Seeing the Future and February Sabbatical
I ended up at a tarot card reading last weekend.
It was my friend’s birthday (her triple quinceanera as she likes to say) and she invited a tarot card reader to entertain us. I’ve never had my cards read and I’m a skeptic. I didn’t grow up believing in fortune tellers, mystics or diviners (although I’m a sucker for a good horoscope from time to time). Instead, I’m drawn to science and facts of life that you can prove with an experiment or observation.
But I was curious so I sat down with the card reader and asked him some questions. He revealed some things in the first flip of the cards that left me with more questions and ideas to think about. Can I reveal what he said to me or would it be like a birthday wish, a spell that’s broken once the wish is spoken out loud?
The experience got me thinking. How much of what is said during card readings is seeing or predicting the future, something that is set and bound to happen? Or how much is it the card reader seeding an idea in your head that nudges you along in said direction?
I don’t know but now I’m fascinated by tarot cards and want to learn more.
February Sabbatical
As if I wasn’t longing to move already, this Polar Vortex thing has solidified it. At least, I’m packing my bags and taking a mini sabbatical in California starting at the end of next week. It’s part family vacation, part dedicated time to work on a project I never find time for, and part time to do nothing…I hope. I do have a few assignments on my plate that I’m desperately hoping to wrap up before I leave.
The plan? Spend some time skiing. Spend some time running and hiking trails. Spend some time near the ocean. Spend some time catching up with old friends.
I’ll be in San Francisco, Tahoe, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz so if you have any recommendations, especially SLO and Santa Cruz, please let me know! Maybe I'll even log back into Instagram.
What I’ve Written
A handful of new bylines to share like this one on red flags that might signal you have a thyroid problem and this one on whether or not you can freeze your avocados. And this one which answers everyone's burning question: Is pizza healthy?
What I’ve Been Reading
When Your Body Says No (Outside): Over the past few years, every time I ask my body to do something—running, yoga, skiing, swimming—my body essentially laughs in my face and says, “Nope,” leaving me feeling slightly discombobulated. This piece sums it up:
When the wheels start coming off an athlete’s chassis at middle age, the big surprise isn’t that it happens. It’s that you, me—we—barreled along so blindly for so long, not seeing that the road ahead was really a narrowing one-way street.
And yet, if you’re like me, you’re caught off guard one day when you spur your body on and your body balks. It’s bewildering, this betrayal of the flesh. In the span of a moment, you’ve left one place and arrived at another. You see that you can never go back. And with this knowledge a peculiar grief descends.
Why We Struggle to Say ‘I Love You’ (NY Times): I can count on two hands the number of times I’ve said “I love you” to my mother and vice versa. As in between the two of us, that number would be 10 or less. Not because we don't love each other, but just because that's not how we communicate.
Yale Will Not Save You (The Sewanee Review): This is an incredibly written piece. While it chronicles one woman’s experience with mental health at Yale, it touches on the broader issue of how schools handle mental illness and the rights of those students.
How Farming Saved My Body Image (Outside): Such a good piece on endurance sports, fitness, food, body image, and coming to terms with it all.
10-year-old proves Tom Brady is a cheater, wins science fair (NY Post) Brilliant kid and just a reminder as we head into Super Bowl weekend.
Are “healthy” snacks actually good for you? (The Goods by Vox): Remember SnackWell’s? Yeah, well, same same.
Andy Murray Deserves a Better Farewell (The Ringer): Andy Murray’s press conference before the start of the Australian Open was hard to watch and it was sad to hear that he plans to retire after Wimbledon. Side note: While Murray mentioned that he will retire after Wimbledon, it was odd watching this tribute to Murray from fellow players as if he already retired.
Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work? (NY Times): This piece has made the rounds but definitely worth reading if you haven't already and even if you're not a millennial.
Books! I read 4 books in January.
Educated: A Memoir: This book lived up to all the hype.
I Am I Am I Am: I loved this memoir. I loved Maggie O’Farrell’s writing. I loved how she constructed a story of her life based on 17 brushes with death. (It’s not as morbid as it sounds.)
Less: I know lots of people loved this book (it won a Pulitzer!) but it was meh.
We Are Okay: I randomly came across this book on my Kindle. Apparently I bought it some time ago? It’s a short YA novel that digs into grief and loss.
What I've Been Listening To
How Sarah Koenig Gets It Done - The Cut on Tuesdays: I love getting a peek into Sarah Koenig’s life, from how she collaborates at work to family life.
The Slowdown: My new favorite way to start the day, with a poem read by U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith.
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P.S. I'd love to hear what you think and if you have any suggestions. If you have any ideas, hit me up!
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