“I’m not afraid of getting older. I’m one less day from dying young...” ~Rob Thomas
Shout out to Maria Jones, Adrena Carruthers-Adams, Kristyn Ivey, and Vidya P. for buying me coffees this past week! ☕️ Thank you!
Maria is the founder of Yuva Yoga. She combines her skills in yoga and experience in being chronically ill and helps others realize the magic of chair yoga and access its benefits.
Adrena is a Contracts Manager at Motorola and is a champion for DEI, advocate for emotional wellness, and a Reiki Master.
Kristyn Ivey is the founder of For the Love of Tidy. She is a professional home organizer dedicated to teaching busy families, professionals, and creative entrepreneurs how to let go of “stuff” to attract a truly abundant life.
Vidya is the creator of The Curious Bunch newsletter. You get tools to boost your productivity and insights to be creative at what you do in every issue.
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This past week has been an emotional rollercoaster. I got my first dose of the vaccine on Saturday, which was a bit anxiety-inducing. 😬 The verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial (so much relief) followed closely by the shooting of a 15-year-old girl (wtf) had me all in my feelings. Relief, gratitude, sadness, anger, and overall exhaustion. There is probably some languishing in there as well.
My mid-week birthday was an excellent chance to pause and feel some joy. 🥳 I’ve been in this world for 40 years - which boggles my mind. I still feel like I’m 25 (which works because 40 is the new 25, right?), but of course, my body sometimes reminds me that I'm a tinyyy bit older than that.
Amid everything, I’m so grateful to be alive and in good health. I’m surrounded by so many incredible friends, family, colleagues, and readers. I make an impact with my words, my experiences, my stories. And even though I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, I have found contentment in this life that I have built.
Full disclosure, I have been worried about turning 40 because I kept feeling like I was too late to do many things. But late by whose standards? Who makes the rules? Who decided that life should be figured out by now?
This week’s #lifevibes is a reminder that we get to set our timelines for when we accomplish things. There is no such thing as being behind or too late to do something. We make our own rules. We make our own timelines. So let’s celebrate who we are where we are. And let’s raise our glasses to the people we are becoming. 🥂
We got this. 💪🏾
On to the picks!
P.S. This week’s subject line is inspired by Rob Thomas’s “One Less Day (Dying Young)” and seemed like a great reminder/sentiment to take into this new decade.
P.P.S. Heads up, Alex Franzen is doing Magic May, 30 days of free newsletter tips from professional writers. I signed up. You may like it too. Starts 5/1.
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#loves 😍
📚. Reading: The Other Nadia Bissett. This book was a rollercoaster. This mom has twin girls (Lydia and Nadia) and is struggling to take care of them. Enter a helpful neighbor who comes to help out and then steals one of the babies. Years later, the remaining twin, Nadia, starts asking strange which opens up a whole new mystery that is highly twisty-turny. Spoiler: there is a sequel that’s coming out later this year.
📺. Watching: Cruel Summer. Ok Freeform and Jessica Biel. You know how to make a show. There is a small town mystery involving two teenage girls and their accounts of events that have taken place. Only two episodes have aired so far, and I don’t know who or what to believe, but I need answers. Right now! 😂. Suffice to say I’ll be glued to Hulu every week until this season is over.
🎧. Listening: Broadway Piano Covers. I love listening to tunes when I’m working, but sometimes it’s great to have music with no words. Since I love Broadway, this playlist was right on time. And I like the easy listening aspect of piano covers. Do you have any other fave piano cover playlists?
#reads
My 90-minute workday — sarahavenir.com
I find myself going back to this post every once in a while, especially when I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list.
“The system I developed is very, very simple. The object of the game is to get the “work” (i.e. the stuff that I have to do) finished as quickly as possible. And then I’m free to do whatever I want.”
Sarah’s post is an excellent reminder that you can get a lot done in 15 minutes - if they are focused. And granted, I work longer than 90 minute days. The approach she takes to use that first 90 minutes to make headway on her projects is beneficial.
She also includes other principles that help her with this approach, like checking email twice a day, doing fewer projects, and embracing your free time.
39 Things We Wish We'd Realized Sooner — creativemornings.com
What is something you know now, but wish you had realized sooner?
This was such a good read for me this week. Some favorites:
Embrace the weird.
Be gentle with yourself.
Ask, “Does this fill me up?”
Build space into your schedule.
Make space for the people and things that you love.
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick was: 3 Tips for Being More Confident in 15 seconds.
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#lifevibes
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Thank you Adrena, Vidya, Kristyn, Danielle, Keryn, Terry, Vanessa, Meredith, Lauren, Meg, Maria J., Chivon, Kim, Luciano, Colie, Chasity, Laurie, Latienda, Collette, Anne, Kristen, Liz, Katherine, Monale, Betsy, Melissa, Lindsay, Jennifer, Kayla, Madison, Rae, Stephanie, Christine R., Christine M., Frances, Hannah, Chris, Brandy, Mea, Kristian, Maria K. Avery, Adam, Barbara, Shenee, Desiree, Lisa, Kandice, L'Oreal, and LaVerne for being #jesspicks supporters!! ❤️
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