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Note from the Editor
Hi
,
When The Last Dance aired a couple months ago, I was glued to my TV from 9-11pm for five Sundays straight, getting my long-overdue education on the '90s Chicago Bulls. More than just the exploration of a niche interest, it was something I genuinely looked forward to each week. When it ended, I was more bummed than expected.
The Michael Jordan-centric docu-series — a feat in cameos and '90s fashion for what it lacked in timeline continuity — was a ratings hit, probably because in a world with no sports, it was the obvious choice for any endorphin-seeking fan. But I have an alternate theory for its success: Is it possible that we all just really needed something to look forward to on Sunday nights again?
So many monumental shows have aired on Sundays throughout recent years: Insecure, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Mad Men—giving legs to the theory that there's something about Sundays that warrants a little bit of a mood-boost. These shows have done the impossible by making the end of the weekend feel like a celebration, rather than an indictment.
I think they were onto something: Sunday nights, and the weeks that follow them, seem to be better when you make room for a joyful ritual. Not long ago, I spoke with Kalisha Smith, a therapist at Alma, about what it means to proactively work on your mental health. She emphasized that one of the biggest favors we can do for ourselves is building routines that set us up to think, feel, and act our best. During a particularly hard and unsteady 2020, this feels more relevant than ever.
Admittedly, my Sundays since The Last Dance have been more fretful than affirming; so this week, I decided to channel Kalisha's advice and jot down some joy-sparking SNRs (Sunday night rituals) worth trying.
Some SNR ideas for you, me, or anyone who needs them:
🎧 Podcast catchup hour: A one- to two-hour catchall to listen to all your weekly podcasts that runneth over from the week. For me, that usually means listening to Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow (authors of our August book club pick, Big Friendship) host Call Your Girlfriend.
🍜 Sunday slow-cook: Okay, so this doesn't have to be made in a slow-cooker per say, but if cooking brings you calm, Sunday's the perfect time for a project meal. I propose starting a Google doc of some culinary adventures you've been wanting to try (these sourdough everything bagels by @feedthemalik would provide breakfast for a week!), so you can queue one up each week.
📚Book club after dark: Few things bring me as much joy as book clubbing. Recently, my friend group switched our monthly virtual chat to Sundays at noon during quarantine and it's been revelatory in making weekends feel more special. For one of our upcoming books (fittingly, I Like To Watch by Emily Nussbaum), I imagine a Sunday night would be a little extra fun.
🍿 Weekly [insert movie genre here]: Make a list of 50-ish rom-coms or just take this one. Make your way through them one-by-one for a year (and don't forget to build a power rankings list as you go 😂). If you're more of a documentary person or if you want to watch more international films nominated for an Oscar in the last decade, that works too. Pick a topic as niche as you'd like it to be, and run with it.
💗 Small-kindness Sundays: Something I've realized has brought me the most joy during these distanced times has been sending my friends little surprises when possible. Even if it's in the form of a note or a $5 Venmo for a Monday morning coffee, it fills my cup to let my friends know they're on my mind.
🍨 Sunday sundaes: This one feels self-explanatory. Ice cream = joy, and after recently trying the Jeni's gooey butter cake flavor, I've never been more sure of it.
What's your Sunday night ritual? I'd love to hear what routines you've built that put you in a better headspace leading into the week. Reply to this email and we'll collect your ideas to share soon.
First up: Love & Basketball,
Tyler Calder, @tylerkcalder
Director of Content at GNI
P.S. Our GNI 2020 survey is still open and we're excitedly working on things for the year to come. Could I ask you to get in there and help us shape our community's next steps? We're looking forward to what's to come, but it only happens with your thoughts and hopes and dreams in mind! For survey takers, we're giving away four $250 gift cards to one of three Black-owned bookstores: Mahogany Books, Harriet's Bookshop, or Loyalty Books. (Taking the survey and submitting it with your email address enters you to win!)
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weekly picks
what to explore this weekend
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- For an easier way to do dinner... 🥘 "I am very obsessed with Omsom, a new line of Asian sauce/marinade packets that massively cuts down on your cooking time. They offer three starter packs: lemongrass bbq, larb, and sisig that are so good and full of flavor. We've cooked through the entire trio packet already and I'm re-ordering more immediately." - Alisha, GNI Team
- If you just need to sing it out tonight... 🎵"Tonight's the night! Hamilton is going live on Disney+, and while I didn't have the streaming service before, I am ready to lean into the joy of being able to watch it whenever I want. Spending today listening to the soundtrack to amp myself up." - Jenny, GNI Team
- This little patch will make you feel good inside and out...🌟 Hero Cosmetics helps you treat blemishes, dark spots, and irritation without skipping a beat. The name of the game: feeling in control of your skin's healing process from start to finish. GNI readers can get 20% your first purchase through July 31st with code GNI20. #SPONSORSTHING
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Some smol items making my life a little better right now... 👒 this Madewell straw hat (because staying home has made my skin more sensitive than ever), these daisy earrings that don't get caught in my mask, and this candle that smells like grass when I can't be super outside in the city right now." - Katrina, GNI Team
- A quick and easy meal to make this weekend... 🍝 "This caramelized corn and asparagus pasta with ricotta is the perfect meal to eat outdoors if you can. It's nice and light and just completely leans into summery flavors." - Mary Anne, GNI Team
- It's BIPOC/Minority Mental Health Month... ❤️ This post from @browngirltherapy is an important read to understanding some of the specific mental health challenges children of immigrants may face. Send it to a friend to get a conversation around mental health started.
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If you're looking for a perfect long-distance bestie gift... 🍟 "I recently got a @wearyoursnacks beaded necklace for my best friend and also can't recommend enough these clay earrings from Romy Studio. Both make *incredible* (and very personal!) gifts, especially as we're far from friends." - Tyler, GNI Team
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A few new favorite follows... 🐡 @wastefreemarie for actionable ways you can help in the fight for racial and climate justice and @ronathepuff because we never knew following a fish could be this calming.
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sponsor spotlight: Hero Cosmetics
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Healing down to the root. 🌱
Our skin's been through a lot lately — changing environments, seasons, and stressors, to name a few. Hero Cosmetics is helping us trust that our healthiest skin will shine through by getting down to the root cause and balancing our skin for the long haul.
They've got the lifecycle of flare-ups in mind and have designed a plan to keep you feeling in control of your skin at every stage:
✨ Try Micropoint for Blemishes for when you just know that something's coming.
💪 Try Mighty Patch when you need some in-the-moment control.
☀️ Try Micropoint for Dark Spots if you need a little brightening action.
💫 Try Rescue Balm for the comeback post-blemish.
GNI readers can get 20% off your first purchase through July 31st with code GNI20.
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read/watch/listen
what we're sitting down with in the days to come
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What We’re Reading: 📚
Black Women are the Architects of Cuisine | | In Puerto Rico, an Epidemic of Domestic Violence Hides in Plain Sight | The Great Regression | Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should | 'A Conflicted Cultural Force': What It's Like to Be Black in Publishing | How to Manage the Emotional Impact of Getting Laid Off | Let's Talk About Sex(ual Self-Care) | Ziwe Fumudoh Has Mastered the Art of Putting White People on the Spot | How to Create a Sensory-Friendly Bedroom for a Kid With Special Needs | HBO Wins ‘The Vanishing Half’ Auction In 7-Figure Deal | In the COVID-19 Economy, You Can Have a Kid or a Job. Not Both.
What We’re Watching: 🎥
“Did you know 80% of the population doesn’t personally know a trans person? That stat hit me like a ton of bricks. Disclosure is a Netflix documentary that illuminates the intersection of media, history, politics, culture, and the ways in which these forces have falsely represented the trans community for decades. You’ll hear emotional accounts from trans leaders and notable statistics that form a fuller picture of how we can all come to understand one another and our complex experiences. My unofficial Rotten Tomatoes review? 11/10” - Olivia, GNI Team
What We're Supporting: ❤️
We’re making a push toward $10,000 for the Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund—which goes toward finding culturally competent therapy for Black women and girls. If you're looking for one small thing you can do this weekend to make a difference and help others take better care, . (Make sure to select “Alisha Ramos” as the Team Captain when donating.)
What We’re Thinking On: 🌿
"The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile is all about the loneliness epidemic and how rituals can help us build meaning and community. It's divided into connecting with the self, connecting with others, connecting with nature, and connecting with transcendence. It's definitely more of a spiritual read, but it's helping me put a lot of my daily and weekly habits in focus as they relate to other people." - Alisha, GNI Team
How We're Moving: 🏃♀️
"I've recently been swapping between the Peloton app and Nike Training Club app—which is free right now— and I've found a few new favorite trainers through both programs: Betina Gozo on the Nike training app and Jess Sims and Ally Love on Peloton. (Debunked myth: You don't have to have a Peloton bike to use the app!) I've found that really investing in these women, following them on social, and taking their classes has the same effect as when I find an IRL group fitness trainer I love: I workout more consistently and I feel a better mind-body connection knowing I'm working with someone I trust." - Jenna, GNI Team
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