Footloose + reaching for that fancy-free
On connecting with nature, reclaiming boredom + embracing our social butterfly
Last week I mentioned that I’ve returned to journaling, in earnest, as I try to get a handle on my (yet again!) elevated cortisol levels. Happy to share that I’ve been consistent with it. Feels like a habit is forming. A good thing. Now, after talking to my naturopath doctor last week, I’ve added another piece to the morning practice.
Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I head outside to catch that first light. I also do this barefoot. Grounding, earthing, connecting with nature—whatever you choose to call it, that’s what I’m doing. So far, it feels really good. (We’ll see what’s what come wintery November/December.)
Being outside in general, taking in the sounds + sights of nature around me, feeling the cool, dewy grass beneath my feet, journaling undisturbed, it all sets me up to start the day restored + energized. It might sound a little woo-woo to some of you, but you know what? Me nah care! The aim is to do all that I can to keep stress—that insidious brute—at bay. If this woo-woo move does the trick, then call me Jefferey Osborne. (This is a high-end niche joke/reference; you should be impressed.)
In addition to reading the news (which feels like the script + notes to a gruesome nightmare at this point), I make an effort to also gather some brighter bits to share. Not as distraction—we must remain alert, awake + aware—but necessary reminders that this life is for living. In full. That means basking in the hope, fun, joy that is still there for us for the taking. So, here’s what I’ve Read, Watched + Heard this week:
READ:
The fun thing about being on Substack is stumbling upon interesting, smart reads. Here are two great ones from the new-to-me Substack called mindbox that spoke directly to things I’ve been thinking about A LOT lately.
“how to pay attention again (the neuroscience of focus in the age of everything)” It delves into the “quiet unraveling of our attention,” in a smart, digestible way, but also offers actionable tips on how to reel it back in.
reintroduce boredom (and explore your relationship to it). boredom isn’t a failure of stimulation - it’s a soft threshold into something deeper. let yourself sit in it. gaze out the window, watch the light shift, notice the discomfort in the empty space. walk without a podcast, just the sound of your feet and the world (you might be surprised how much novelty is around you). eventually, the discomfort will shift to stillness. and that stillness? it’s expansive, it’s space. and space is where ideas grow!
“how to slow down time (the neuroscience of time perception)” This one analyzes why time feels like it’s disappearing + how we can “expand” it.
Scotty B + I went to see the new horror movie Weapons last week. I went in not knowing anything about it, on purpose. Well, I did ask if it was going to be gross. I’m not into body gore. He assured me it was not, so along we went. How was it, you ask? This article in The Atlantic, “The Feel-Bad, Feel-Good Movie of the Year,” (gift link) does a good job of answering that question.
Hey, ladies. Here’s yet another life scam created expressly for us: “The Rise of ‘Cute Debt’” (gift link)
Speaking of women consumers, trends + marketing ploys, this style piece in The WSJ, “‘You’re a Boomer If You Wear Leggings’: The Rise of Big Workout Pants,” had me shaking my head. How about, just let us live? Can we do that?
“Savvy workout devotees say the bra-and-leggings sets that ‘West Village Girlie’ types wore from Pilates to brunch to WFH Zooms are no longer seen as stylish all-day apparel.”
You already know what I have to say about this:
I learned about music artist Dijon two years ago (almost a whole year after his debut album, Absolutely, was released), but he quickly became one of my faves. His new album, Baby, just dropped last week. Of course it’s on a steady loop for me. Nice to see The New Yorker talking him up in this review, “The Fiery Mania of Dijon’s ‘Baby’.”
Are you a social butterfly? Good news, that might be the best thing you’re doing to age well + live long. The NYT’s Well section piece, “The One Quality Most ‘Super-Agers’ Share,” (gift link) looks at the 25 years of research on what keeps the minds of “super-agers” (“people 80 and up who have the same memory ability as someone 20 to 30 years younger”) going strong. Short answer: It’s other people.
“Super-agers are a diverse bunch; they don’t share a magic diet, exercise regimen or medication. But the one thing that does unite them is "‘how they view the importance of social relationships.’ … Another notable difference is that super-ager brains tend to have more of a special type of cell, called von Economo neurons, that is thought to be important for social behaviors and is only found in highly social mammals — namely apes, elephants, whales and humans.” —Dana G. Smith, The New York Times
WATCHED:
On Sunday, one of my small joys was watching the latest episode of my favorite show, CBS Sunday Morning, as it aired in the morning—instead of catching up on the recorded eps when I have time—while drinking hot tea + relaxing in a cozy chair, with no demands on my time or attention. This was a great episode, too. Lots of good stories, like:
Rashid Johnson on art as a source of potential joy. “Artist Rashid Johnson has used multiple media and materials to create works that examine race, masculinity, identity, aesthetics, and (he says) his own anxiety. Now, Johnson's career is the focus of an exhibition at the Guggenheim New York, ‘A Poem for Deep Thinkers.’”
Capturing the melting of glaciers, with data and art. This story was about Mauri Pelto, a glaciologist and a professor who founded the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project in 1984. “He vowed to measure these glaciers every summer for 50 years. This is Year 42. In that time the glaciers have changed more than he has, shrinking by 40%. Some have disappeared.” Beautiful + disheartening at once.
A pilgrimage to the desk with the greatest view. A sweet story about The Desk on Hancock Hill in the high desert of West Texas.
HEARD:
We’ve spoken here about And Just Like That…, the Sex and the City sequel on HBO, more than once. Sadly, it’s not been in a, shall we say, glowing light. However, listening to two of my favorite NYT culture writers—Taffy Brodesser-Akner + Wesley Morris—speaking so highly of the reboot on Morris’ latest episode of his Cannonball podcast made me give it a bit of grace, a pulled-back second look… buuuutttt, it’s still firmly a no for me. The series finale didn’t help its case either!
Still, it was good to hear Taffy + Wesley’s heartfelt take on the sequel, proudly singing its praises. Taffy also makes a great point about Carrie Bradshaw as female anti-hero. (Sidebar: Her writing brought me in, but I’ve also long adored listening to Taffy speak—she’s smart, funny + assured. Never stumbles, no ums; always clear about what she’s trying to communicate.)
You can listen to the ep. wherever you get your podcasts or watch it on YouTube.
WALKIN’ + TALKIN’:
We talking about practice. Not a game! Not a game! We talking about practice.