What The Duck Is This? | Joyful Meditation
It’s a beautiful, warm spring evening. The air is soft and the sky is just starting to go pink and orange. I’m not quite bouncing on my way to the car, with my tote bag and my water bottle and my sweatshirt the brilliant turquoise blue of my daughter’s softball team, but close. Watching little girls play softball as the sun slowly sinks behind the trees, by the way, has been proven clinically effective in reducing work day stress and existential malaise according to a study I just made up. I’m off for some ballpark therapy.And then it happens.SUDDENLY, A DUCK.A furiously flapping ball of feathers streaks past my head, so close one of its wings smacks me in the face. My anxiety-prone brain sends out a signal for my body to release the kraken lifesaving levels of adrenaline because it cannot differentiate between wayward waterfowl and oh, say, a serial killer. I drop my bag, my keys, my water bottle. Amidst my flailing, the sweatshirt goes flying and lands on my head. From the dirty look I get from the young couple pushing a stroller on the other side of the street, I surmise that I have screamed out a word that rhymes with duck. I sink to my knees on the sidewalk, because sometimes it just feels like the right thing to do. I pant and wait for my pulse to slow. I mentally curse the kind souls on our street who feed the birds that stray over from the pond in the local park.
After a couple of minutes, the panic attack passes. Just as it always does. I’m a pro at this now. I scoop up my things, pop some ibuprofen for the muscle aches that usually follow one of these, and head out to the field. That fucking duck, I think. The irony is not lost on me. I often compare myself to a duck, all floaty serenity on the surface, webbed feet churning wildly below, where no one can see. I think I've got it all under control, and then whack! Right in the face.At the game, I tell my husband why I was late. “You mean you didn’t . . .” He pauses. He’s considering not saying it, but it’s just too good to resist. “You mean you didn’t . . . duck?”WHATEVER, I tell him. I can handle whatever life throws at me. Even if it's a duck.
3 Things That Were Good
1. Sweatpants & Coffee has a new blanket fort! Well, it’s a discussion group on Facebook. I’ve always loved cozy places to hang out and shoot the shit, and then Shandle had this brilliant idea. I’m buzzy from all the love and good energy there. You should come hang with us. This is gonna be a thing.2. I went to see Avengers 2 and it was brilliant and funny and my inner Joss Whedon fangirl is satiated for now. It occurred to me in the theater how deeply nourished I feel after I’ve immersed myself in a really fun story. My brain needs to play, and occasionally it needs to watch superheroes fighting a robot army while having snarky dialogue. Ok, who am I kidding with occasionally?3. This shirt came in the mail and my daughter loves it. I love mine, too.
2 Things I Did Well
1. This morning, I made a list of all the things I needed to do. It was comprehensive and detailed. Then I said screw it and went to work out (normally working out is somewhere toward the bottom of said list). And as I huffed and puffed in the cool morning air, I offered silent thanks for a life that, every once in a while, lets me shove the To Do list to one side.2. I made a #pileofshit. This is will make more sense after you watch this video by the lovely Jennifer Pastiloff.
This 15 oz. ceramic mug in classic cream and maroon is emblazoned with the original Sweatpants & Coffee logo. You can fill it up with your morning coffee or your beverage of choice. It’s a great way to start the day!
• Breathable 60% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 40% polyester fleece
• Fabric weight: 10 oz./yd² (339 g/m²)
• Brushed interior fleece for a soft, cozy feel
• Roomy, unisex fit—goes big on comfort
• Double-layered, no-drawcord hood
• Front pocket for stuff and snacks
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
The Anxiety Blob was born as a doodle in September of 2015. I was feeling anxious and worried all the time, even when there was no reason to feel that way. One day, I was working on a social media post, so drew a quick doodle of what my anxiety looked like. Apparently, my anxiety closely resembles a vaguely worried potato-shaped little guy which I eventually named the Anxiety Blob.
A good friend commissioned a crafter to create actual Blobs based on that doodle as a gift for me. I posted about them on social media, and immediately people began asking to buy them.
The Anxiety Blob became a great source of comfort to me and others, especially as I faced a breast cancer diagnosis.
Today, nearly 20% of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. That is a staggering number! The Anxiety Blob provides comfort and a tangible way to express your fears. It lets you know you are not alone, and it gives you a soft, cuddly friend to hug. On social media platforms such as Instagram, people proudly show off their Anxiety Blobs as a way to validate their experiences.
I hope that you enjoy your Anxiety Blob, and that when you snuggle it, you’ll remember that anxious is how you feel, not who you are.
Love, Nanea
This beautiful handmade stoneware camper mug holds 14 oz. of your favorite beverage. Each one is lovingly crafted by Deneen Pottery, a family-owned business of artisans. This is a great one to add to your collection!
A rolled art poster printed on archival papers that brings a tiny, enchanted garden to your walls. The illustration features a cozy toadstool cottage surrounded by wildflowers under a starry green sky, with a gentle quote about tending your own patch of earth. It hangs in quiet corners where makers, gardeners, and nature lovers pause — a soft reminder to care for small things and feed the soul. Choose a textured fine art sheet for painterly depth, semi-glossy for vivid color pop, or matte for a softer, more intimate look. Rolled for safe shipping, this print arrives ready for framing or mounting in horizontal or vertical orientation to suit your space.
Choose between fine art, semi-gloss, or matte finish, and bring your artwork to life in stunning detail. Whether it's breathtaking landscapes, or eye-capturing portraits, these rolled prints can feature it all as they come in multiple sizes as well as horizontal and vertical orientations.
.: Three paper options - Fine art, Semi-glossy and Matte
.: Paper thickness (JONDO): Fine Art: 285 g/m², Semi-Glossy: 180 g/m², Matte: 200 g/m²
.: Paper thickness (Printify Choice): Semi-Glossy: 260 g/m², Matte: 189 g/m²
.: Multiple sizes to choose from
.: Horizontal and vertical options available
The Anxiety Blob Story
The Anxiety Blob was born as a doodle in September of 2015. I was feeling anxious and worried all the time, even when there was no reason to feel that way. One day, I was working on a social media post, so drew a quick doodle of what my anxiety looked like. Apparently, my anxiety closely resembles a vaguely worried potato-shaped little guy which I eventually named the Anxiety Blob.
A good friend commissioned a crafter to create actual Blobs based on that doodle as a gift for me. I posted about them on social media, and immediately people began asking to buy them.
The Anxiety Blob became a great source of comfort to me and others, especially as I faced a breast cancer diagnosis.
Today, nearly 20% of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. That is a staggering number! The Anxiety Blob provides comfort and a tangible way to express your fears. It lets you know you are not alone, and it gives you a soft, cuddly friend to hug. On social media platforms such as Instagram, people proudly show off their Anxiety Blobs as a way to validate their experiences.
I hope that you enjoy your Anxiety Blob, and that when you snuggle it, you’ll remember that anxious is how you feel, not who you are.
Love, Nanea
This beautiful handmade ceramic potbelly mug holds 14 oz. of your favorite beverage. Each one is lovingly crafted by Deneen Pottery, a family-owned business of artisans. This is a great one to add to your collection!
A cozy rolled poster that brings a gentle, whimsical quiet into any room. The illustration shows a mossy cottage surrounded by wildflowers under a crescent moon and starry sky, with a small bat drifting overhead. Warm, muted tones and soft textures create a feeling of evening calm and simple domestic care. A line of text sits in the sky: “My life and home may be messy at times, but I’m doing my best to fill them with love.” This print reads like a small, hopeful pause—perfect for hanging in a bedroom, reading nook, or entryway where the little details of everyday life are celebrated.
Product features
- Three paper options: Fine Art (textured archival), Semi-Glossy (bright color), or Matte (soft, art-optimized)
- Giclée printing for vivid, fade-resistant color
- Multiple sizes plus horizontal and vertical orientations available
- Paper weights range from ~180–285 g/m² depending on option and source
- Sourced blanks from USA (JONDO) and Japan, adult use
Care instructions
- If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.