Getting a word.
During the week, I heard a great word that carried me throughout the week from Essence’s Yes Girl Podcast. Tracee Ellis Ross was the guest on the episode and she said:
"Live in the experience of what your life is."
That response was in relation to imposter syndrome which we have all had at one point or another in our lives whether it was in school, our careers or our relationships. I think what I particularly enjoyed about this quote is that it basically is saying you can't be anyone else but you, and you can't live anyone else's life but yours. Use that to carry you through your week.
Also, I have a challenge for you this week:
Commit to not saying you're going to do something if you really do not want to do it. This is a theme that runs rapidly through my life with making plans. I make them months or weeks in the future and when the time comes around to actually do them, I'm checked all the way out. That being said, I'm vowing to be a little more spontaneous so I don't get myself caught up. And also to give my space to do my new favorite hobby, nothing. I'm being like Maxine Waters and "reclaiming my time."
As always, here are my reads and listens that I think you should check out this week. Let me know if you have any suggestions for me.
MUSIC TO LISTEN TO:
Forgot to share the new Xavier Omar and Sango album, Moments Spent Loving You, which pays homage to their EP, Hours Spent Loving You which was released in 2016. I loved the EP so much and had super high hopes for the album BUT it's a little lackluster for me.
Also, I forgot to share JoJo's new song "Sabotage," featuring Chika. Can I just say how much I love JoJo.
Loving Dua Lipa's new song, "Don't Start Now." It's very dancy, and honestly, I really like Dua.
Also, loving the new Haim "Now I'm In It." It's about time - it's been YEARS since they released Something To Tell You.
PODCASTS TO LISTEN TO:
Dear HBR IdeaCast about why open offices aren't working. I don't think they work well, and this podcast episode speaks to that: "Why do people put on headphones instead of having conversations? Why do people put their head down and stare very intently at the screen rather than feeling like they're more open to collaboration? Why do all of these behaviors emerge?"
Slow Burn my favorite podcast is back, and this time it's focused on the deaths of Tupac and Biggie. Interested to see how this goes.
I really liked this episode of Press Send with Chinae Alexander, "Sex Talk Part 4." I've listened to all the parts but this part by far is my favorite.
Esther Perel's podcast on relationships, Where Should We Begin.
BONUS, SOMETHING TO WATCH:
My favorite Netflix show, Atypical is back, and yes, I binged this season to fast.
Also staying on the Netflix train (are all aboard -- had to do it) I finally watched Comedians in Cars with Coffee and I'm obsessed with the Eddie Murphy episode. Eddie is like your crazy uncle who is always saying something out of pocket. I am also convinced that Eddie and my dad would be great friends. Also, watch Dolamite.
American Son on Netflix was a tear jerker, but speaks sadly to a lot of what is going on in our world.
THINGS TO READ:
[Do you have a working definition of love] "It's a verb. That's the first thing. It's an active engagement with all kinds of feelings—positive ones and primitive ones and loathsome ones. But it’s a very active verb. And it’s often surprising how it can kind of ebb and flow. It’s like the moon. We think it’s disappeared, and suddenly it shows up again. It’s not a permanent state of enthusiasm." // Love Is Not a Permanent State of Enthusiasm: An Interview with Esther Perel
Okay, that's it this week BYEEEEEEEEEEEEE.