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A Boston Cream Doughnut, a Bad Morning & the State of the World.

So now we’re in a war.

It seems as if every minute there is something else that shocks, traumatizes, and confuses us.

How are you doing, dear reader? What are you doing to calm your nervous system these days?

If you’re anything like me, you might be looking for small and easy ways to steady yourself in the middle of all the chaos and noise.

Last week, I took myself out on a date. I needed at least one reminder that the world is still filled with sweetness and consistency.

I walked into Dunkin’ with a clear plan.

A small dark-roast coffee.
One Boston cream doughnut.
Thirty quiet minutes to breathe fresh breaths into my spirit, visualize better times, and return to inner peace.

I’ve done it before, and find that it’s a winning formula for putting a smile on my face.

There’s nothing like my favorite doughnut’s soft dough, delicious chocolate frosting, and best of all, creamy custard center melting in my mouth and making life feel like a warm hug from the universe.

After hearing the news that morning, I desperately needed this sweet and tasty moment.

First bites? Uneventful. The chocolate frosting tasted great and the dough had that familiar softness. So far, everything was predictable, comforting, and exactly the way it had always been.

For a moment, life felt good. Little did I know the universe had other plans hiding in that doughnut.

I reached the center, and instead of its creamy custard filling, a tasteless and icky brown, gooey “something or other” swirled around in my mouth.

What happened?! I stared at the doughnut like it had personally betrayed me.

I’m embarrassed to admit that in that human moment, I fell short. I didn’t call upon the healing tools of radical acceptance, chakra tuning, deep breathing, or even gratitude.

Plainly put, I was annoyed and confused. As I sipped my coffee to calm myself down, I remembered a book that reminded me of this moment.

It’s called Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. In my case, it felt more like, Who Wrecked My Doughnut?

Deep down, I know that my doughnut issue shouldn’t have upset me as much as it did, but the on-going callousness, cruelty, and inhumanity of our leaders gets to me.

And that’s probably why my doughnut disappointment hit a nerve.

All I wanted was for something—anything, even a doughnut—to be exactly the way I expected it to be. Was that too much to ask from the universe?

Don’t laugh at what I did next, but I wrote to Dunkin’ headquarters about it. I gave myself the empowerment to ask, “Hey, what happened to the custard in my Boston cream doughnut? Was it an anomaly that it was brown and tasteless, did you change the recipe permanently, or was it a mistake?”

Slowly, I began to realize that the lesson hiding inside my disappointing experience was this:

When the outside world is unpredictable, we need to become more intentional about creating moments of steadiness and delight.

And when one small reset doesn’t work, we need to reach for another.

Small Ways to Reset When the World is Turning Upside-Down

>> Step into nature with all your senses. Even five minutes outside can change your nervous system. Feel the air on your skin. Notice the different colors, shapes, and smells of the season. Look up at the sky and watch the clouds drift by. Listen to birds, wind, and distant sounds, and maybe even tap your feet on the ground like a tiny drum solo. Any of these sensory moments can gently shift your mood.

>> Remember to breathe. Deeply. Slowly. Breathe in through your nose for six counts; exhale through your mouth for eight. As you breathe, whisper a power word to yourself (like “peace,” “love,” or “courage”). Do it three times and notice how your shoulders relax and your entire body softens.

>> Start a micro-joy scavenger hunt. Look for all the tiny delights around you—a patch of sunlight on the floor, a rainbow, a favorite mug that feels good in your hands, a bird’s song, or something unexpected that makes you smile. If we pause long enough to notice it, there’s joy everywhere.

>> Engage in mini “art therapy” moments. Doodle a tiny picture, draw a smiley face on a scrap of paper, or color something. No rules. It’s just a small creation to remind your brain that it can still make something beautiful in the chaos.

>> Music, sound healing, and creative movement. Put your favorite music on and dance in your kitchen or living room while humming and singing random sounds loud and proud. If nothing else lifts your spirit, this might! Suggestion: I love to play “Zorba the Greek” while I make dinner. I dance and hum and sing and cook and bake. What a mood-shifter! Try it.

>> Try the “news container” method. Read the news. Care deeply. Call your representatives. Participate in peaceful ways to support the kind of world you want to live in. Then step away, breathe, and remind yourself that it’s possible to stay informed without absorbing all the toxicity of the news. That boundary alone can protect your nervous system. I know it helps me.

The hidden wisdom behind my disappointing Boston cream doughnut episode is that the world won’t always deliver the yummy filling we expect, but we can still create moments of sweetness and goodness anyway.

We can still be kind.
Still love.
Still notice beauty.
Still absorb the goodness that remains in the world.
Still show up for each other.
Still be grateful.
Still breathe in light and joy.

How about you? What helps you find familiar sweetness? Is it a favorite snack, a walk in the woods, or a song? I’d truly love to hear what small rituals help you reset.

In a world that often feels upside down, those tiny moments of sweetness are more important than ever.

And yes, I’m willing to give that Boston cream doughnut another chance to get the custard right.

~