September 2020 Brightside

WELCOME TO THE BRIGHTSIDE

September 1, 2020

*on repeat*

River Lea, Adele (Spotify)

Grounding me recently:

You can’t do it all. You need to choose what’s important to you and go after it. And that can change at different points in your life, so it’s important to be flexible and react to the moment. Put your efforts toward the things that are important to you and that you do best, the things only you can do."

- Veronica Corzo-Duchardt 

How's Your Mind Today?

Hi September! August was awesome. And hectic. But good. I rearranged my office in the midst of an existential work crisis one afternoon and I found my “In the Company of Women” book in the process. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in here, I forgot how much I used to love having a page open on my dresser at my old apartment. The first page I opened was to a full page with the above quote, and it was a nice cosmic reminder to chill and prioritize. This book is open on my yellow filing cabinet with this on display and it's a nice reminder throughout the day.

Speaking of chilling, has anyone else stumbled across this article about “surge capacity” being depleted? “Surge capacity is a collection of adaptive systems — mental and physical — that humans draw on for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as natural disasters.”

TLDR: early COVID was bearable, in a way, thanks to our surge capacities. But at this point in time - 6 months later (???), we’re not in a “short-term” situation anymore, and we’re not powering through anymore, we’re sustaining. And that’s tough! I related. Worth a read - a reminder that we are very human.

Some highlights of the past month have been:

• I was able to go home for the first time since COVID and soak up some family time.

• I started doing private yoga classes with a teacher I’ve admired / followed for years (hi Kirra!)

• I finally treated myself to a bottle of Ghia (a non-alcoholic apertivo), which is WORTH THE HYPE.

• I registered to vote! Go Biden-Harris.

I was also interested to see that a trendy hotel is opening in Rockaway. It looks gorgeous, and I hope I get to check it out this fall! Anyway, that's really it from me right now. Sendinng you lots of love and sunshine and a great start to September.

Pictures of me with some of my favorite humans (and canine) over the past month below. <3

I am currently trying to stop myself from buying a bunch of skincare products from the HeyDay sale. SWOON.

That's all from me this month. Just checkin in and saying hi. Hope you're great <3