Under the Elderberry Tree logo

Under the Elderberry Tree

CHRONICLES OF AN INCOMING CRONE

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Now
  • Create + Inspire
  • Family History
  • Farm + Garden
  • Food + Family
  • Read + Write
  • Series
    • 50 before 50 Bucket List
    • Noted
    • Over a Cuppa
    • Work(s) in Progress
Menu

Over a Cuppa: Twelve (Hard to Witness)

Posted on September 13, 2025September 13, 2025 by Melissa

Hi, Hey, Hello!

Goodness, I’m so happy to see you on this chilly day! How the heck are you?!

What can I get started for you? I’m brewing up some black tea with milk and honey (obviously) but also have coffee or any herbal tea your heart could desire.

I am so glad we can share a spot of time together. The truth is, I’d like to check in on how you’re doing… how you’re really doing.

The world has been hard to witness for a long time now, hasn’t it?

I know you know what I mean, I won’t list the horrors and atrocities, but I want to acknowledge that it all is a lot…

And I want to say out loud that it’s OK to not be OK with whatever is on your mind and weighing on your heart right now…

And I want to give you permission to feel whatever you need to feel…

To cry or rage at the moon or take an extra long shower or bath…

To scribble in your journal or sign petitions or show up in protest.

I want to acknowledge that our modern world is complicated and brutal and surprising and jagged…

And I want to remind you that no matter how bad it all seems, there is a balance to all things.

I want to remind you that you don’t have to absorb it all…

And that for every horror, there is hope.

I want to encourage you to do whatever you need to do to get up in the morning and do what needs to be done for you so that you can get through the day and do the most good you are capable of doing.

I want to remind you that you are beautiful and loved and whole and worthy of joy.

I want you to find one good thing in your world today to balance out each bad that crosses your path:

  • a chocolate bar
  • a hot cuppa
  • a bird’s call
  • a good book
  • your favorite song
  • a pretty cloud
  • a bubble bath
  • the changing leaves
  • the company of a friend
  • a long walk

The world is hard to witness right now and I truly believe that we are not built to absorb so many inputs in rapid fire motion so I’m giving you (and me) permission to take a step back and practice some solid self care in whatever way works best for you in this moment, no matter how small that action might be.

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

You are not alone.

We will get through this together.

Ready for a refill?

Go gently, Friend. Keep your head up.

I’m right here with you and am so so so grateful to know you and share this journey with you.

There is still so.much.goodness in the world to help balance out the rest. Let’s tip it together.

Onward,

Melissa

P.S.

Thank you, Natalie, for offering up the virtual space to share space and time together each weekend.

Share this:

  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading…

Discover more from Under the Elderberry Tree

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags: #weekendcoffeeshareinspirationmental health
Category: Over a Cuppa

Post navigation

← Currently Reading: The End Of The World As We Know It + The Winternight Trilogy
Welcome Autumn (Spooky Season) →

25 thoughts on “Over a Cuppa: Twelve (Hard to Witness)”

  1. Jessica Moore Wilson says:
    September 13, 2025 at 6:09 am

    Everyone and everything feels so particularly tender right now. Thank you for this warm and cozy and caring post. We need healing spaces in this moment.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:42 am

      Hi Jessica! The more safe, healing spaces we can create, the better. Wishing you a lovely, calm weekend.

      Loading...
      Reply
  2. Kathleen Howell says:
    September 13, 2025 at 6:42 am

    This was absolutely perfect, Melissa.. Thank you.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:42 am

      You’re very welcome, Kathleen. Thank you for visiting.

      Loading...
      Reply
  3. Meezan says:
    September 13, 2025 at 1:43 pm

    Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:46 am

      Thank you, Meezan. And thank YOU <3

      Loading...
      Reply
  4. Thistles and Kiwis says:
    September 13, 2025 at 2:17 pm

    A lovely, warm post.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:47 am

      Thank you 🙂 Hope your weekend has been wonderful!

      Loading...
      Reply
  5. joyweesemoll says:
    September 13, 2025 at 3:19 pm

    Lovely talk with tea, thank you! My bright spots today were my weekly Black Lives Matter vigil and watching a soccer game played by seven-year-old girls.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:48 am

      Hi Joy! Those two activities sound like the perfect way to enjoy a day! Hope your weekend rounds out wonderfully!

      Loading...
      Reply
  6. Writing Sparkle says:
    September 14, 2025 at 5:23 am

    Thank you for this amazing post, Melissa. These were words I needed to hear this morning. Sending you a virtual hug. Now, the next good thing crossing my path this morning is a coffee walnut muffin after my cup of coffee. Happy Sunday.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:48 am

      You’re very welcome! Your coffee walnut muffin sounds AMAZING! I trust you enjoyed every bite!

      Loading...
      Reply
  7. Maria says:
    September 14, 2025 at 6:14 am

    It is truly important to focus on and remember all the good things. Thanks for the reminder!

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:49 am

      You’re very welcome, Maria. Thank you for sharing time and space with me here.

      Loading...
      Reply
  8. A Creative Spirit says:
    September 14, 2025 at 9:18 am

    Melissa, your words resonate: The world has been hard to witness for a long time now, hasn’t it?
    Yep, the lunatics are now running the asylum and I retreat into my bubble and absorb the simple beauty of nature.

    ” want you to find one good thing in your world today to balance out each bad that crosses your path:”
    I have started painting again.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 14, 2025 at 10:52 am

      It’s all just such a mess. But painting? Painting is such a marvelous way to spend some time in creation! I trust you are enjoying every moment, every stroke <3

      Loading...
      Reply
  9. hena says:
    September 14, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    Thank you for sharing.. a good reminder, gotta try to stay sane in this nuts-o world.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 19, 2025 at 8:33 am

      One step at a time <3

      Loading...
      Reply
  10. Natalie says:
    September 14, 2025 at 6:09 pm

    A lovely and gentle post, Melissa. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 19, 2025 at 8:34 am

      Thank you, Natalie <3

      Loading...
      Reply
  11. Julie says:
    September 16, 2025 at 7:34 pm

    Modern living is complicated. I am grateful that it’s easy to connect with people even though we live so many miles away. I’ve met a lot of great people because our ability to connect so easily. But at the same time, with that connectivity we are ultra-informed about what’s going gone. With all this information overload, we don’t take a deep breath to discern between truth, theatrics, and just lies and outrage.

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      September 19, 2025 at 8:38 am

      There are just so many layers at play. I am grateful to live in such a time of abundant information, but I’m not sure our hearts and minds are ready for such onslaughts all.the.time. Looking for balance in the chaos. Thank you for being here, Julie. Hope the weekend ahead is a good one for you!

      Loading...
      Reply
  12. Kirstin Troyer says:
    September 23, 2025 at 4:48 pm

    A beautiful post and I love the last photo!!!

    Loading...
    Reply
    1. Melissa says:
      October 10, 2025 at 8:38 pm

      Thank you, Kirstin!

      Loading...
      Reply
  13. Pingback: Over a Cuppa: Thirteen (Presence) - Under the Elderberry Tree

Join the conversation!Cancel reply

Welcome

never miss a post

Subscribe to Under the Elderberry Tree to receive notifications of new posts by email.

introverted socials

  • BlueSky
  • StoryGraph
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Currently Reading

Recently Read

Hot Topics

  • Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • A Ghost in the Throat
  • Work(s) in Progress - Digital Spaces

Join the Conversation

  • Debbie D. on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Writing Sparkle on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Natalie on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • joyweesemoll on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Astrid on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Lisa notes... on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Maria on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Marsha on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)
  • Melissa on Over a Cuppa: Twenty Four (Through the Fog)

Chilling with my Ghosties

The Big Picture

The Nitty Gritty

#bookbeginnings #farmphotofriday #firstlinefriday #friday56 #weekendcoffeeshare adventure anniversary art autumn blog celebration community creative journal creativity crochet dailyprompt DNA test documentation embroidery entertainment family family history farm life habit shifts homesteading inspiration in the garden journaling lace mental health music nature nostalgia npe oral history pinterest poetry reading reflection research self care self improvement spirituality spring writing

Looking for something?

©2026 Under the Elderberry Tree
%d