Brightsiding Brain Food

Greetings from the Lower East Side. I hope wherever this reaches you, you’re safe, warm, and soaking up the final stretch of summer!

Last week, I reflected on my feelings around turning 30. Thank you for all the Leo season wishes!

Since then, I’ve crossed a few major 30th-bday-countdown items off my list, like doing sidewalk chalk in Washington Square Park (thank you for joining, Tara!!!), taking my Grandma to the mall, and learning my barista’s name (Tyler!). Next up: Uno Night at 169 Bar this Tuesday!

I haven’t had much focused sit-down-writing time this week, but I have been reading a lot and letting my mind digest all of the delicious content I’ve been consuming. Doesn’t it feel so good just to turn over an article or podcast in your head for a few days?

Today, I’m sharing 10 things that have made me think lately; I hope you enjoy. 

XO, Bogs 

Ten Things That Have Made Me Think

1. I often think about the body-dysmorphia I experience as a result of being A Person That’s Very Online. The difference between a photo I post on Instagram and my actual experience moving around the physical world can be quite disorienting, and I know I’m not the only person who feels this way. This reflection by Catherine Shannon explored this beautifully, and I recommend reading her piece “Your Phone is Why You Don’t Feel Sexy.”  

2. This Russell Crowe profile was surprisingly captivating. As someone who constantly feels like I need to justify my pleasure with pain … or somehow prove that I’ve “earned” my joy (Catholic conditioning, much?) I loved what he said about happiness: 

   1.  “I’ve been unreasonably happy for most of my life. I know that bothers some people, but that’s just not my problem. I pursue creatively and artistically what I want to do, and I have done that for probably about 35 years, you know? I do it unapologetically.” 

3. This profile of Asmeret Berhe-Lumax (founder of One Love Community Fridge) in Family Style was a timely and inspiring read. I’ve been reflecting a lot on “ambition” (both my own, and ambition as a concept), and it served as a great reminder not to overlook what’s right in front of you while you chase your dreams.

   1. “Everyone wants to change the world,” says Berhe-Lumax, who in addition to serving as a county committee member of her New York neighborhood of Clinton Hill is also the co-founder of Black Beauty Club. “We think about the bigness, and we forget about our own front yard, backyard, and next door neighbor.” 

4. “Should” is my least favorite word these days. Jason Feifer offered a great mindset shift about how you can leave “should” at the door and instead focus on what you CAN (and, more importantly, want) to do in a recent newsletter. 

   1. “You have certain skills. You followed a certain path. Maybe people expect certain things from you. There’s a lot you “should” do next — but those things don’t excite you.

      … All work earns you a ticket — which is to say, you earn the freedom to pursue new opportunities.”

5. I’ve been watching every Chappel Roan interview I can get my hands on lately. I loved this Q&A with her stylist, Genesis Webb, for Dua Lipa’s newsletter Service 95. Chappel shouts her out often, and I especially loved Genesis’ reflection on her creative process: 

   1. “My Creative Process… Is wholeheartedly intuitive. I often create a headspace of tumult to put myself in a place where I have no choice but to decide without excessive thought. I like to allow the spirit to flow the way it needs to without my ego involved.”

6. I haven’t been watching a ton of Olympics content, but I LOVE following Sky Brown, the 15-year-old skateboarder competing for Great Britain. She aspires to be the first athlete to compete in both surfing and skateboarding at the Olympics someday, which I 100% believe she will do. Also, I loved this roundup of the Best-Dressed celebs at the Olympics.

7. Did you know Solange has a glassware line? Her Apartamento feature last year left a huge mark on me, and I’ve really enjoyed learning more about her company, Saint Heron, over the past few weeks.

8. I stumbled upon this old episode of the RobCast, and I can’t stop thinking about it. He explores the difference between ownership and possession - using one of his favorite art pieces as an example. He says that, of course, he doesn’t own his favorite piece (a Richard Serra sculpture), but in a way, he feels he possesses it - the experience of being moved by it, the way it makes him feel. It made me think about my childhood home - which I sometimes worry I’ll never stop missing - in a new light. Just because my family doesn’t own it anymore doesn’t mean I’ll ever lose possession of my experience growing up there.

9. I won’t shut up about SwipeWipe, an app designed to gamify the cleaning out of your camera roll. It’s the only daily “streak” I care to maintain, and it’s so fun! It basically functions like a dating app; every day you look back on photos you’ve taken on that date, then swipe left for photos you want to get rid of and right for those you want to keep. Highly recommend.

10. And finally, this beautiful Howard Zinn quote, courtesy of my favorite person on the internet, Tina Roth Eisenberg of SwissMiss.

    1. “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

       What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

       And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
       ― Howard Zinn

I swear to God, I’d give up my entire closet to exist solely in this Prada mini-dress. To any of my DePop/TheRealReal sorceresses out there (and I know you’re out there!) - I’m a 38 😉