Transition

Happiest of New Years to you! Here is to hoping that 2015 is as full of joy and love as the last year, that our breaths get a little deeper and our hearts overflow with friends and family.

As the second half of 2014 went all too fast for me and my time in this space dwindled, I continued to try to find a way to revitalize my love here. After a lot of work and enjoyment, I have decided to make a big change. But for now, you will have to wait and be surprised. I’ll be back so soon with more updated. I can’t wait to share with you!

I hope this break was everything you dreamed of. I hope you do something that will refresh your outlook on life and your passion for your strengths.

All my love in 2015.

x

Unbroken

Have you read Unbroken?

I read it a while ago now, but any time I spot it on my bookshelf, or someone brings up WWII, my mind immediately drifts to this story an Olympian, turned Army Air Corpsman, turned POW, turned vet with PTSD, turned to one of the wisest, kindest human beings known. The story of Louis Zamperini changed my perspective on a million moments in life.

Mostly forgiveness, the beauty of love and the toxicity of hate.

His story is beautiful, and if you have yet to read it, please go buy the book. Right now. Because next month, the movie, directly by Angelina Jolie, comes out. My sister and I are counting down the days.

And in the meantime, you should read this interview Louis had with The Atlantic over the past few years, before is death in July (he was 97). The man was wise and had an outlook not many can carry out. He is so admired. And I so look forward to this movie.

To all of those who have served, are serving or who will serve this country in the future, you are so appreciated, so loved and so supported.

Mood

As I sat at my desk this morning, all too familiar with this week looming ahead — the endless events, the early mornings, the late nights, the no time to cook so spending money on Mexican Caesar salads from Chop’t — I made a mental note that I had already created the negativity in my mind. I had already told myself “November 3rd? That week will suck. November 7th everything will finally be back to normal, but until then, I will just complain my days away because I deserve it.”

It’s November 3rd. And, while internalizing my thoughts about this week, I decided to make a change. So I took a post-it note and a pen and I wrote “no complaining”, underlined twice, and stuck that note right on my computer so there was no missing it, no pretending it wasn’t there. And when a co-worker started venting about someone else or some insane situation, I nodded my head and looked at that post-it, reassuring myself that this week is not just hard for me, it’s hard for everyone I work with.

And my life is not hard when compared to countless others. So stop complaining.

And Mondays don’t suck. Mondays are awesome. Really, Mondays are awesome.

I hope you had a terrific day.

-x

Fall Books

My sister flew to California this week, and as a parting text, she asked for book recommendations. And lately, in the experience of the vaguely familiar sense of “free-time”, I had a book to point her to.

And then I realized, in the past two months, I have read 9 books! What a wonderful realization! My subway times have not been wasted away listening to shitty music and people watching (although both probably have occurred). But I have somehow been making my way through books, long and short, bad and good.

Plus, I joined a book club. If that doesn’t force someone to sit down and read, nothing will. It’s like homework and even if I do not particularly like the book assigned, there is a affirmation that comes with finishing that book.

And conversations are centered around books (I think I spoke to someone for 20 minutes last weekend swapping lists, adding and listening to anecdotes). I love the feeling of being so immersed in a book you want to stay up all night reading, or that while you are working, it’s all you can think about.

Below are some books that have made me feel that way… and some books I can’t wait to read. Read any good ones lately? (You can see what I think of the below on Goodreads, my go-to site for book lists.)

The Goldfinch: currently reading

Unbroken: read

All the Light We Cannot See: read

This Is Where I Leave You: read

Gone Girl: read

Let the Great World Spin: to-read

The Rosie Project: to-read

Love Does: to-read

The Language of Flowers: to-read

Have you read any of these? I’d love to hear what you thought!

xoxo

PS: Lena Dunham’s book shelf.

Swing

This past weekend, Josh and I were walking through the East Village to meet some friends for dinner. As we headed north on Avenue A, passing Thompson Square Park, I noticed a girl swinging at the playground. She was alone, and I could hear the familiar sound of creaking as she kicked forward and fell back, forward and back. She seemed so peaceful, methodical. I blurted that I wanted to swing… not to Josh, exactly, just to anyone, but completely interrupting whatever conversation we were having.

At recess, ever so long ago, swinging was “my thing” (unless, of course, red rover was being played). Swinging felt like almost flying while still being safe; your stomach could drop slightly, adrenaline could build, you could kick the sky. If you closed your eyes, you could completely loose track of where you were. I’ve tried to swing on our old swing set at home, but my legs kick the ground now and nephews would rather be pushed.

But this swing set may be my size. And while I’m late in experiencing it (Savannah and Matt took a ride last year), I do hope the Waterfall Swing makes it’s way back to New York so I can take a spin. Otherwise, I’ll settle for Thompson Square Park this weekend.