December 4, 2025

Happen To Notice

with

Vanessa Micale

Hello Reader,

At my recent annual eye exam I confessed I never filled last year’s minimal prescription. I tried to find frames but got overwhelmed by the style options and price-points.

I said I’d be back, and never came back.

“It’s just been one of those years,” I said—something I’ve been saying for several years now.

The doctor said my eyes were healthy. She gave me a minimal prescription again. She said it was optional to fill it as long as I had no eye strain symptoms.

As we head towards a new year, I catalogue the many challenges and losses of great consequence, and all the small things left undone.

I’ve been meaning to take my car to the car wash for a full year.

I’ve had a pile of clothes to take to my seamstress who mends out of a sewing trailer in her driveway. My pile has been sitting for three years, through grad school, then graduation and beyond.

Every day I intend to take my vitamins from their M-F pill box. I often play musical chairs and move the forgotten pills of past days into a future day.

There is so much I leave undone. And guess what? It’s ok. I am still here. Nothing broke.

What a relief, to let it go, like Queen Elsa sang in Frozen (my song sounds more like Donald Duck's scream-song, see notes below).

I notice all that I meant to do because it was on my to-do list, and all I am meant to do because I've chosen it as sacred.

I notice all the ways I showed up for my artistry, for my body-mind, for my loved ones and my community.

There will always be something unfinished. My work is to pay attention to the matters that are of great consequence to me.

Reflection

What small things can you let go of and leave undone? What is of great consequence to you that you’d like to nurture?

Resources

My Creative Updates & Offerings

I'm slowing down for the last couple weeks of December.

I have some new work in Mānoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing, Architectures of Futuropasados, arranged by guest editor Anthony Cody. You can order the book here.

Community & Care

From Lindsey Mackereth: “Are You Getting High This Holiday? Be Honest." Spoiler: It’s about terpenes “the nervous-system-calming compounds released by trees, soil, citrus, and fresh air. A natural high your body already recognizes.” Trees, I love you!!!

From Kim Moy of Caregiver Wisdom, on Facing Holiday Grief as a Chronic Illness Caregiver.

​An interview with Jaquira Díaz, who shares about storytelling and writing “an embodiment of the song" in her debut novel This Is The Only Kingdom.

​A newsletter post from Juliana Feliciano Reyes, #3: queers against ICE: on the power of "regular ass faggots and queers and lesbians and straight people."

​New sweet, tender album from Los Gatitos, “Doing It For Love” with icons and friends Paolo Davanzo and Lisa Marr, who lead Echo Park Film Center North in Vancouver.

Soft Pants for Your Mind

​Let It Go But It's Donald Duck, a remake of Frozen. Donald Duck's scream-song made me laugh especially at the 3:30 minute mark through the end.

​A somatic practice from Linda Thai: The Rain, the Rainbow, the Butterfly.

Notes & Citations

None today.

Let’s resource! Let’s play! Let’s happen to notice, together.

In peace,

Vanessa Micale

Founder of Poderosa Voz LLC​

(she, they, ella)

P.S. You can show your support by sharing this micro-newsletter with a friend, or you can send me a digital tip and treat me to a pastry.

P.P.S. Sharing resources is one of my love languages. Is there a resource related to somatic and creative realms you want to see or you know of? Hit reply and let me know.