Last Sunday I spent the day in bed with my eyes closed listening to podcasts after somehow scratching my cornea (?). Even though I am the Queen of Downtime and will be the first to tell you it’s totally OK to rest and that you could probably be doing less instead of more (what is the opposite of Type A? Type…B?), it felt oddly exquisite to have even more permission to do absolutely nothing. I listened to every episode of Esther Perel’s most recent season of “Where Should We Begin,” rested my eye, and let my mind wander. Every since going off social media three weeks ago, my mind is wandering again, and it’s the best feeling, like the return of a beloved friend you haven’t seen in years. Of course, me being human and all, my mind projected itself into the future. What will this season bring?
We are adjusting. Can you feel it? Inside the quiet thrum of grief, we are adapting to our new lives. After thrashing about for the past six months, I feel our sea-legs collecting underneath us. This isn’t a celebration. That is still who knows how far off (unless we get one in early November #FingersHellaCrossed). And yet. It’s in our nature to look to the future, to create new horizons, even if they look a lot more humble than in The Before Times.
So! This week’s question:
👉🏽 What is on your own personal horizon?
For me, it’s diving into Zadie Smith’s new essay collection, Intimations; crossing my fingers that this SF fog will indeed lift and the smoke will clear and we’ll get some proper summer; my first camping trip since 2004 (!) with some dear friends; and going to the Yuba River with a…person…at the end of the month. I’m still hesitant to project too too far into the future, because we all know things can pivot on a dime (add the word “pivot” to the words we shall retire once we’re on the other side of this - along with “unprecedented,” please). And, holy wow, it feels good to see something bright out there in the near distance.
A couple of announcements below, and then some links.
I love you. Keep going.
And leave a comment with your horizons! 👇🏽
xxoodani
I’m facilitating a couple of (free) events this month and you should join me:
Next All Writers Welcome meetup is Saturday, September 19 from 2-3:30pm PST. I’ve been leading these mini-workshops for the past few months and I’m astounded every time by the depth of what arises when a group of people write what’s true. It’s also been a profound way to process life in Pandemia. These workshops are designed to be generative, and are appropriate for all levels of writers. Register here.
San Francisco/Bay Area Bridge Club is Monday, September 22 from 7-8:30pm, PST. This strangely named event is an online recovery meeting where we check in and share stories and get support in sobriety (we don’t actually play cards). We’ve obviously gone virtual so even though technically it’s a local thing if you want to join you can from wherever you are. If you’re on the fence but maybe need some hand holding please email me and I can answer all your questions and give you all of the pep talks. Register here.
⛓ LINKS (I listened to a podcast this week about Deep Learning and the expert guy said that embedding links into articles actually detracts from a reader’s reading experience so I’m not going to do that anymore!):
💡 Esther Perel’s “Where Should We Begin” podcast. I’m not even coupled up and I glean SO MUCH from her compassionate, progressive wisdom.
♥️ This podcast episode was total medicine: A rabbi explains how to make sense of suffering. The conversation rambles around so many topics, from despair to hope to grief to privilege, and I’ve felt buoyed ever since listening.
Thank you so much for being a part of this community. If you like this newsletter, please consider sending it to a friend or subscribing. And don’t forget to share your horizons!
Thanks for the links. And yes embedded links can be very distracting especially for those of us who want to do things in order and are easily distracted. This makes so much sense to me. Sea legs, that is such a good point, I think my social media break is helping me find a bit of peace in this storm. I have this feeling that now is such an important time to take respite, build our reserves here in the eye. An immediate horizon is pretending we are at a cabin we used to go to. One without internet or phone service. I did have my trusty IPod on those trips so I will still have use of that. So I am excited for another mini E break, this time I am trying 5 days. A far horizon which I think is so important to have, is doing the research and planning a trip to the Four Corners area, can’t set dates yet, but it’s so important to dream. It’s like holding a kite only the string is really long, so long but the kite of hope is still there.
you know - the embedded links thing was something I'd never considered, or would have slowed down to realize. But the moment I heard the guy say that, it made so much sense.
That kite metaphor is absolutely lovely and just what I needed to hear right now. love you so so much.
I recently was turned on to your writing and I need to say, I adore you <3
My immediate horizon: learning how to make good pour over coffee and a long weekend with my husband and daughter. Distant horizon: I want to take a break from social media but I have horrible FOMO, I need to work on that.
I truly enjoy your links, thought they make my cry, please keep it coming.
what method are you using or thinking of using for your pour over experiment??? if there's anything I can talk about for the rest of my life, it's coffee ;)
Dental Floss Tycoon! Although Coyote wrangling does sound fun. Actually...it sounds kinda boring, but a light bulb popped on when I saw Tempest was looking for someone to manage their money. I love numbers and organization, plus numbers don’t talk back.
Any solo, really, but especially the bender from Time (Pink Floyd)...can’t believe how long I’ve loved that. Whoa. Timeless. Ha!
Thanks for the links. And yes embedded links can be very distracting especially for those of us who want to do things in order and are easily distracted. This makes so much sense to me. Sea legs, that is such a good point, I think my social media break is helping me find a bit of peace in this storm. I have this feeling that now is such an important time to take respite, build our reserves here in the eye. An immediate horizon is pretending we are at a cabin we used to go to. One without internet or phone service. I did have my trusty IPod on those trips so I will still have use of that. So I am excited for another mini E break, this time I am trying 5 days. A far horizon which I think is so important to have, is doing the research and planning a trip to the Four Corners area, can’t set dates yet, but it’s so important to dream. It’s like holding a kite only the string is really long, so long but the kite of hope is still there.
you know - the embedded links thing was something I'd never considered, or would have slowed down to realize. But the moment I heard the guy say that, it made so much sense.
That kite metaphor is absolutely lovely and just what I needed to hear right now. love you so so much.
I recently was turned on to your writing and I need to say, I adore you <3
My immediate horizon: learning how to make good pour over coffee and a long weekend with my husband and daughter. Distant horizon: I want to take a break from social media but I have horrible FOMO, I need to work on that.
I truly enjoy your links, thought they make my cry, please keep it coming.
oh my! thank you! you just made my whole day <3
what method are you using or thinking of using for your pour over experiment??? if there's anything I can talk about for the rest of my life, it's coffee ;)
Damn...a new career at 57, and maybe that guitar solo I've been meaning to learn all my life. Ultimately? Finding myself in Big Sky country.
TED! What's the new career? Coyote wrangling? Oh and what solo?
Dental Floss Tycoon! Although Coyote wrangling does sound fun. Actually...it sounds kinda boring, but a light bulb popped on when I saw Tempest was looking for someone to manage their money. I love numbers and organization, plus numbers don’t talk back.
Any solo, really, but especially the bender from Time (Pink Floyd)...can’t believe how long I’ve loved that. Whoa. Timeless. Ha!
tycoon! nice.
I long for the day when not one part of the work I do involves "customer service" 😬 I love people but sometimes they behave like such buttheads.