Hi friends!
Apologies for skipping out on last week’s post. It was a hectic week at work that included some work on the weekend, and just left me feeling… depleted. I kept thinking each day that I needed to sit down and write my latest, but alas… it didn’t happen. I have a hunch this week is going to be the same, but hey — it’s officially February! That’s one step closer to more light in the evenings, woo!
((While I was just typing, my husband, who is playing video games — and does read this newsletter — just yelled out, “Oh I see Yoda’s in the house.” 😹 Apparently he’s playing a Star Wars game…))
Anyways, here we are! New month, same us. And so, I thought I’d share a few things that have been on my mind lately:
1.) Social Media Break
Since we rolled into 2022, I’ve been taking the weekend “off” of social media, and specifically Instagram. Every Friday, usually in the late afternoon, I delete the app from my phone, and then Monday, usually in early evening (although sometimes earlier), I add it back on. It’s been sort of…… freeing? Refreshing? I don’t know, but I kind of love it!
The only reason I really add it back during the week is because I have some ongoing messages happening there with friends I don’t get to see or talk to regularly otherwise, and in peak stay-at-home life due to Covid surges, that connection point feels extra important. Otherwise, I feel like Insta has become a big ol’ black hole for me. Like I will just completely lose track of time scrolling, and I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Scary kind of. Does that happen to anyone else?
Anyways, long story short: big fan of deleting social media apps from your phone and taking a breather. It feels good.
2.) Wordle
I feel like no one can shut up about this game lately, but I still haven’t tried it. I feel like you’re either a games person, or you’re not, and I’m just……. not. I mean, I played some computer games when I was in middle school (Oregon Trail, anyone?), but as an adult, not so much. Only exceptions: the mini crossword at the end of the Times’ morning newsletter, and I’m always down for a board game (although that’s a completely different category, if you ask me). For the record, I’ve still never played candy crush, or basically any of the standard cell phone games.
3.) Beach Dog, and Breaking the Bad Habits You Love
My husband took our dog to the beach yesterday, and despite having bad knees (like mother, like dog-ter, apparently), she went whizzing down the sand and in and out of the ocean crest at full speed. Every time they go to the beach, she does this, even though, every time, she is limping by the time she gets back home. But she loves running on the beach so much, that her excitement just overtakes her, you know? I feel like there’s a metaphor in there — that sometimes the things we love bring us pain, and it can be a sign to make some tough decisions.
4.) A Quote
“How we spend our days is how we spend our time.”
Yep, yep.
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That’s it for today! I hope you have a lovely Tuesday, and a bright start to the new month, and remember — you’ve got this. xo
Thanks for reading,
Joelle
The sandy nose cracks me up!! Oh my M!!