When it's good vs. evil and everyone wins 😮
✨ Issue #63 ✨
I’m currently reading a terrible book. It’s a psychological thriller/murder mystery, with a dull and unmemorable narrator. I have no idea what he looks or sounds like, but not for any particular reason - it's as if the author forgot to fill in the blanks. I'm halfway through and already 99% sure I've figured out the ridiculous twist on which all will hinge.
Which begs the question: why am I still reading it? There are so many beautiful books in the world, and I won’t ever get to all of them. (Truly, my life’s greatest regret.) So why spend my precious time on these particular pages?
Because sometimes, it’s easier to learn from something you don't like than from something you love. For example, when I read a great book, one that truly delights, I don’t think much about craft; I’m too absorbed in the experience. When I read a terrible book, on the other hand, all I can think about is what’s missing. What I admire in a story is made clearest by its absence.
It’s a lesson we can also (of course) apply to our current crisis. Amy Shearn, one of my favorite writers, explores this idea in a recent article. In it, she talks about the surprising things she misses while sheltering in place in New York City, and how the experience has crystallized her values. “How can I use this piece of information to help me keep in touch with myself once the world becomes noisier again?” she asks.
In my lockdown life, I miss a lot of things. The energy of my favorite kettlebell class at the YMCA. Ordering a latte and working on my book in a cute downtown coffee shop. Meeting friends at a brewery on a Saturday afternoon and drinking an IPA in the sunshine.
In my literary life, I miss things, too. Beautiful language that surprises and delights. Stories centered on complicated characters rather than plot. Insights that offer a better appreciation for and understanding of the human experience. A book that makes me feel.
Which is why I'll finish this terrible book, and do my best to appreciate the pandemic's gift of clarity. When I return to my own writing, my own life, I'll know exactly what to do. 💛
Snack of the Week
We have instituted "Pizza Friday" in our house, because we need some routine in our lives, some stability, something we can count on and look forward to. Pizza it is. The easiest, simplest, and most delicious dough recipe I've found is Mark Bittman's. It makes enough for two large pies - one with cheese (for me) and one without (for my husband). I also highly recommend pesto as a base instead of tomato sauce. It may not change your life, but it will change your pizza.
Relatable Reads
Looking for a new newsletter to fill the time? I recently discovered Your Weekly Whine, which shares easy and approachable tips for drinking better wine, plus some high quality dog content. If wine + dogs is not a recipe for happiness, I don't know what is. Subscribe here. 🍷🐶
Yoga with Adriene: How the YouTube Star Won Lockdown, The Guardian. "Right now, while we are stuck – in our cramped apartments, our crowded living rooms, our sunless basement flats, our solitary terraces – yoga offers us a solution, an escape, a way to unwind. It doesn’t come larded with the kind of ambition that drives people to train for marathons or visit the gym several times a week to lose weight. Yoga is only interested in the present, an apt philosophy at a moment when the future is so uncertain." 🧘🏻♀️
Two Errors Our Minds Make When Trying to Grasp the Pandemic, The Atlantic. "Disappointment and uncertainty are inevitable, but we don’t have to turn them into suffering." I continue to love The Atlantic's "How to Build a Life" column. What a balm! 🙌🏼
Really loved the replies to this tweet. It's never too late! 😭
A Tiny Challenge
I've been spending a lot of time at home lately (LOL) which has made me pay closer attention to my environment. In an effort to feel less anxious and more in control, I make the bed every morning and my husband does the dishes every night. And guess what? It works! This week, bookend your day with similar tasks and let the order and cleanliness soothe you.
See you next Sunday! 💌
Thanks to Jasmine C. for supporting So Relatable last week!
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