Life, Soul Homework, Tater Tots

tater tots – episode 91

Kari

if you’re new to my blog, welcome! here is an explanation of the tater tot post.

journaling

i read a book last spring/summer that i thought would be a good fit for me. i was so excited about it that i pre-ordered it (something i rarely do), convinced the journaling prompts inside would help me with whatever i was working through at the time. but once i slowly went through it, the prompts weren’t always landing with me.

when i finished the book and had gone through every prompt, i remember feeling disappointed, almost annoyed with myself for buying it instead of just borrowing it from the library like i usually do. it felt like money wasted.

but here’s the part i didn’t even notice until the last month or so: the book had actually nudged me into a habit i hadn’t had before. since the end of october, i’ve been looking up prompts online, writing down the ones that speak to me, and journaling in my own way. this practice has helped me work through a lot of emotional stuff- it’s been some of the best soul homework i’ve done since 2020.

what i’m realizing now is that a book doesn’t have to be what we hoped for to still matter. sometimes we don’t see its usefulness until much later. 💜

what i (didn’t) read

i saw this in my goodreads feed yesterday:

i’ve never read this book and i don’t rate books.

what i watched

all her fault (peacock)

roadrunner: a film about anthony bourdain (hbo max)

sean combs: the reckoning (netflix)

also, this was the man in the tiktok who looked like anthony bourdain in the restaurant- i shared it in the what made you smile post:

@notnotannalee

Replying to @abiolameetsworld Our day was spent connecting with new friends over our love for Anthony Bourdain. Thank you @wishmeluck365 for a beautiful accident!

♬ original sound – fizzy

what i listened to

your garden by lydia luce and andrea van kampen

links i clicked on (some are oldies but goodies)

(7) How to Feel Better About Yourself – by Satya Robyn

What Would Your Simple Contented Life Look Like?

(48) The Poetry of Everyday Life: A Collection of Moments to Love

(56) Write about the Small Things – by Laura Lentz

An Inspiring Poem to Remind You of Your Value by Tara Mohr

Gift Guide #9: No-Spend or Low-Spend Gifts | Cup of Jo really lovely ideas here

source

quotes that had me thinking

sometimes seeing is believing. and sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see. – the polar express

living up to a dream is rarely as important as entering it for all it has to teach. – mark nepo

in the end, everyone is aware of this: nobody keeps any of what he has, and life is only a borrowing of bones. – pablo neruda

friendship is born the moment one person says to another, “what? you too? i thought i was the only one.” – c.s. lewis

i’m wrapping up the tater tot posts in 2026. nothing dramatic- just a feeling that the series has done what it needed to do. thank you for reading along with me for almost seven years; it’s been such a joy writing these posts. 🌈

here’s to december and 2026…

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40 thoughts on “tater tots – episode 91”

  2. That is such an interesting thought – we might not see a book’s usefulness right away, but it wasn’t a waste to read it. I’m glad the book ended up being useful to you. The end of the tater tot posts is the end of an era, but I understand your feelings, and I look forward to what you post next! ❤️

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    1. Kind of like the mosaics and calligraphy of everyone we’ve ever met that I mentioned in my What I Kept post last week. I literally thought of that while responding to your comment in my head 🤣

      End of an era for sure. I had so much fun writing these posts, but there are other things on the horizon that will be good too. Thank you for reading along, my friend. 😘💜

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  3. What a weird, synchronous world – I just acquired a book of journal prompts for a year. I’m hoping it will do what your experience did – reignite a habit I valued.

    I’ve really enjoyed your Tater Tots series – it started me taking pictures of things I like in books, so I remember ☺️

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  6. Awww, the C.S. Lewis quote is so true and isn’t it one of the many reasons we enjoy blogging?

    That is crazy about Goodreads. I haven’t gone on my account in probably a decade. I hope I’m not rating books!

    I just saw a TikTok about The Reckoning with 50 Cent. Between the shade he threw at Randall Emmett and now this, I have become a huge fan.

    I understand about calling it a day with a series like this. I hope your holidays are wonderful and that we can connect on TikTok during them. XO

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    1. Yes, friend! I thought the same thing.

      I like Goodreads mostly to keep track of what I’ve read and to get suggestions based on that, so this whole thing is really frustrating.

      Right? The documentary was so well done.

      This series was fun to write, but I’m ready to focus on some different things now. I hope your holidays are wonderful too! I’ll still be writing weekly for the rest of the month. 😘🎄

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  7. Well, I loved your tater tots series and I am sure I’ll love what comes next!

    That Goodreads thing is weird. I did hear about that Mackenzie Phillips book, I think. I love memoir but I think that one is super disturbing. I have a very hard time reading about addiction, and I think there’s some sexual abuse and incest in there too, if it’s what I’m thinking of.

    I saw this poem on IG yesterday and I think you’ll like it:

    Basked in the sun, 

    listened to birds, 

    licked off raindrops, 

    and only in flight 

    the leaf saw the tree 

    and grasped 

    what it had been.

    From If There Is Something To Desire 
    One Hundred Poems 
    Translated from the Russian by Steven Seymour 
    Knopf, 2010. 

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    1. Aww, thank you so much. I think you will. 💜

      I love memoir too, which is why I looked up her book after seeing it in my feed, and like you, I’m skipping it. So much of what you mentioned is in there.

      I love that poem! Thank you for sharing it with me. 😘🌈

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    1. It’s a really good documentary.

      It’s very disturbing, and I only saw it on my laptop. When I opened the app, it wasn’t showing up at all. I messaged them right away, but I haven’t heard anything back yet.

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  10. I don’t think I will watch All Her Fault since my greatest fear is that something would happen to my kids. I started the trailer and turned it off at 30 seconds in.

    I do want to watch the Sean Combs and the Anthony Bourdain one, too.

    I need to watch more TV. As of this writing, my life revolves around work, kids’ activities, dinner cooking and crashing into bed hoping I still have 30 minutes in me to read my book… Maybe one day, when my kids are teenagers and don;t want to have anything to do with me, I’d take up the TV hobby.

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    1. I get that completely — sometimes just a trailer is enough to know it’s not the right time. Your life sounds so full right now, and honestly, reading in those little pockets is more than enough. TV can wait until the kids are teens and you get a little breathing room. 💜

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  11. I invariably have to fight urges to be sad when something runs its course and the next best step is to wind it down. Eventually I remind myself of to be thankful that it happened in the first place.

    I may have discovered your Tater Tot posts late in the span of 91 installments, but I’m glad I did, and excited by what might spring forth from their delicious remains.

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    1. Isn’t that the truth — the urge to linger in the sadness is so strong, but gratitude always sneaks in when we let it. I love that you’re holding both feelings at once.

      I’m grateful you found the tater tot posts, and that they resonated with you; it’s encouraging to think of them as paving the way for what’s next. 💜

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  12. “the book had actually nudged me into a habit i hadn’t had before. it’s been some of the best soul homework i’ve done since 2020.”

    Kari, isn’t it something how when we look back on things we first assumed were not good for us, end up being something we NEEDED? I’ve had very similar things happen to me throughout my life. I very often think I know what’s best for me, but I am not always correct.

    Can’t wait to see that documentary on Anthony Bourdain!

    “living up to a dream is rarely as important as entering it for all it has to teach. – mark nepo – that is something I continually learn. Even the things that seem to be a mistake are NOT a mistake because I learned something from it.

    Thanks for sharing, my friend! Always enjoy these post!

    Hope you’re having a fabulous holiday season! X

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    1. Yes! I love when this happens! Isn’t it wild how life gives us exactly what we need, even when we think we don’t want it? I love that you’re noticing that too.

      It was so good, Ron. I know you’ll love it.

      YES- kind of like the book I talked about!

      I hope your holiday season is feeling cozy and bright, my friend! Thank you for always taking the time to read and share your thoughts. 😘💜

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  13. I love your Journaling Ah-Ha moment of clarity.

    The Goodreads thing…wow. I believe this happens more than we know—bots (humans?) trying to tweak their algorithms? Absolutely.

    I’m going to check out a few of your links…and I know you’re gonna replace the Tater Tots with something also smile-worthy. XOXO

    Cheers to a beautiful holiday and year to come.

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  14. I’m the same way – prefer to check a book out of a library vs not pay for it, but I’m glad that in the end you recognized that having this book in your life led you to a new habit that’s been good for you.

    What is this with an imposter giving a book 4 stars and pretending to be you? Is this AI trickery or what?

    I just met a new friend and Guess What? We had that ‘you too?’ moment. Hee hee.

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  15. Thank you for doing these tater tot posts. I’ve always enjoyed them. I learn more about you, find new books and music, and love looking at the links you post.

    I do ok with journaling on my own. I think I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a prompt person. Feels too forced for me. I just sit down and let stuff pour out.

    That Goodreads thing is creepy. I’ve never had that happen to me.

    xoxo

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting on them all these years, my friend. I appreciate you so very much.

      I understand how that can feel- I felt that way with that book too. I don’t always find prompts I like, but when I do, I make sure to write them down to reflect on later.

      It’s very creepy.

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  17. I will always be grateful to my dad, who encouraged us to be ourselves always. I never felt the urge to change who I was–for anyone. He used to quote Shakespeare to us all the time:

    “To thine own self be true.”

    He never finished the quote, but I think the rest is just as important and will do so here:

    “And it must follow,

    As the night the day,

    Thou canst not then be false

    To any man.”

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