are enough no matter what big feelings we are feeling or how we are judged by ourselves or others.

2. "Throw Away The Plan."** This one is guaranteed to work for everyone since every time something goes wrong, we are successfully completing our New Year's goal. 

3. "TBD." I am once again having a friend draw me a star word for the year, but it won't be drawn until Sunday, so right now TBD.

In addition, I find that having a daily list helps me be "gentle, gentle" with myself. Without some structure, everything can feel liminal, and I can struggle with decision fatigue. 

My January 2025 daily list includes the categories:

Fitness

Health

Self-love

"TARDIS Goals"

Everything else.

"TARDIS Goals" is a new term I created that refers to the TARDIS, which gets you where you need to be, not necessarily where you want to be. 

I created this term for working on bigger long-term goals. I tend to spend more time on quick tasks that are easy instead of the harder, longer-term tasks. 

This is also a flexible category. I should be working on some of my long-term goals every day, but I don't need to work on all my goals every day. 

No matter if you are choosing resolutions, or themes, or something else entirely for the new year may you find a bit more peace, joy and wonder this year.

* "Gentle Gentle, Slow Slow, Thoughtful Thoughtful, Flow Flow" Wentworth Miller Instagram Post

* "Make the plan, Execute the plan, Expect the plan to go off the rails, Throw away the plan." Leonard Snart from The Flash - Infantino Street

Happy 2025

 Happy 2025 Message

Another New Year is before us

We don’t know what it will bring

What challenges we will face

So we should focus on what matters 

Gentle Gentle, Slow Slow, Thoughtful Thoughtful, Flow Flow (1)

Moments where (we are) doing what (we) need to do 

to make sure that (we) vibrate at the right frequency … 

things that are small, doable, affordable, and that nourish (us). (2)

Gentle Gentle, Slow Slow, Thoughtful Thoughtful, Flow Flow (1)

(We) won’t be doing it alone.

We are all just trying to figure out this being human thing together.

It’s not always going to be easy.

And sometimes (we’ll) feel like the darkness is too much to bear.

But it’s worth fighting the darkness to discover who (we) really are.

And not just for (ourselves).

But so (we) can create a better world for everyone.

Now, (we’re) gonna make some mistakes.

There’s no formula to guide the way.

No destiny to surrender to.

It’s not about being perfect.

It’s about doing what we know is right.

And having a hell of a good time doing it.

That’s what it means to be alive.

And to be a Legend.

Welcome to the team. (3)

Make the plan, Execute the plan,

Expect the plan to go off the rails, 

Throw away the plan. (4)

*quietly confident in the manifold gifts (we) possess, 

both known and unknown to (us)*

Right behind you. 

(We) got this. (5)

1. Wentworth Miller Instagram Summer 2023

2. Wentworth Miller | Full Q&A | Oxford Union Society 

3. DC's Legends of Tomorrow - WVRDR_ERROR_100

4. Leonard Snart from The Flash - Infantino Street

5. Lin- Manuel Miranda Tweets

Honoring All Big Holiday Season Feelings

 

This image crossed my Instagram feed filled with wisdom from Wentworth Miller, and it reminded me of the complexity of feelings that we might have during the holiday season. 

I personally love Advent and the Winter Solstice; I love the ritual of it, and I love wishing everyone hope, peace, love, and joy. I love the calmness that it highlights—the calmness of curling up with a good book, a warm beverage, candles, and a fire playing on the TV.

I also love parts of Christmas—all the lights, all the treats, all the concerts—but often find it to be a bit too much, a bit too busy, a bit too overstimulating. As a kid, I always wanted to sleep in on Christmas, much to my parents chagrin.

Now I understand that personally, for my neurodivergent brain, the holidays can be challenging for a number of reasons, such as having my routines and patterns changed and having less time to regroup because of all the activities that are occurring. 

You do not have to love the holidays. No matter what you are feeling —joy or sorrow, excitement or stress, energized or exhausted—it is important to honor those feelings. There are no right or wrong ways to celebrate this time of year.

Nourishing November

 

Nourishing November

By Dreaming Ace

By the power invested in me, myself, and I

I am declaring it is officially Nourishing November

A time to nourish ourselves physically and mentally

Before we hit the busy holiday season and end of year

I am using this as a time to pamper myself inside and out

Pamper by using up what I already have in my apartment 

Using up lotions and candles and incenses and teas 

Using up pantry goods, craft supplies and sharing items

That no longer are serving me with others so they can enjoy

Plus taking the time to rest and recharge, sleeping in etc

So by the power invested in me, myself, and I

I am declaring it Nourishing November

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

5 Benefits of Nourishing November

• Nourishing November helps refill our energy stores before the busy holiday season.
• I find that the holidays are often so busy it is challenging to truly enjoy them. Resting during November should help.
• Nourishing November helps our physical and mental health.
• Nourishing November helps us get more organized for the new year.
• The fewer items that are in a category, the easier it is to organize.
• Nourishing November helps us find holiday gifts.
• I am expecting to find gifts for others as I use up other items.
• Nourishing November can help other people's holidays.
• As was shared online, parents look in resale shops for toys for their kids, but typically resale shops don't have any until after the holidays.
• While the original post was about kids toys, it is true for most holiday items. For example, donating your extra clothing now means that someone can get themselves a gift warm clothing.

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

15 Nourishing November Activities

To Help You Think Creatively About Nourishment

(In no particular order)

• Make a meal with ingredients you have in your pantry already. 
• Doing a creative project with craft supplies you already have
• Using up a sample of lotion or other beauty product
• Having a cup of tea or hot cocoa using up what you have
• Spending an afternoon reading a book on your bookshelves (or from the library)
• Burning a nice smelling candle or incense you have
• Doing self massage or mediation or yoga
• Writing in a journal. or writing poetry, or writing a short story.
• Taking a warm shower or bath (use a nice body wash if you have it)
• Having a dance party for one in your home
• Spending time with people you care about
• Sleeping in or taking a nap
• Add some hygge into your day
• Incorporate a pop of color into your space (place a colorful bowl on the counter, drape a colorful scarf on your chair or sofa etc.)
• Listening to a podcast on a topic you love