the february funk
on my mind
february may be the shortest month of the year, but personally, this one has felt like the longest. i don’t know if it’s seasonal affective disorder or just life in another year of the pandemic, but i’ve been feeling super burned out and in a really gloomy place mentally and emotionally. you know how sometimes your brain just decides to make you think about how alone you are, everything wrong or unresolved in your life and the world all at the same time and won’t let you do anything but think about that?
welllll, that’s how february has been for me unfortunately, and with the news of russia’s invasion of ukraine, it’s hard not to want to spiral and feel even more off balance. i am grateful to still be healthy and safe away from harm of that magnitude.
because i’ve been so stuck in my head lately, i’ve been trying to get more in touch with my body and explore different creative outlets. i completed a 30 day yoga challenge with a friend that has inspired me to incorporate yoga into my mornings and evenings as an opportunity to get more grounded and focus on breath work. yoga sometimes annoys me because it makes me more aware of time and i don’t know what to do with all my thoughts, but i also love how it makes me feel afterwards so i think i’m going to stick with it!
i also started a weekly ink drawing class at a local art school that i can walk to and i’ve been having so much fun! it’s been a great experience actually leaving my home and meeting new people in real life. when i was in middle school, i loved drawing and wanted to be an animated cartoonist and work for Disney or Dreamworks. i’m looking forward to improving my skills in perspective and detail over the next few months and understanding what the difference between all our pens are. i want to get better at drawing people and nature, so if you have suggestions for characters or anything, tell me what to draw and i’ll send it to you!
hoping you are all getting some sunlight wherever you are and holding on the little things to bring you joy even in the darkness.
what i’m noting
Watch: I Want You Back | A really sweet and hilarious new rom-com about two people who get dumped and team up to get their exes to take them back, starring Jenny Slate (on Amazon Prime)
Watch: Abbott Elementary | A new mockumentary series set in a Philadelphia public elementary school led by the amazing Quinta Brunson that makes me laugh and look forward to Tuesday nights (on ABC/Hulu)
Watch: Maid | It took me awhile to finally watch this Netflix mini-series based on the memoir by Stephanie Land but it was so worth it. A well-spent weekend crying and having my heart break over what women go through to escape abusive relationships and how this country truly doesn’t care about poor people.
Read: It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart | Friendship breakups and transitions deserve way more attention. As we get older, it’s really rough to accept how our friendships change in meaning and strength.
Read: How to Sleep Better | I’m on a quest to sleep better in 2022, as part of my overall plan to take care of my physical health, so taking all the advice I can get.
Read: Communion / Hana Khan Carries On / The Inheritance Games | Because this is how my brain works, I am currently reading three books at the same time depending on my mood. I will share my reviews once I’m done with them but so far I’m liking them all!
Play: Wordle | People either love or hate seeing these green, yellow and black squares everywhere, but I’ve enjoyed adding this to my morning routine and am super proud of my 100% win rate so far (even after it got suspiciously hard after NYT acquired the game!!) I will gladly exchange Wordle scores and cheer you on if you’d like!
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— Nesima