The July 2020 Edit: Midsummer, Covid Era
Reposting from sydneysolon.com
Damn - it's really midsummer. I've been keeping busy, juggling a couple jobs, decorating my apartment, and catching up on reading. It has been a hard couple of months. But life, as it does, is slowly returning back to normal. I've had the time to slow down, decompress, and find what sparks little joys for me. Unsurprisingly, it’s a mixture of books and shopping. I mean, i'm a product marketer. Anyways - here are some things that have made my July a bit more joyful - after spending time with friends after time apart.
Books + Reading
Francesca, Ezra Pound: Taking a poetry workshop in college was the best thing I've ever done. Poetry isn't just touchy-feely - it's an art form steeped in history and used across cultures and languages. Ezra Pound, American poet, is considered the father of modernism. His imagery is sharp, concrete, but at the same time vulnerable and self confessional.
You came in out of the night
And there were flowers in your hands,
Now you will come out of a confusion of people,
Out of a turmoil of speech about you.
I who have seen you amid the primal things
Was angry when they spoke your name
In ordinary places.
I would that the cool waves might flow over my mind,
And that the world should dry as a dead leaf,
Or as a dandelion seed-pod and be swept away,
So that I might find you again,
Alone.
The Enchidrion, Epictetus: These last few months have been difficult and confusing. I've tried to make sense of it all, play it over and over in my head, but the more I try to think about it, the less it makes sense. My first flirtation with Stoicist philosophy began when I was abroad, feeling lonely and defeated. Now the meditations of Epictetus take on a beautiful new meaning. And they teach us that certain things are not within our control and therefore not worth mental anguish.
VIII. Seek not the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.
How Exercise May Bolster The Brain, New York Times: Going on walks in New Hampshire was guided mainly by desire to be in nature and also distract myself from my boredom. And while we all know this, its worth the reminder: exercise is good for you mentally as much as it physically. If you've taken a psychology course, you're likely to have encountered Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. Gardner theorizes that intelligence exists in different 8 mediums, Mathematical, Linguistic, Musical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Naturalist, Interpersonal, and Intra-personal. Take time to stretch the brain today, it is a muscle. Get that bodily-kinesthetic intelligence pumping.
Music
Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers: Phoebe's sophomore album takes all that was good about Stranger In The Alps and makes it better. She's vulnerable, universal, but at the same time she weaves in details that make her storytelling so specific to her. For fans of Mitski, Faye Webster, Lucy Dacus, she's for you. You can check out some more reviews on Tunestack.
Cut Me, Moses Sumney: Sumney's græ album is excellence - but Cut Me strikes a cord. Spacious and soulful, it feels like a walk through a waterfall.
Fashion + Accessories
Thousand Fell Shoes: Am I biased because I work with TF? Yes. But I can honestly say these are the best white sneakers I've had - they're comfortable, oops-proof (water resistant), and the biggest value-add of all is that they're fully recyclable. Chloe and Stuart, co-founders of TF, are working to end textile waste and forge a new circular economy. I firmly believe that most things can be thrifted, but shoes are special. They need to know your feet and they're the first thing that touches the earth on your body. Invest in a good pair.
Baggu Reusable Bags: CVS charges a fee for plastic bags. In Europe, this is standard for every storefront. NYC, get with the program. Baggu reusable bags make your trip to Trader Joe's a little more fashionable. Canvas bags, because I'm clumsy, really get spilled on and sat on and go through a lot. With Baggu, the tote is easy to clean and comes in a bunch of cute colors and patterns.
Beauty + Personal Care
Ole Henriksen Phat Glow Facial Mask: I mean, we're getting older everyday. Never too young to start thinking about anti-aging, but where Phat Glow makes it fun is that you literally feel like you just got a Hadid-eque facelift. Packed with actives such as PHA, which is great for reducing irritation and redness in sensitive skin. Honestly, I've been using my mom's because its a pretty penny, but it's worth it.
