Sorry to Stare 👀 | on taking breaks

I’ve been on a little break, revelling between that sweet spot in between jobs - feeling the relief of ending one thing and the anticipation of starting another. My body has felt so tired just releasing the past year of work! I’ve done a lot of reflection and gathered a few lessons:

Lessons on time: I’m starting a job I’m really excited about soon. It took me two full years of searching, interviewing, and working in places I struggled to find my fit to land here. Here, meaning a place of satisfaction and even vindication. Two years in the grand scheme of life should feel short (I mean, I am a 30 year old baby!). However, those 730 days felt oh so slow and filled with questioning. It’s nice to exhale.

Lessons on loosening up: I told my friends I wanted to (arbitrarily) have four crazy nights this summer. It’s early June as of writing this and so far I’ve had three. The definition of crazy depends on the crazy person, and obviously I can lean tame. Yet, I’ve worked out less, drank a little more, stayed up a little later in this period because I’m constantly reminding myself to celebrate. Last summer, I wrote about giving flowers when flowers are due - so this is my attempt to give them to myself.

Lessons on transparency: I’ve written so much about my career journey and have begun an Unemployment Diaries series on my TikTok, which are far and away the most popular and engaged videos on my page. Social media is designed to be the place we share the good. By sharing some of my “bad” - my career and coinciding identity struggles, I’ve sought to build solidarity and people. Two years ago, I needed that voice and did not have it, so I’m happy to pay it forward. It’s okay to be vulnerable.

Some reads:

Brad Pitt Is Fooling You (Vulture)

The cumulative effect of F1 and its press tour have been a carefully tuned charm offensive meant to obscure, if not outright bury, the alleged violent particulars of his behavior toward ex-wife Angelina Jolie. Pitt has been so successful at this rehabilitation that most of the public don’t even understand what he’s trying to rehabilitate himself for.

Why Is Everyone Watching ‘Love Island USA?’ (NYT)

“People on this show are trying to meet the love of their life, but they’re not talking about their opinions about abortion or gun control or tariffs,” she continued. “We can also forge connections across demographic categories or across political affiliations. You and I might not agree about gun control, but we both think that Huda has issues with emotional regulation, and we can bond over that.”

The Usual

What I’m reading - Dream Count by Chimamanda Adichie

What I’m listening to - Good Hang by Amy Poehler (Podcast)

What I’m watching - The Gilded Age obvi!! (HBO)