Come Celebrate with Me

Hi friends,

It’s been a minute. I’ve opened my Substack account several times in the past few weeks to write something and have been at a loss for words. What does one say when it seems like the world is crumbling around us? It turns out there’s not much to say about that, but there is plenty to say about so much else that is happening.

In a time that feels like daily crises and the collapse of America as we’ve known it, I’ve decided that it’s more important than ever to cling to the things that bring me joy. Joy is resistance. Joy is resilience. Joy is the path forward.

I keep reflecting on this Lucille Clifton poem that has become something of a mantra to me lately:

With that in mind, I’ve been carving out more time to do the things that have given my life so much meaning. I’ve been spending more intentional time hanging out with friends, reading, writing, researching, and learning. Importantly, I’ve gotten back in the swing of working out and being more mindful about my physical health.

Here are some of the things that have been bright spots for me lately:

Working out

I went to my first Barry’s Bootcamp classes recently, and although it was a brutal workout, it was fun. The bright lights and loud music really helped me get in the zone and not think about how tough the sprints or weight exercises were. If you haven’t been to a class, it's a HIIT workout where you rotate between floor exercises that may be done with weights or resistance bands and running in intervals of walking, jogging, and sprinting on a treadmill. If it sounds hard, it is, but it’s so fun and upbeat that the class goes by fast.

I’ve also been loving the stairmaster. It’s tough to climb that machine, but completing 20- 30 minutes of that exercise will make you feel like you’re the strongest person on earth.

Reading Books and Magazines

I finished The God of the Woods in about three days. It was so so good. The book centers on a child who goes missing at her family-owned summer camp years after her brother goes missing on the same property. I enjoy books that weave together different perspectives and storylines; this author did that masterfully. It is not only a compelling thriller but a study of family dynamics and the impacts of generational trauma.

I’ve also been devouring Wool, which is book one of the Silo series, which the Apple TV show is based on. I was a little worried that the book would be overly duplicative of what I’d already seen on the show, but it defied my expectations. If you haven’t seen the show, which I wholeheartedly recommend, it’s about a community of people who live in an underground Silo following an untold natural (or manmade?) disaster that leaves the outside world uninhabitable. As with any community, this one is full of secrets from the top levels, where the upper and ruling class live, to the lower levels, where people work around the clock in grueling conditions to keep the Silo running.

My friend Niccara got me hooked on Fourth Wing on a recent trip to Boston for a mini-writers retreat. I wouldn’t call myself the biggest fantasy fan, but this book was pretty entertaining. It centers on Violet Sorrengail, an unlikely protagonist who gets thrown into a brutal school for dragon riders and has to overcome incredible odds to survive. If you’re looking for a mindless read or just some escapism that has nothing to do with our current reality, this is a good one to try.

Listening to Podcasts

I used to be the type of person who got all my news from podcasts. I would start every single morning with Up First on NPR and chase it with the New York Times’ The Daily. I regularly threw in the WSJ and Washington Post news podcasts throughout the day. For my mental health and obvious reasons, I can’t do that anymore. Instead, I’ve been listening to lighthearted podcasts that have nothing to do with current events. Here are some of my favorites, some of which I‘ve mentioned here before:

• Normal Gossip: This podcast is a national treasure. Each episode, the host discusses reader-submitted comedic gossip with guests. The gossip is always relatively benign, so you don’t have to worry about encountering a sad story or something upsetting. It is good old-fashioned fun with real stories of mishaps and mischief that happen in people’s lives. Best of all, it's one of those podcasts that you can listen to from the beginning or start at the most recent episodes without any fuss.

• Sentimental Garbage: I’ve raved about this one before, but I just adore it. The host, Caroline O’Donaghue, brings guests on each episode to discuss a myriad of topics related to millennial pop culture nostalgia, from movies to music to clothing trends and everything in between. This is another one that you can pick up from wherever.

• Everyone’s Business but Mine: If you’re a lover of Bravo and reality TV, you’ll love this podcast. The host, Kara, is hilarious and gives the best recaps of reality TV episodes weekly. She’s so good that I listen to her episodes even when I don’t watch the show she’s talking about.

• Modern Love: This podcast is based on the New York Times column of the same name. It covers all things love and relationships. Warning: Many episodes are heartwarming or touching and may make you cry, but it’s worth a listen.

That’s all for this week. See you next time!