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]]>Hola! Hi! I kind of owe you an explanation about why I haven’t posted in a while. So let me catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I’ve recently become a mother (yay! / surprise!) and I honestly spent my pregnancy feeling exhausted. I didn’t have the energy levels to balance my work life as well as my personal life and my blog. I haven’t even had the energy to listen, watch, read or be creative these days so there wasn’t much for me to write about anyway. I spent all my free time sleeping and I doubt my naps are of interest to anyone (despite my vivid pregnancy dreams!)
I had a relatively easy pregnancy until I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, other than the tiredness, I am thankful I had a healthy pregnancy throughout. However, in the third trimester, all the aches and pains hit me. I dealt with all sorts of back pain (sciatica, lumbago, neck/shoulder pain, hip pain…) you name it, I had it. This meant I was never comfortable in one position for too long. It also meant my sleep was awful so I had to take several naps a day. My best friend told me that the last trimester pains are your body’s way of trying to get you ready for when the baby comes. “By the last weeks of pregnancy, no matter how scared you are of giving birth, you are so ready for that baby to come out of your body”, she told me. Let me tell you she is not wrong. By the time my baby came, I was partially trained to be sleep-deprived. The thing is, I can’t take as many naps any more to make up for it so it makes it harder to function in my day to day.
In any case, what does this mean for this blog? I’m still figuring that one out myself. What I do know this won’t become a mommy blog. I don’t plan to even reveal my baby’s face. However, surely some motherhood content will seep through, as being a mom is part of my life now.
Admittedly, I probably won’t be posting as consistently as I would like to for a while. Considering I’ve been on a year-long hiatus that doesn’t mean much I, know. However, I promise I don’t want to let a long stretch go on like that without writing.
I guess my intention is to keep sharing what I love. I also want to keep learning to live a simpler life and sharing that experience with you. Especially now that I have just made my life a little less simple by adding a new member to my family. Last but not least, I want to keep talking about making room for what matters and what that looks like for me now.
They say when you become a mother, you kind of need to find yourself again. It’s not that you no longer are who you used to be. It’s just that you now have this little human that takes up so much of your mental space, attention, energy and love that it makes it hard to be 100% who you used to be in the past. You need to readjust a little. Not only is there a little bit of a mourning going on for the person you used to be, there’s also an excitement of this new person you are becoming. This results in a kind of internal battle that’s sad, exciting and, at times, frustrating.
In short, I’m sure part of this battle will show throughout my content from now on. I hope it’s as useful for you to read about as it is for me to write.
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]]>Hi there! Long time no write. I know, I’ve had a lot of stuff going on. Unfortunately, I will actually have quite a few things on my plate until… at least August. This is why I haven’t been on here much. I’ll try to do better, I promise. I missed writing these!
So surprisingly, winter has come and gone. I’m writing this on the day I lost an hour of sleep due to daylight savings. I hate it when that happens. It makes me really cranky. So I’m writing this post in order to cheer myself up. These are all things that have made me happy this past winter. Without any further ado, pleas find MY WINTER 2021/2022 FAVORITES.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Rosalías “MOTOMAMI” came out just a few weeks ago, almost in time for spring, but I needed to include it in this list. To be completely honest, at first I wasn’t really sure about this album with the singles she released. After the beautiful conceptual album “El mal querer”, I expected something equally as deep and meaningful with her new work.
Needless to say, SAOKO and CHICKEN TERIYAKI where neither of these things. Truthfully, they seemed too silly for me. However after listening to the whole album, understanding it and getting into the MOTOMAMI mood… I really love it. It’s so playful, and at times silly, yes! But it’s also experimental, fun and so empowering! SAOKO ended up growing on me. I walk down the street while listening to it and feel like a badass. And does CHICKEN TERIYAKI sound like she’s randomly naming Japanese food? Yes. Still, I have to admit I don’t EVER skip it and I can’t help but bop to it every time it comes on. My favorite song in the album is BIZCOCHITO, though. Other top songs include LA FAMA, CANDY, BULERÍAS, SAKURA and LA COMBI VERSACE.
Florence + The Machine is also back. Goddess I missed her! It’s funny because both Florence + the Machine and Rosalía were probably my last concerts before the pandemic started. It feels great to hear these women come up with new work just as things slowly seem to be getting better and we’re going back to normal. Her two new singles King and My Love are just what I needed from her and make me excited for her new album, “Dance Fever” on May 13th. It’ll definitely be a belated birthday present for me!
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I haven’t discovered any new shows lately. I’ve been simply catching up on “Servant” (Tony Basgallop, 2019-?) and “Euphoria” (Sam Levinson, 2019-?). I also just finished watching “Friends” (David Crane & Martha Kaufman, 1994-2004) from start to finish for the 4th time. I have to admit that I tried watching “The Witcher” (2019-?) and honestly, it was not for me. I thought I would like it because I needed my fantasy fix. Turns out I didn’t. I’m now on the lookout for new fantasy shows while I wait for “Shadow and Bone” Season 2 (Eric Heisserer, 2021 -?). Any recommendations?
But you want to know what was for me? “Turning Red” (Domee Shi, 2022)! This was such a beautiful film. I loved it so much! Actually, I found it deals with many of the themes that were dealt in in “Encanto” (Jared Bush, Byron Howard & Charise Castro Smith, 2021) but I liked it much better. I find it’s better rounded up, it’s sweet, it’s feminine, it has so much love in it. And can we talk about the music? 4 Town is my kind of band and I love that Billie and Finneas created all the songs! No hate to the “Encanto” music though. I was also bopping to “We don’t talk about Bruno”. But please listen to this and tell me this doesn’t make you flashback to early 2000’s.
Last but not least: “Petite Maman” (Céline Sciamma, 2021) is such a delicate and enchanting film. It’s a film that could only be told by a female writer/director. I loved this jewel of a film so much and I want to recommend it to everybody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdORAHCydyY
WHAT I’M READING
Recently, I haven’t been reading much, I must admit. Well, maybe that’s not technically true. I’ve been reading for a personal project I’m working on. More on that soon. But nothing I would recommend as of now. Do the Vogue magazines I end up using for collages count?
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
There is a personal project I don’t feel comfortable sharing yet. Mostly, though, I’m currently working on moving! Haha! Yep, that’s one of the reasons I haven’t been on here much. Finding a new flat and moving is no joke! I found the flat and I’m now in the process of moving which is incredibly stressful, exciting and scary at the same time.
I’ve also been working on collages. We did a couple of collages during Creative Fuel (hosted by Anna Brones) and I had so much fun doing them, I now collect all kinds of magazines for my new projects. It’s so much fun!
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]]>Fall has come and almost gone, so it’s time for my fall 2021 favorites. These past months have been a bit weird for me emotionally, to be honest. I haven’t been reading as much as I want. I also haven’t been watching anything that particularly blew my mind, either. Still, there have been some things I’ve been catching up on that have made my life easier. Without any further ado, here are my fall 2021 favorites. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
It’s “Red”, season, “Babe”. You know it “All Too Well” (see what I did there?). Taylor’s rerecording of this iconic album is something I’ve been waiting for a long time. “Red” is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums and I couldn’t wait to find out how the re-record would sound. Of course, it didn’t disappoint. How could it? It included “All Too Well” (10 minute version) and it’s a masterpiece. Her performance on SNL of this song is one in my top 10 Taylor performances as well.
I’ve also been listening to Maisie Peters’ album “You Signed Up For This”, and I love it so much. It’s very eighties at times but it also reminds me of early Lily Allen and Chvrches. I think “Psycho” is my favorite song. It’s such a bop.
Finally, Halsey’s “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” is an incredible record. It’s so emotionally complex and incredibly powerful. She wrote while being pregnant with her first child and during the pandemic. I highly suggest you also watch her interview with Zane Lowe where she talks about the making of this album. At one point she says that to her, this album was a means to get everything off her chest that she wouldn’t be able to say once she became somebody’s mom and I really think this idea completely encapsulates the intricacy of this album.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Like I said, I haven’t been watching much these past months. I think one of the only highlights is the second season of “Ted Lasso” (Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence, 2020). This sophomore season felt very different from the first, though. Every episode in season 1 lasted about 30 minutes and was mostly comedy. Even though “Ted Lasso” wasn’t a sitcom, we could say it felt mostly “sitcom-y”.
Season 2, however, showed more creative leeway. Episodes were sometimes almost an hour long and this longer format allowed for deeper character analysis and more drama. Every episode no longer felt like the warm hug it used to feel like. They were more complex. This doesn’t mean “Ted Lasso” isn’t a feel-good show anymore. It still is. It’s just that some darker themes were explored this season that could sometimes make you feel slightly uncomfortable… before you got to that warm hug.
I personally think Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly and Bill Lawrence (the creators of the show) took a necessary and brave step when writing season 2. Seeing the issues they wanted to tackle in the show, it was clear that the season 1 format wouldn’t cut it. Thirty minute episodes didn’t allow as much room for in-depth character exploration which could end up making the show feel plain, superficial and even parody-esque. A longer format was the correct answer to this problem and I’m sure it will offer us an incredible season 3 as well.
Additionally, I’ve also been re-watching “Dawson’s Creek” (Kevin Williamson, 1998-2003). Don’t ask me why, but rewatching 90’s shows is very comforting to me. I guess they remind me of easier times. “Midnight Mass” (2021), Mike Flanagan’s most recent series is also a fall highlight. Although I didn’t enjoy it as much as “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020), it still had some incredible scenes and episodes. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched. You’ve been warned… STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED IT YET. One of my favorite things about the show was how it was a vampire show yet it didn’t utter the word vampire. Not even once. Also that death scene. And that ending. That freaking amazing ending was incredible.
WHAT I’M READING
I’m reading “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport. It’s an interesting read. The tricky thing, however, is finding a way of putting it into practice. The same goes for the second book I’m reading, “Simply Living Well” by Julia Watkins. As you know, I’ve been trying to slowly get into slow living. This book has many tips, tricks and recipes to lead a low-waste household. It’s a lovely book with great ideas and lovely pictures. I love jumping through it and getting inspired but, to be honest, it can be hard to find the time to get to some of the recipes. It can be frustrating at times but I have to keep telling myself: slow-living is not all or nothing. Do what works for you. Maybe you’re not the kind of person who can bake her bread every day but maybe you can do it on the weekends. These tiny steps help me live a gentler, simpler life.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
My wonderful friend and incredibly talented artist Roshni (@roshnirobert on Instagram), invited me to “Creative Fuel” Workshop and I can honestly say it’s been one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had in a long time. A few of us meet over zoom just to chat and create whatever the prompt of the day is. It is organized by Jam Collective (@jamcollective on Instagram) and led by the magical Anna Brones (@annabrones on Instagram). I’m so glad I get to meet these talented women for an hour a week. It’s a moment for socializing, creating and laughing. I can honestly say it has helped me through some hard times these past month.
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]]>I know, I know, life can be overwhelming. Most of us are constantly busy and overly stressed. Sometimes it’s due to factors we can’t control, but others… it’s a itty bit our fault. There are many ways we van make our lives easier, more wholesome… simpler. Don’t know where to start? Here are 5 steps you can take to lead a simpler life.
1. CLEAN UP YOUR PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL SPACE
A clean and clear space helps with a clean and clear mind and that leads to a simpler life. It’s important that you don’t only organize your physical space (home, office…). You also need to declutter your digital space (phone, computer, tablet), as you spend a great deal of your time on there too. This might seem like an arduous task but it’s honestly the first step in leading a simpler life. Trust me on this one.
For my home, I’m personally a fan of Marie Kondo’s decluttering method. In short, you go through each one of your possessions. You hold each one in your hand and ask yourself if it brings you joy. If it doesn’t, you donate, recycle, sell or throw away. Once you’re done with the decluttering process, you find a home for everything that you decide to keep: a particular shelf on the kitchen, a tray on your hallway shelf… whatever it is, everything should have its space.
As for your digital space, it’s easy: delete any apps that you no longer use or that don’t serve you. Use this opportunity to also delete any pictures or files you don’t need. Then make sure to think about how you can use your phone more efficiently. Should you change your main page configuration, for example? Finally, while you’re at it, why not back up your phone/computer or tablet? You know you’ve been meaning to for a while now. You’ll thank me later.
2. BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU CONSUME
This is of course the logical step after step 1. Remember how hard the decluttering process was, right? You don’t want to go through it again, right? I get it. The trick is being more mindful of what you bring into your space (both digital and physical).
Buy less things. Make sure those things you do purchase bring you joy. If you bring something new into your home, maybe think about throwing away/donating/recycling something.
When I talk about being mindful of what you consume, I’m not only talking about what you purchase and bring into your space. It’s also about what we put into our minds. I know you’ve already decluttered your phone, but think about how much screen time you spend every day. Do you feel like that’s a good use of your time? How much time do you spend reading breaking news, scrolling through social media or watching Netflix? Maybe you can take some steps so that you can use your phone less. Maybe you check social media on your computer once a day and remove them from your phone, for example. The idea here is to be conscious about when and for how long we allow ourselves to be numbed by entertainment. Or when you do consume entertainment, to do so mindfully.
Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels
3. FIND A HOBBY
Any activity that drags you away from a screen works for this category. Also, remember: a hobby is something you do for fun, regardless of the end result. This might be obvious to some of you, but it’s something that can get lost in this era of keeping ourselves busy and productive. Essentially, a hobby is an activity you take up because you enjoy the process. You don’t need to have a goal in mind when practicing it. Instead, make sure you schedule some time in your day to practice your hobby. Say you like reading, for example. I don’t think you need to set a goal where you you want to read X books a year. Instead, I feel it’s healthier to make time every day for you to be able to read. It can be 10 minutes or 2 hours. Whatever you need. Having a hobby will help you disconnect and recharge, so you need to prioritize it. I honestly feel like having a hobby is a form of self-care.
For me, I just discovered I really enjoy cooking. I’m by no means an expert. However, cooking relaxes me and I have so much fun doing it. Plus, I get to prepare cool new meals for me and my boyfriend every week. I really love Allison Roman’s recipes. I have both her books and love checking her YouTube Channel. She has a great energy, makes me laugh and gives amazing tips for cooking.
4. SET BOUNDARIES
Basically, this all comes down to learning to say no. I know, I know. This one can be a toughie. I’ll be honest and say I have trouble with this one too, but I’m working on it.
But seriously, think about it. You’ve cleaned your space, started being mindful about what you bring into your life and have found a hobby that brings you joy. The next step you need to take is to protect you time and energy. So if you don’t feel like going out, say no. If someone is draining you and not bringing you joy, learn to distance yourself from them.
Start by thinking about your life. Think about what makes you happy, what you’re ok with and what drains you. Learn to set boundaries with what drains you. Think about those things you’re simply “ok” with and see if you can substitute them for something better. Make time for what makes you happy and protect that time.
5. MEDITATE (WHATEVER THAT MEANS TO YOU
I’m a big fan of meditation, even though I might not be the most consistent person. And it’s a shame because it’s when I start doing it consistently, that I start noticing changes in myself. I feel more aware of intrusive thoughts. I am more conscious of my anxiety triggers, and while this doesn’t mean I don’t suffer from anxiety, it does mean it helps me catch myself before I spiral out of control. Imagine how helpful it would be if I actually did it every day?
So you see, meditation is incredibly helpful in leading a simpler life because it helps feeling centered, listening to yourself, your body and intuition. It is essential in this world we live in where we are constantly bombarded by external messages. However, I know conventional meditation is not for everyone. I get that. But I feel like meditation can look differently in other people. Maybe practicing Yoga is your form of meditation or maybe it’s your weekend hike or even that nice hot shower you take in the morning.
As long as you are conscious in your body and your mind and not thinking about your to-do list or your job or that cute bag you want to buy, you’re meditating. Take at least 10 minutes a day to meditate. Breathe in, breathe out. Feel your body, calm your mind.
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]]>If you know me, you know I love Taylor Swift. Not only is she an incredibly talented and hard-working artist, she also seems to be a genuinely kind person. Additionally, she’s an incredible business woman and an outstanding creative. I discovered her music around the the “Red” (2012) era, and became a full-fledged Swiftie during “1989” (2014). I’ve followed her through good and bad and I like to think she has taught myself and her fans a few valuable life lessons along the way. Even if you don’t like Taylor Swift (I mean, what the hell is wrong with you?!?! But, whatever.) I really think you can take these 7 life lessons from Taylor Swift with you in your every day life.
1. REDUCING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA
Taylor Swift disappeared from the media spotlight and from social media in 2016, right after the whole Kanye West/Kim Kardashian debacle. She needed time to heal, to reprioritize her life.
Before that incident, Taylor had been quite present on social media. When she felt ready to return, however, she took a much more measured approach to these tools. It all started when she cleared all her social media history in order to prepare us for “reputation” (2017). What a wild time that was, mind you. I remember her first 3 posts being that scary-ass snake. It was a crazy time for us fans. Anyway, I digress…
With her comeback, Taylor also made a clear decision: to reduce her social media presence. She now mostly uses it for album announcements, sharing pictures from her concerts, staying in touch with her fans every once in a while and, of course, supporting political causes that are important to her. That’s mostly it. And you know what, I love it. I admire her for it. I love that she’s keeping her private life, private. After being in the spotlight for so long, this is a big power move on her part. It’s as if she were saying: “You know what? You’ve had enough of my private life. This is mine and mine only. You’ll only know about what you need to know about”. I think Taylor doing this also provides a great example for her younger fans. I believe teenage girls today have a tendency to overshare and emotionally depend on social media. Taylor taking this stance is showing young girls that they need to live their life, outside of social media.
2. HOW TO BUILD A CASTLE OUT OF ALL THE BRICKS THEY THROW AT YOU
In the “1989” bonus track “New Romantics” Taylor sang:
“‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me”
In 2016, Taylor was thrown some really nasty bricks. However, as Andrea Swift said in “Miss Americana” (Lana Wilson, 2020), Taylor took that shit and made something of it. She built that castle. That castle’s name was “reputation”. I can’t tell you how much that album means for me. It’s my favorite Taylor Swift album not only because I love the music in it, but also because of what that album meant, comeback-wise. I love that Taylor Swift was called a snake and she took that symbol and made it part of her brand. That is a freaking power move and I’m here for it.
To me, “reputation” is meaningful because it’s Taylor practicing what she preached in “New Romantics”. It’s her reclaiming her power. It’s her saying: “Oh, you think I’m a snake? Sure, Look at me, I’m the Queen of snakes! What else have you got?”
“reputation” is not about Taylor lashing out, though. Nope. “reputation” to me is “Blank Space” 2.0. There’s a lot of satire. It’s her saying: “Oh you think I’m a bad girl? Sure, I can do that!” and she does it throughout half the album. But as it advances, the layers peel off and she becomes vulnerable, kind and everything Taylor has always stood for. It’s a beautiful album and a brilliant exercise. And again, it’s an amazing example to young girls and telling them: you can come back from bad times. People can only hurt you as much as you let them hurt you. Just keep doing the work. Keep working on your art.
3. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US WOMEN TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER
Taylor promotes emerging female artists. She sends flowers to artists who manage to surpass her in the charts. In her song “You need to calm down” she criticized an industry which tends to pit women against each other. And in her “Woman of the Decade” speech at Billboard’s Women in Music in 2019 she stood up for herself and for all the women in the music industry. She stood up for Simone Biles during the Olympics and the American female soccer team. Women supporting women is important and I love that she does it.
4. WORK HARD AND STAND UP FOR YOUR WORK
Taylor Swift has been working hard on her craft for many years. She has proven herself over and over again. Whether you like her music or not, one thing’s for certain: she’s an incredibly hard-working woman and she is incredibly resilient.
I greatly admire her for her work ethic and I’ve never been as proud of her as when she confirmed she would be re-recording her masters. When she first announced that her masters had beed sold to Scooter Braun, I was heartbroken. However, when she shared she was going to re-record her albums I screamed. I couldn’t believe it, I was so incredibly happy. And it had me thinking about myself and my own work ethic. Personally, I consider myself a hard worker, but I have to say, I do get overwhelmed when any sign of conflict comes my way. Seeing Taylor overcome her adversities motivates me to do the same. I mean let’s get real, imagine if you’d spent a long time working on a project and suddenly “lost it”, for whatever reason. I don’t know about you, but it would be very hard for me to find the stamina to work on it again. To start over. But seeing Taylor Swift care so much about her music, motivates me to do the same. Your work matters, what you leave behind you matters. Make sure it’s yours. Make sure you have power over your work.
Moreover, Taylor stands up for musician’s rights. Ever since the Scooter Braun debacle, she has spoken out about the importance of musicians owning their work. Not only that, when she signed her deal with Universal Music Group and Republic Records, she asked her label to hand over to artists (not just her, ALL ARTISTS), on a non-recoupable basis, a portion of any sale of their shares. I love that she uses her power to fight for other musicians’ rights.
5. BEING SENSITIVE IS A SUPERPOWER
“I want to still have a sharp pen and a thin skin and an open heart” (Taylor Swift)
What I love about this quote from Taylor from “Miss Americana” is that I feel it sums up her superpower neatly. It’s what makes her one of the greatest songwriters of all time. She’s incredibly in tune with her own emotions. She knows how to put those emotions into words, and she doesn’t let hard experiences toughen her up. Quite the opposite, they open her eyes to new points of view, and different ways of experiencing situations. I think the fact that she has journaled her whole life has made her really attune with her emotions. It has helped with her self-reflection and with her ability to convey emotionally difficult situations through song. It’s important for people to know that being sensitive is not a weakness. Don’t listen to those people who tell you you need to toughen up. Being sensitive is a superpower.
6. YOU ARE NOT JUST ONE THING
In “Miss Americana”, Taylor also says: “I want to wear pink and tell you how I feel about politics. And I don’t think that those things have to cancel each other out.” Many of us try to fit into one box. We’re either the artistic type or the rational type, for example. You pick a lane, you stick to it, and you make it part of your identity. Don’t you dare change lanes or you’re flaky and nobody will take you seriously ever again, right? WRONG!
This just isn’t true. We can be all things at once and they don’t need to cancel each other out. It has taken me a long time to understand this, and I must admit, it’s something I’m still working on putting into practice. I’ve always been the serious, quiet, rational and hard-working type, which makes me shy about showing my blog. It makes me uneasy to share something I created, where I show my imperfections, geeky tastes and voice my opinions. As I write this, I realize I still have close acquaintances I haven’t shared my blog with. See? I told you it’s something I’m still working on. This has to change.
7. HATERS ARE GONNA HATE (AND ALL THEY’LL EVER BE IS MEAN).
Taylor Swift always has songs for the haters and bullies of the world. And it’s those songs that help me get over the difficult people around me. “Mean” is an amazing song that always makes me happy. I just love the fact that everything she sang in that song became true:
“Someday, I’ll be living in a big old city
And all you’re ever gonna be is mean
Someday, I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever gonna be is mean”
If those lyrics don’t motivate you to follow your dreams, no matter what the haters say, I don’t know what will. You need to remember: haters are gonna hate, hate, hate and you just need to shake it off, shake it off (Whoo-hoo-hoo).
These are the 7 life lessons I’ve learned from Taylor Swift throughout the years. I’m sure as I follow her journey for the many years to come, I will learn many more from this wise and incredible artist.
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]]>Creativity is an essential part of our lives, but sometimes, we find ourselves lacking. Why is that? Well, it might have something to do with our bad habits. I don’t know about you, but I often found myself in the same rut. I woke up and got on my phone. Then I worked 9 hours. Then, after my work day, I would jump on my phone again and scroll through social media. After that, it’s dinner time while watching a show. Then I went to bed and wake up next morning only to do the same thing all over again. Nothing very stimulating about that routine, right? Actually, sometimes it can feel kind of draining, huh? That’s why I’m slowly transitioning into a different life-style. In any case, it’s no wonder we often find ourselves uninspired and unmotivated. But guys, there is hope. I’ve been trying different things this summer and I’ve found different ways to help you press your reset button. In this post, I’ll be sharing 5 activities to help spark your creativity. These are ways to help you disconnect from your bad habits and reconnect with yourself. Who knows? You may even discover a hobby. Without any further ado, here are 5 activities to help spark your creativity.
1.- WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
You heard me: get down and dirty while cooking, baking, gardening or creating pottery. You can also dedicate yourself to cleaner activities, such as knitting, sowing, painting or drawing. Take up any activity that gets you working with your hands and you end up creating something. It doesn’t have to be something good. The idea is to start and finish something you made with your own hands. There’s something very grounding and enriching about creating something from scratch. To me, it can be a form of meditation. Enjoy the process, be proud of yourself, no matter the result.
If you can, I highly suggest for you to dedicate yourself 100% to the activity you chose. No music or podcast. No background TV show. Feel what you’re doing. Concentrate on it. Smell whatever you’re cooking. Feel the texture of whatever you’re knitting. Smell the earth you are moving around. Whatever it is, be present. Feel it. Feel it all.
2.- GO FOR A WALK IN NATURE
Escape wherever you can. Maybe it’s a park, maybe it’s a short trail along a small forest. Maybe it’s a three-day-long hiking trail up on a mountain. Whatever you chose, use this chance to reconnect with nature. Again, I suggest you don’t multitask here. No music, no podcasts. Listen to nature. Hear the wind rustling through the trees. Listen to the birds. Smell the fresh air. Listen to the insects. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.
3.- WRITE YOUR MORNING PAGES
What are morning pages, you may ask? They are three handwritten pages which, as their name clearly indicates, you write in the morning, not long after waking up, before starting your day. On these pages, you write down your thoughts, worries and ideas. Whatever comes to mind, you write it down. It doesn’t matter if it’s a trascendental epiphany or if it’s your shopping list. If it’s currently taking up space in your mind, you need to write it down. These pages don’t have to be pretty. Don’t fuss over your penmanship. Don’t worry about grammar, don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you might read over your old morning pages and they won’t make sense to you. They don’t have to. The idea is to get rid of all the “noise” in your head so that you can face your day fresh and ready for your creative process. Once you “dump” all of your thoughts and worries into your morning pages, the idea is that you are ready for your creative process to begin and you can dedicate yourself more fully to whatever you set your mind to. This idea comes from Julia Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way”, which I highly recommend.
4.- BOARD GAME NIGHT
How long has it been since you last played board games? Do you even have a deck of cards at home? No? You should! Play chess with your partner. Play Catan with your family or Monopoly with your flat mates. Live alone and need to social distance? How about game nigh over zoom with your friends? Board games are fun, tactile and they stimulate our minds in different ways. Plus, I feel the human interaction while playing these games is good for the soul. It’s nice to communicate without likes and GIFs for a change, right?
Nothing against video games but board games just hit differently and I feel like they’re not as beloved anymore. I feel like board games need to make a comeback, so here’s my small contribution for them to become more popular once again.
5.- DECLUTTER, CLEAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE
I know, I know. This one doesn’t sound as fun, does it? But it’s an incredibly useful activity to stimulate your creativity. I’m not kidding. Take a look at all your possessions. Is there anything that is no longer serving you? Donate it, sell it, throw it away. Clean your space. Maybe open a window while you do it. Reorganize anything that needs reorganizing. Make it so that all your belongings have a place where they belong in your home, as Marie Kondo says in “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
Clutter in your space means clutter in your mind. So make sure you set dates to reevaluate everything you have. As we grow, we change. Some things that brought us joy a few years ago may no longer do so. They might even be the reason you feel stuck. Get rid of it and feel the weight from your unwanted possessions be lifted from your shoulders.
These are 5 activities that have worked for me when I feel stuck in a negative rut. They help me clear my head and get in a better mood. I hope these activities can help you too. Practice these activities to spark your creativity. They’re tools to reboot your body and mind. i hope they are as helpful to you as they are to me. If you have any other activity you do to hit your own reset button, feel free to share on my Instagram or Twitter.
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]]>The post HOW TO WATCH FILMS AND TV SHOWS MINDFULLY appeared first on Bea Escolar.
]]>I feel like watching movies or a show has recently gotten a bad rep. It’s a mindless activity you do to evade your problems or to procrastinate. It’s a shame, really, because I think watching a show or a movie can be a mindful experience for anyone. And you don’t need to be watching a Godard film for this experience to be meaningful. You can be watching the silliest reality show ever. As long as you are present and enjoying what you’re watching, I see the viewing experience as an opportunity to practice mindful media consumption. Here’s a few tips on how to watch films and TV shows mindfully.
STOP TRYING TO WATCH IT ALL
We have a large media catalogue at the tip of our fingers. Every week, there’s a new film or show out that everyone must watch. It can feel overwhelming.
I think it’s important for us to take a step back and see what shows or films are for us. For example, I didn’t think “Bridgerton” was for me. However I forced myself to watch it because everyone else wouldn’t stop talking about it. Turns out, I was right. Not for me. It’s OK. I simply stopped watching half-way through. And you should do the same. Feel free to stop watching a film or show if it’s no longer serving you. Whether you are 10 minutes or 7 seasons in, I don’t care. Your time is precious, especially your free time. Be sure that the content you’re watching is making you happy. If it’s not, then find something better to watch or do.
DON’T MULTITASK
Turn off notifications on your phone when you’re getting ready to watch a show or movie. Better yet, turn off your phone completely and keep it in another room. If you have the need to check your phone while watching a movie or a TV show, then it’s clear that this film or show isn’t interesting enough for you, so you should maybe consider changing your activity.
And please oh please especially don’t check your phone while in a theatre. I’ve seen people instant messaging while watching a film. It’s distracting and I hate it. If you’re not enjoying the movie, get out and grab a beer. It’s honestly a better use of your time. Also, you’ll avoid annoying many other spectators. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
MAKE A RITUAL OUT OF IT
This is kind of related to my previous point but, the idea is to give your viewing experience the importance it deserves, so make a ritual out of it. For example, at my place, me and my boyfriend like to order food and watch a film on Sunday nights. We like to decide what we are watching early so we can also plan our food delivery. So, let’s say we’re rewatching “Die Hard” (John McTiernan, 1988). Pizza night it is. We order our pizzas by 7pm so they get home by 8pm at the latest. This gives us plenty of time to enjoy the movie without going to bed too late. It’s our ritual to survive the Sunday night scaries. We love it and it’s an amazing opportunity to rewatch awesome classics.
TO BINGE-WATCH OR NOT TO BINGE-WATCH? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Let me preface this by confessing that binge-watching is my guilty pleasure. Honestly it is. However, I am not proud of it, because I don’t think that binge-watching is synonymous of mindful consumption.
So here’s the thing, when watching a new show, I think we should all make an effort to not watch more than one episode a day. Some of you might think I’m crazy, I know. But seriously. Let’s remember not so far back we used to only have new episodes once a week, so suggesting to watch one episode a day is not bad. I think it’s important after watching an episode to let it settle, to think on it, analyze it. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to write a dissertation about it! But just think about what you have watched. What did you like about it? Anything you didn’t like about it? Where do you think the writers are taking the show after today’s episode?
Another suggestion is to get some friends to have the same watching schedule as you. Make dates (they can be virtual dates) to comment each episode. I remember when “Lost” (J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber & Damon Lindelof; 2004-2010) was still running. After each episode I’d go online and chat with other people about the episode and comment on our theories. I did the same with my friends at school. I think all this is lost when you binge-watch because all you do is watch the show in one sitting and then comment with your friends… maybe once after you’re done? Where’s the magic in that?
REWATCH OR COMFORT WATCH
I’ve been rewatching many shows during this pandemic. I rewatched “The Sopranos” (David Chase, 1999-2007), “Friends” (David Crane & Marta Kauffman, 1994-2004) and I’m currently re-watching “Pacey’s Creek” (Kevin Williamson, 1998-2003). Sorry, I meant “Dawson’s Creek”. However, we all know Pacey was the star of that show, right?
Anyway, I love rewatching shows I love. It makes me feel good. They are comforting. And I love finding new details I never noticed before. Or I read certain situations in a different way. Or I connect with characters I didn’t connect with as much when I first watched it because I was too young. I make rewatching a show a mindful experience and you can too. Again, if you are present while rewatching, if you’re having fun, feeling inmersed in it… that’s mindful consumption. So don’t feel guilty about rewatching a show you love instead of catching up on a new one. Life’s too short not to re-enjoy shows you love.
I hope these tips on how to watch films and TV series mindfully are helpful to you. Watching movies and TV shows is a big part of my life and I hate that it’s currently seen as a lazy thing to do. Both films and TV shows can be educational, stimulate your creativity and they can move us in a way other forms of art can’t. If nothing more, I hope this post helps you appreciate this art form that has brought so much happiness to my life. I leave you with a clip from “Gilmore Girls” (Amy Sherman-Palladino, 2000-2007), which is one of my favorite comfort shows. In it, Rory and Lorelai Gilmore make a ritual out of watching the “The Donna Reed Show” (1958-1966). Sure, they’re not being very mindful about it, but look at this experience. Much better than glancing at your phone constantly, right?
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]]>Guys, I have something to admit: I’m a highly anxious person. This year, however, my anxiety has been particularly bad. For the past few months, I’ve been trying to understand why this is. After a lot of personal work, I discovered three crucial areas in my life I wasn’t comfortable with. This discovery was a first step to finding a solution to my troubles. Actually, no. Let me rephrase. Acknowledging these areas allowed me to find tools so I can work on my troubles. One of these tools was getting into the concept of slow living. I’ve started taking tiny steps into a calmer, more centered life-style. It’s… different from what I’ve ever done, so I wanted to share what it’s been like for me so far. This is what gradually getting into slow living as a highly anxious person is like. I am by no means cured from my anxiety, but I am working on it. I still have better days and worse days, but these tools have definitely helped me manage my anxiety better.
DIGITAL BOUNDARIES
There were several reasons for my increased anxiety this past year. Of course, there’s the pandemic, which has probably affected everyone’s mental health. But there were other things. For example, I felt constantly bombarded by messages. Like everyone, I deal with quite a few emails and meetings nine hours a day due to my job. That’s fine, I can deal with that. But I’m also in several family/friends group chats. I receive WhatsApp messages, iMessages and SMS messages several times a day. Then there’s my personal email, where I also receive way too many newsletters from different brands. Catching up with everything felt like a chore. Not just that, I also had to reply, which can sometimes feel overwhelming after a hard day’s work.
Then there was my voluntary exposure to social media: mindlessly scrolling through Instagram and Twitter for way too many hours a day. This led me to constantly compare my life to others’ and letting myself be bombarded by bad news or other people’s complaints or misinformation. I remember I felt annoyed and angry at what I was reading but that didn’t stop me from scrolling. It was as if I were hypnotized by Instagram/Twitter. It was creepy. Limiting social media use has greatly helped my anxiety. I love this interview with Lorde, where she talks about all the reasons she abandoned social media, because I relate so much to everything she says.
So my first tiny step in getting into slow living was to create digital boundaries. I started by unsubscribing from many newsletters I no longer cared for. I also removed all notifications from all correspondence and social media. Everyone knows: if there’s an emergency, please call me. Otherwise, I’ll get to you when I get to you. Finally, I set a time limit on my social media apps so I can only use them for an hour a day. I’ve also made it so I can’t use social media apps until lunch time. This way I am more mindful in my mornings. I use my time to exercise, or take a walk. Sometimes I journal, others I read or write. I feel it’s a healthier way to start my day.
PRIORITIZING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Another important factor that contributed to my anxiety was that I was trying to be everything, all of the time. Not only did I have to constantly be productive and creative. I also had to be healthy, life-style-wise. I needed to workout every day and I needed to meditate and journal for mental health. Then I needed to meal prep to save money and be healthy. Of course I needed to sleep 7-8 hours a day. Finally, I also needed to clean my house, wash my clothes and pay my bills. I felt like I had no time to live, you know? No time to get bored, to just be. Everything needed to be planned, scheduled in. Even meeting with friends felt like a chore to schedule into my calendar. Something that took time from my productivity or self care.
The thing is though, most times, meeting with my friends for a quick drink felt like more self-care that all the journalling in the world. So my second tiny step when getting into slow living was a mindset change. I’m trying to talk to friends more and not feel guilty about it. I’ve realized no amount of productivity will do for my anxiety what a good chat with my friends can. This might sound obvious to some of you but, for me, it feels like a giant step for my mental health.
MAKING THIS BLOG FUN AGAIN
The third factor that affected my mental health was my need to be productive and creative all the time. Eventually, this blog that was supposed to be a fun and creative place for me, became another chore. Something more to worry about, to feel unsatisfied about. There’s the hundreds of shows I just needed to watch. The hundreds of movies I needed to see. All the books I just had to read. The bands I needed to follow. The expositions I needed to attend. I know these things are not an obligation, but to me, with this kind of blog, it felt like I needed to catch up on everything so that I could write to you about the good stuff. Not only that, when I wrote about anything, I felt like I needed to be really insightful. The trouble is, I’m a perfectionist, so I never feel like my content was good enough. In the end, this left me feeling overwhelmed, not catching up on anything and not writing at all. I was frustrated.
So what will change? What does my getting into slow living mean for this blog? Well, slow living is what I’m working on right now and I want to take you along on my journey as I work on letting go everything that’s no longer serving me. Of course, I’ll also share everything that is working for me. This means, I’ll be talking about the several changes I am going through in my life. I’ll also be talking about minimalism, simple living, slow living and everything in between.
Don’t worry, I’ll still be sharing what I love movie and TV-wise, but maybe those posts will be more scattered, as I’m being more mindful about what I consume (more on this in a separate post). I won’t be writing about the film industry for now, as it’s not something I feel like writing about in my free time (I deal with enough of that with my job). I hope you understand.
SLOW LIVING IS A LIFESTYLE, AND IT’S CONSTANTLY IN PROCESS
Getting into slow living is an interesting process, especially in the world we live in. It’s not about completely evading yourself from the digital and fast-paced world and living like a hermit. To me, it’s about pausing, and assessing where you’re at. It’s about reprioritizing your life.
The world has so much to offer. I feel like we’re often bombarded by all types of messages and lifestyles. Sometimes we jump on all the newest trends without actually thinking if that is something we are actually interested in. Slow living is about seeing what the world has to offer and being mindful about what you want. Think of life as a busy train station: instead of jumping on all the trains in all directions for FOMO, slow living makes you pause and see where you want to go, before getting on the right train.
Slow living to me is about intentional action in a world that’s all about multitasking. It’s about self-reflection. I also believe slow living can be different for different people. I’ll take you on my journey and I hope it can serve you in yours. Join me, won’t you?
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]]>The post 10 PERFORMANCES THAT DESERVED MORE RECOGNITION appeared first on Bea Escolar.
]]>So there I was, watching “Mare of Easttown” (Brad Ingelsby, 2021) as my boyfriend rubbed my feet, when I saw Evan Peters and blurted out: “I don’t get why he’s never been nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe after all these years giving us amazing performances”. (This was pre-Emmy 2021 nominations by the way). My boyfriend was like: “Yeah, you’ve often said that. You actually say that about many actors/actresses.” It’s true. I do say that about many actors/actresses. So why not make a post about it? Here’s 10 performances that deserved more recognition.
1. EVAN PETERS “American Horror Story” (Brad Falchuk & Ryan Murphy, 2011-?)
So yeah, Evan Peters. He has delivered outstanding performances throughout all seasons of “American Horror Story” which is why I can’t understand why he has never been nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe. My personal favorite performances of his are of course “Murder House” (Season 1) but also, “Hotel” (season 5), “Roanoke” (Season 6 – my favourite AHS season, btw) and “Cult” (Season 7).
Thankfully, The Emmys served some justice on July 13th 2021, when they finally nominated Evan for his supporting role in “Mare of Easttown”. Hopefully they’ll start paying more attention to his future “American Horror Story” performances from now on.
2. CYNTHIA ERIVO “Bad Times at the El Royale” (Drew Goddard, 2018)
“Bad Times at the El Royale” is a completely underrated film in my opinion. All performances are incredible but Cynthia Erivo’s acting in this movie particularly stands out. I still for the life of me can’t understand why she wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe, Emmy or Oscar for her performance. It is freaking outstanding. Her confrontation with Billy Lee is… chef’s kiss.
3. ALEX WOLFF “Hereditary” (Ari Aster, 2018)
“Hereditary” is one of my favorite horror films ever, largely because of its amazing performances. Yes Toni Collette, also deserved more recognition than what she got. But I’m going to go with Alex Wolff’s performance for this post. It’s just heartbreaking, terrifying and completely great.
4. MICHAELA COEL “I may destroy you” (Michaela Coel, 2020)
HOW DARE YOU, GOLDEN GLOBES?! HOW DARE YOU?! “I may destroy you” was not nominated for a single thing. Everything in this show deserved recognition, from Michaela’s performance to her writing and her directing.
Thankfully, Michaela did get recognition at the BAFTA awards and this year’s EMMY awards, but what the Golden Globes did still hurts. Look at this scene. She’s not only acting in this, se wrote and directed it. She is a Goddess and deserves better.
5. ROONEY MARA ” A Ghost Story” (David Lowery, 2017)
This probably wasn’t the first or the last time Rooney Mara got snubbed, but I’m using this movie because it’s one of my favorites of all time. The pie-eating scene alone deserved an Oscar. I’ve spoken my part.
6. ANDREW GARFIELD “The Social Network” (David Fincher, 2010)
The “You better lawyer up asshole” line alone deserves an Oscar in itself, but so does the rest of his performance. His work as Eduardo Saverin is outstanding and I can’t believe he did not get nominated or won for bigger awards.
I feel like Andrew has slowly garnered more recognition in the bigger awards circuits recently but still, his lack of Oscar nomination for his work in “The Social Network” is still burned in the back of my mind.
7. THE CAST OF “THE WIRE” “The Wire” (David Simon, 2002-2008)
Despite it often being called one of the best shows on TV, “The Wire” was severely overlooked during the awards season in all aspects, least of not which, for its performances. It’s obvious this show had important actors that have come to do great things: Dominic West, Idris Elba, Michael Kenneth Williams, Aidan Gillen and Michael B. Jordan to name a few. Although some actors did receive some recognition (Dominic West and Aidan Gillen), most of the performances were completely overlooked.
8. JESSE BUCKLEY – “I’m Thinking of Ending things (Charlie Kaufman, 2020)
Although the film and performances did garner certain attention in the smaller awards circuits, I was surprised when “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” received 0 Oscar nominations, as there were quite a few rumors when this film came out that it would be an important Oscar contender.
Jesse Buckley was particularly outstanding in this film. Yes Toni Collette once again was incredible. David Thewlis and Jesse Plemons were too. Still, I feel like Jesse carried a great part of the weight in this film.
9. ADEN YOUNG “Rectify” (Ray McKinnon, 2013-2016)
For his incredible performance in “Rectify”, Aden Young was only nominated (never won) for a Critic’s Choice TV Award and a Satellite Award. That’s it. I highly recommend “Rectify” if you haven’t watched it. It’s an incredibly poignant show that never got the attention it deserved.
10. SAM ROCKWELL – “Moon” (Duncan Jones, 2009)
The first time I saw Sam Rockwell in a movie, I was 11 years old and my teacher decided to show us “The Green Mile” (Frank Darabont, 1999) at school. I remember she fast-forwarded through some parts, but there was something else she should have fast forwarded through: Sam’s character, “Wild Bill” Wharton. That man haunted my dreams for years.
Luckily, I grew older and opened up to watching films with Sam Rockwell in them. The man has been in many incredible films. One of his lesser known roles was his performance in “Moon”, a film he practically carried all by himself. He is incredible in it and he should have got all the awards. This wasn’t the first time Sam Rockwell’s performances have been overlooked. Luckily, he finally received his Oscar for his performance in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Martin McDonagh, 2017). Not only that, he was nominated again the next year for his perfomance in Vice (Adam McKay, 2018). It’s as if the Academy Awards suddenly realized they were sleeping on this man (they were) and suddenly decided to catch up on all his career.
Do you agree with this list? Do you have any other performances you believe didn’t receive enough recognition? Feel free to share with me on social media!
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]]>I’ve been gone for a while, I know. Last few months have been hard, but I am back with “My Summer 2021 Favorites”. I’m also currently working on more content so I promise more posts will be coming soon! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this post!
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
I can’t stop listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR. The whole album is perfection. From “brutal”, to “drivers license” (d’uh!), “deja vu”, “traitor”… you name any song from that album, they are all iconic. But there’s no better feeling than cranking up the volume when “good 4 u” starts playing, and really rocking out.
Queen Billie Eilish has released her new album “Happier Than Ever”. I love this album. You can appreciate Billie’s growth as a person and a song writer. Everything about it is beautiful. My top three songs are “Lost Cause”, “NDA” and “Happier Than Ever”. I’m also simply in awe of the title song’s music video.
The king of New Jersey has also finally released his new album. I am referring to Jack Antonoff, obviously. Bleacher’s new album is “Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night”. We’ll of course be supporting him through and through.
Finally, I watched “Vivo” (Kirk DeMicco & Brandon Jeffords, 2021) and now I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack. All the songs are basically bops, but “My Own Drum” just makes me happy.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
“Antidisturbios” (A.K.A “Riot Police”, Isabel Peña & Rodrigo Sorogoyen, 2020) is a Spanish miniseries that follows 6 riot police members during a tragic incident during one of their outings and follows them as they navigate the consequences of their actions. It deals with corruption in Spanish institutions as well as the police brutality in Spain. The series is amazing and I highly recommend it.
I am currently watching the newest season of “In Treatment” (2008 – 2010; 2021) with Uzo Aduba. I really loved the first 3 seasons but still not loving this new one. I don’t know, I think most of the characters don’t feel as relatable to me as the original ones did. It feel like it’s mostly dealing with “rich people problems”. There’s still the occasional brilliant moment but, in general, not loving it as much. Anyway, still have some episodes to go so this might change.
“Anne with an E” (Moira Walley- Beckett, 2017-2019). This is me coming really late to the party, because I am aware this show has been cancelled and hasn’t had the chance to end properly. I have to say, though, I’m really loving it. It’s so lovely, sweet… it’s simply, a classic. They don’t make shows like these any more, but at least I get to rewatch as many times as possible on Netflix.
WHAT I’M READING
So I finished reading the Grishaverse books. Well that’s actually a lie. I haven’t actually read the short stories books, but you know, I read the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy, “Six of Crows” duology and “King of Scars” duology. “Which one was you favourite?” (you are probably not asking). Funny should (not) ask. Definitely “Six of Crows”. Those teenage delinquents with complicated love lives have my full heart.
I decided now to switch to something in my native language, Catalan (both Spanish and Catalan are my native languages, btw). So I’m reading Irene Solà’s “Canto jo i la muntanya balla” (which translates to “I Sing and the Mountain Dances”. Alternating this book with “Anne with an E” feels like I’m getting immersed in pure nature despite me living in the middle of a big city.
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
I’m trying to catch up on my blog posts. Also working on disconnecting and reconnecting. Disconnecting from unimportant things (such as mindlessly scrolling through social media) and reconnecting with myself. Working on meditation, journaling and exercise. I’m basically trying to relax and make the most out of my summer vacation.
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