Issue #204: highs, lows, and putting fun on the calendar 🍿

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issue 204 ~ week of january 22nd, 2021

buns and photo by Lindsay Anderson and Dana VanVeller

editor's note

Dear ,

Anyone else feeling pulled in opposite emotional directions lately? Like, contrasting forces that are banging up against each other in the jumble that is your brain?

On one side, I’ve experienced seismic moments of relief. I’m thrilled that several close family members have received their first Covid-19 vaccines. I was moved to tears by Amanda Gorman’s stunning poem at the inauguration, as a reminder that this administration will be one that values the arts. And people of all backgrounds. And truth.

I’m confident that at some point this year, I will get vaccinated. When I do, I will have (other vaccinated) friends over for meals inside and we’re going to eat so much good food and drink an appropriate amount of cocktails. We are going to laugh and eat too much dessert and hug each other goodbye and then make plans to do it again. Maybe later this year I will take a trip where I can explore a new-to-me place and visit an interesting museum and take a refreshing hike and maybe wear a cushy hotel robe and you know, generally have experiences outside my living room walls.

But I don’t know when that will be. And I’m struggling with that.

In the interim, the promise of these large joys remains darkly clouded. Reaching 400,000 Covid-related deaths in the U.S. is a horrible milestone. Vaccine shortages and subsequent reports of cancelled appointments are disappointing. The attempted white supremacist coup in D.C. — where I live — has had disturbing and dangerous ripple effects that we as a country are going to grapple with for a long time. The amount of cognitive dissonance happening around all of these very real and very alarming events is, in itself, extremely alarming.

These intense pulls have led to a lot of vacillating thoughts. One moment I’m hopeful for an unclear future and the next moment I’m overwhelmed with concern. As to not spiral in a million different directions, my current plan is to focus on what is concrete right now, instead of dwelling on The Future. It works… sometimes.

So I’m calendaring things I can definitely plan for, and using these small bursts of excitement as ways to manage my expectations until the big bursts of joy can happen. To be clear, these are not huge events. At times, I’m manufacturing something to do for the sake of having something to look forward to. But these small milestones help me stop fixating on the large and out of reach ones. Some control among the chaos. It’s absolutely a coping mechanism, but one that at least has me reading good books and eating good desserts. Here’s a snippet:

Jan 24, 5pm: Pre-order baked goods from Rose Ave Bakery (Chinese sausage biscuit! coconut mochi puffs! ube coconut donut! more!).
Feb 2: Story collections Land of Big Numbers, Milk Blood Heat, and 100 Boyfriends all come out.
Feb 7, 1pm: Monthly Zoom with 7 friends in 4 different time zones.
Feb 12: Nadiya Bakes on Netflix.
Feb 16, 8pm: A virtual discussion hosted by the Museum of Food & Drink all about RICE.
Sometime in February: Go to a tiny local kids’ aquarium that is doing private appointments.

How are you creating things to look forward to right now? I’d love to hear how you’re building room for joy and relief in your own calendars.

Baby steps before the leaps,
Carey Polis
Content + Audience at GNI

community updates

🥁 *Drumroll please...* Our February book club pick is.... The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans.

🤗 Looking to join us for book club? We meet monthly via our paid membership community, The Lounge. You can sign up for the waitlist here.

🐌 Did you know our sibling brand, Whiled, has... merch?! Take a peek here!

weekly picks

what we're recommending this week...

photo credit: Lounger Emily L.

A new way to welcome books into your bookshelf... 📚 "A recent conversation in The Lounge got me thinking about the concept of bookplates, a way to keep track of books you lend out, while also giving them a home on your shelf when they're not lent out. I love Lounger Emily L.'s system (pictured above), made possible by a stamp and library cards from Etsy. I also like the idea of an embosser that does the same thing in one satisfying press." - Mary Anne, Community Team
Some food for thought... 🍳 "This year, I'm trying to build dedicated time for breakfast into my morning routine, so I was extremely excited to see this whole breakfast plan laid out for me here." - Olivia, Community Team
Because pastries and friendship are important... 🥐 "My friend has started a weekly fika with two members of her pod. Each Thursday, they make a baked good and get together for dessert and tea. They tend to make really show-stopping desserts and generally it's a moment for them to take a deep breath and have a dedicated time to catching up. I'm jealous and love everything about this idea." - Carey, Content Team
If you've got cold feet... 🧦 "I got this pair of socks recently and they're jussssst right — comfy but not *too* high up on my leg. I feel like this style of sock is a lost art!" - Katrina, Partnerships Team
A small screentime reminder... 👩‍💻 "I'm back with another 'how to use technology to make your life easier' rec. I recently learned the latest MacOS update has the screen time app built into it (it's hiding in your settings!) and I plan to use it to see how much time I'm spending on my computer throughout the day to keep myself accountable to powering down at an appropriate time." - Jenna, Content Team
Seeking a meditation pillow... 🧘‍♀️ "After a year of living, working, exercising, eating, and doing just about everything at home, I'm finally investing in some 'home equipment,' starting with t he softest looking meditation pillow. Actually, I'll take two." - Alisha, CEO/Founder

💫 Bonus rec: A hot topic in the GNI HQ Slack this week was... cleansers! Mary Anne swears by this one, which she calls a "perfect jelly, foamy cloud" and Olivia's recently splurged on this mild and milky one from Osea for dry winter skin that needed a little extra support.

sponsor spotlight: bright cellars

Because let's be real, getting packages sparks joy.... 💫

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read/watch/listen

✨ some picks of the week ✨

a little bit of rest, a little bit of celebration (via @hello_anna_b)

🌟 Scrolling...
Women Will Bear the Burden of Getting Our Aging Parents Vaccinated | GEN
Amanda Gorman on Her Career-Defining Inaugural Moment | Vogue
Yes, the Pandemic Is Ruining Your Body | The Atlantic
I Recommend Eating Chips | New York Times
The Errand Friend | Culture Study

📚 Reading (and Cooking)...
Need some more vegetables in your life? Meera Sodha's East cookbook offers so many fun and simple techniques. Two of our faves: 1) Food processing mushrooms into small pieces and then getting them crispy in the cast iron (think dan dan noodles, but vegetarian), and 2) Charring romaine lettuce (way more complex flavor than raw!) to serve with a simple raita sauce. Both are game-changing recs!

🎧 Listening to...
In this very helpful and refreshing (recently re-aired) episode of the Longform Podcast, author and podcast host Ashley C. Ford discusses owning her relationship with money — and how her financial situation continues to inform her ability to be intentional in life and her career.

If you're in a season of change, this Second Life episode with guest Elaine Welteroth is like a hug from your most encouraging friend. Elaine is going through it too, as she makes the exciting jump from journalism to a TV hosting gig (!!), and she's got a lot of wisdom to share in the process.

🍿 Bingewatching...

🌟 The Curse Of Oak Island if you love the History Channel and shows that remind you of National Treasure (Peacock)

🌟 Shot: Dickinson on AppleTV+. Chaser: This deep dive on how the famed author also (probably) inspired a Taylor Swift song.

🌟 Dare Me is the dark cheerleader drama you didn't know you needed. (Netflix)

🌟 This clip of J. Lo at the Inauguration on repeat.

heading into the weekend like...

Taking a page out of How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell 😊

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Issue #204: highs, lows, and putting fun on the calendar 🍿

editor's note

community updates

weekly picks

read/watch/listen

heading into the weekend like...

Older messages

Issue #203: intention, attention, and repetition ✨

What to do when your home is also a gym and an office now... 😅

Welcome

Issue #200: we did it! and you did too! ✨

gifts for that one friend who...👀

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