In the Jungle
October means Libra season is here... meaning my birthday is coming soon + a few things to read.
It’s October which means we are officially in my birth month and, as of today, 14 days away from my birthday. I know you care about this because it’s a very important day. Not only is it my birthday, but it’s also our VP Kamala Harris’ birthday and our icon Snoop Dogg’s birthday. This is not what I was writing about this week, but I just wanted to share.
Anywho, as a person who hates clutter, I used to go through my Spotify every few months and delete all my music to save some of it again. This was a way to get rid of music that I never listened to and an opportunity to find myself falling in love with artists and songs again. As we know, streaming has shifted the way we consume music, and this was my way to get back to my roots, I guess. I since have stopped doing this, and for a good reason - I keep discovering music that I saved that I don’t remember saving, and I have been falling in love which is how I found my new favorite song, “Casio” by Jungle.
This song came out in 2018 on Jungle’s album For Ever, and it’s so good. My Godsister and I have been trading text messages about this album, both very confused about how we never heard of it and it’s relatively old (in the current world of streaming) as it just celebrated it’s four-year anniversary last month. If you’re looking to be in a good mood, and immerse yourself in some good music check out this album.
A few more things worth checking out this week:
Speaking of music, I have some really good playlists right now: Cozy Mood, which is perfect for this current weather we are experiencing on the East Coast, Mellow, which is my longstanding playlist which is long and Life which is my summer playlist, and all-around a good vibe.
Also, in the world of music, Beyonce gave us visuals from The Renaissance… kind of. This was an ad for Tiffany’s; although only a minute, it gave me life.
Danielle Prescod Takes on the Fashion Industry in Her New Memoir, Coveteur
I just finished reading Danielle’s new memoir, Token Black Girl, which was interesting. I can’t say it will be at the top of my favorite reads of the year because, at times, it just felt like she was rambling, but overall, it was a good read.
Are You the Same Person You Used to Be?, The New Yorker
I found this article to be very interesting, and I would say that I’m partially the same person that I used to be in some ways. The author of this article looks at his childhood, and I think much of the core fundamentals my parents instilled in me when I was young are much the same years later.
“Through such self-development, the authors write, we curate lives that make us ever more like ourselves. But there are ways to break out of the cycle. One way in which people change course is through their intimate relationships. The Dunedin study suggests that, if someone who tends to move against the world marries the right person, or finds the right mentor, he might begin to move in a more positive direction.”
“The stories we tell ourselves about whether we’ve changed are bound to be simpler than the elusive reality. But that’s not to say that they’re inert.”
“To be changeable is to be unpredictable and free; it’s to be not just the protagonist of your life story but the author of its plot. In some cases, it means embracing a drama of vulnerability, decision, and transformation; it may also involve a refusal to accept the finitude that’s the flip side of individuality.”
How to Make, and Keep, Friends in Adulthood, New York Times
I feel like this topic just keeps cupid shuffling in my reading lately.
[Misconceptions about friendship] “One is that platonic love is somehow less important or meaningful than romantic love. We have this idea that people who have friendship at the center of their relationships are unhappy or unfulfilled. It’s something I used to believe myself: I thought romantic love was the only love that would make me whole. I wrote “Platonic” because I wanted to level that hierarchy a little bit.”
That’s it for this week. Catch you soon honey!