september 1: in motion
Good morning!
I’ve been thinking lately about how I feel best when I’m in motion. I mean that in the literal sense (most days, my head feels the clearest while I’m running), but I also mean it in a larger sense. When I’m on the move, going from hanging with friends to running an errand or wherever, when I don’t have a chance to pause and catch my breath and reflect so much, I feel busy and overwhelmed in the best way.
In 2020, I, along with almost everyone else, was pretty stationary. My world — and the range of feelings that accompany new experiences — shrunk. My days and weeks and months looked relatively similar, with only the changing seasons and piling COVID cases to point to and prove that time was, in fact, passing. My emotions seemed to plateau. An uncomplicated “it’s going” became my go-to response to “how’s it going?”
Last spring, when vaccines started becoming widely available in the U.S., some of my friends and I were talking about the shift we were starting to recognize. Our lives began to take motion again. The newfound highs that came with movement of course also made the lows feel lower, but the spectrum felt worth it. Since June, none of my weeks have looked very similar. I moved into a newish role at work; I went to a museum in New York; I went through a breakup; I traveled to California; I swam in the ocean; I hugged my family in Michigan; I got to experience D.C. anew by showing a good longtime friend-turned-roommate around; I traveled to Massachusetts; I swam in another(!) ocean; I was in motion alongside a couple thousand strangers as I ran a real race. I haven’t had a lot of time to reflect — and I haven’t wanted to. It’s mostly been just vibes, which, as one friend recently reminded me, can be extremely special.
Some August things:
Laura Stevenson’s stunning new album that I recommend for any occasion, but especially for a run in a place that looks like this:
Molly Seidel winning the bronze medal in the olympic marathon! Queen of Wisconsin! Queen of being open about mental health! Queen of quitting! Queen of making me cry!
This Saved By The Bell Hooks Instagram account
An episode of Haley Nahman’s podcast, Maybe Baby, where she talks at length about the idea of performing personality, which has made me Think A Lot. Similarly:
Being inspired to not let wearing a good outfit hold me back from biking
On multiple occasions, not being able to fall asleep because I’m so excited about something happening the next day, my personal favorite brand of insomnia
Exploring some new bridges
A case for not worrying; a case for taking it easy
I hope you got to live for the hope of it all in August. I hear we’re getting some good books this month, so September can’t be bad.
Best of luck,
Elle