Anxiety and the Artist's Date

My earliest memories are anxious ones. Clinging to my mum’s legs as a child. Hiding under a laundry basket when people popped in. Waking up at 5 AM, putting on my school uniform, and sitting there for three hours—because I was terrified of being late. For most of my life, anxiety was my default state. And then last year, driving from Milan to Umbria, Matteo and I were listening to a podcast about anxiety when he paused it and asked—How is your anxiety?To my surprise, I said, Good. I hadn’t felt anxious in ages. We both sat in silence, a little stunned. Where did my anxiety go?I’ve been sitting with that question for months. And recently, as I felt anxiety creeping back in, I realised—there’s one thing that helps me most.This week, Matteo and I talk about: The unexpected weight of moving homeMy life with anxietyThe turning point that forced me to make a changeAnd the ritual that’s helping me feel more at ease (and could help you, too)The One Word Journal: https://www.myword.is/bookBetween The Lines Newsletter: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/