31 Mar April at Experienced Goods by Jennie Reichman

There is a warm-up technique that actors and singers use to release tension called “Horse Lips.” It involves blowing air through your relaxed lips, causing them to flap and make a sound like a horse’s whinny. It is almost impossible to hold tension in your face when you do this, and is a great way to prepare for a performance or other pressurized situation. It’s what I often do when I am feeling worried, exasperated, frustrated or generally overwhelmed, and lately I’ve been making horse lips a lot. As horrifying as it can be, I like to keep up with the news of our country and the world, so I listen to NPR in my car on the way to and from work (horse lips), read the New York Times (horse lips), and have a subscription to The Atlantic magazine that I read cover to cover every month (many horse lips). There are often situations at Experienced Goods having nothing to do with national politics that warrant horse lips, so much so that my co-workers might think I’m pretending to be Mr. Ed. It seems like there are palpable levels of anxiety and worry everywhere these days, and I think many of us are trying to find something, anything, to relieve the stress of it all, to find a little bit of comfort and joy.  

We all do what we can to try to make a difference and affect change, but no one person can turn the whole thing around, so I’m advocating finding little things, simple, normalizing things, to keep us resilient and inspired. My cats are a huge source of happiness for me; their unconditional love and silly antics are constant medicine for my soul. Cooking good food, sewing fun clothes, writing, playing music, taking my best friend out for brunch on her birthday. A glass of wine after a long work week, a trip to buy goodies at Trader Joe’s. I have often written in this space about the therapeutic aspect of shopping at Experienced Goods, and I strongly believe that many (most!) of our shoppers come to the store with nothing in mind but to wander around looking for some small object or piece of clothing that feels like it was meant to be theirs, that they weren’t expecting to find but that falls into their hands and makes them feel better in the moment. It’s true, most of us probably have more than enough stuff, that we really don’t NEED anything, but spending a few dollars on something that brings you pleasure or that you will give to someone to bring them pleasure, has far-reaching consequences.  Think about it: You do something nice for yourself, buy an interesting book or a pretty silk blouse, say. You feel the sparkle of enjoyment that comes from finding a hidden gem at the thrift store, and later have a friendly chat with the check-out person at the grocery store. That person feels seen and validated by your words and smiles at the next customer rather than greeting them with a blank stare. That person is buoyed by the interaction and impulsively buys a bouquet of flowers for his partner. You get the idea.  That book you bought? Read it and, if you liked it, pass it on to someone who might also be enriched by it. These things don’t change the world around us or fix the big things that are broken, but they make us better able to meet them and get through whatever is coming. Little stuff keeps us going day to day and really, it’s all we’ve got, but it adds up.  

That said, can we talk about spring?!? There’s something hopeful! Believe it or not, we have shorts for sale, and lots of beautiful spring clothes. The colors are truly a balm for the eyes. Gone are the snow boots and heavy wool sweaters and in their places we have sandals and linen jackets. Getting ready for prom or graduation? The fancy dresses and tuxedos will be coming out in the next couple of weeks. We have a barnyard full of chicks and bunnies for Easter decorating, and I’ve seen a few gardening tools make it out onto the sales floor.  Even though as I write this there is ice coating everything outside my kitchen window and I am cooking a chicken stew for dinner, I will make horse lips at these last vestiges of winter, cultivate strength, and try to fertilize the good soil of community. ~ Jennie Reichman