If you love #5SmartReads, would you be open to sharing them? You’ll get perks if you do! Set up your unique share link below and share #5SmartReads with anyone you think would enjoy them! I’ve been thinking a lot about definitions lately. The ones we accept without a second thought, ones we define for ourselves, and ones we’ve begun to redefine in a larger scope. I was reading my friend Shanna’s forthcoming leadership book (One Bold Move A Day - go preorder it!) and I marveled at the way she offered a playbook for anyone to embrace leadership in their own way. In doing so, she wholly rejected the tired trope of how we commonly view a leader (an old white man in a suit, sitting in a corner office) without every explicitly saying so. I was also thinking about how we define the word strong. In the past, Arnold Schwarzenegger popped into my mind whenever I heard the word (random tangent - his memoir is an excellent read - like Jessica Simpson-level). But when I was at Heymama’s Strong Like A Mama summit on Thursday, the word strong was redefined to center on vulnerability, honesty, and embracing the messiness of life instead of brawn and control. Definitions hold a lot of power. They uphold a particular view as absolute truth that we accept without questioning - and that acceptance can hold us back. They can keep us in boxes that try to define us by a sliver of who we are, and ignore our multitudes and the sun total of all our parts and identities. If you’ve read We’re Speaking, these musings of multitudes and the sum total of our parts will sound familiar. But I’m just realizing how definitions - especially the ones we’ve accepted as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth - can hold us back and keep us in the boxes that society puts us in without our consent or feels aligned with how we see ourselves. Why are we letting certain definitions keep us small? I’m reclaiming “leader” and “strong” after this week. I’m also redefining literature to include romance novels (truly, it is a SKILL to write a steamy scene that both hits you on all fronts), success as “being able to spend my days how I wish and to support my team to do the same”, and health (keeping my emotional and mental health at the forefront, because if I don’t prioritize it, my diet and movement and sleep go right out the window). What are you redefining for yourself? Hit reply or join the conversation in the comments - I’d love to know. What I Read This Week
What Everyone Else Read This Week
Top #5SmartReads Of The Week
The rest of the week’s reads + last week’s (and conversations!) are below: Monday July 25, 2022 Your Questions, Answered How do you deal with internet trolls? I’m lucky that I haven’t had to deal with many in the past. Last week’s experience showed me that I can’t change someone’s opinion of me and letting myself be baited by them is giving them power, and I refuse to do that. I’ve done a lot of boundary setting work with AB Coached that helped a ton to deflect trolls’ ire and messages. Have you considered hosting your own podcast? The moment you fell for your husband? It was love at first mention of gene editing and Mexican Pizzas. Do the sleep gummies knock you out too much? Can you function if a chid needs you? Here’s the link, if you’d like to give them a try!. Do you miss drinking alcohol as much? I also don’t really drink at home- I prefer De Soi or Lyre’s Spirits. Hi Hitha! I’m looking for a business coach, and I know you’re the right person to ask! What are your favorite non-restaurant date night ideas? Need some inspo. Sometimes we like to sit in our backyard and sip a cup of tea and play music and just chat, or play Scrabble. But weekly dinners are our go-to and we have a rule that we need to try new restaurants for the rest of the year because we got into the habit of going to the same 3 spots, so it’s been fun! Your favorite way to use chaat masala?
Apparently a lot of you sprinkle it on fruit! Need to try that. Biggest LinkedIn tip/best practice for someone who hates LinkedIn. What Broadway play/musicals out now do you like? I loved Hadestown so much. A Strange Loop was incredible and blew my mind. Cursed Child was wonderful, but I find it hard to separate JK Rowling’s work from herself. POTUS is closing soon but you should absolutely see it while it’s still on stage! Are you still doing the class? Been most consistent with a Dryp by Soha flow right after I wake up (code hitha25 gets you 25% off your first month) and a Peloton workout once I drop off the kids. Have you watched Mr. Malcom List or Persuasion yet (no spoilers please) Any plans for writing another book? Best shoes for traversing NYC streets? Do you believe in everything happens for a reason? Any tips on transitioning to gray hair? Thanks. Opt for glosses in your natural shades at Madison Reed or use oVertone Color masks in your natural color as your roots are growing out. Something I’m really glad I did was to get gray highlights after I had 9 months of growth that matched my hair’s natural graying pattern. I only had to do this twice in about 10 months before my hair was exactly how I wanted it from a color perspective. Once your grays are prominent, switch to purple based shampoo, conditioner and masks. I love Verb Hair Products shampoo and Drybar’s Blonde Ale mask. And glosses help keep your grays looking fresh and not brassy. Your thoughts on Alt + Riveter summit from personal experience? I’m thinking of pitching to speak! :) I cannot wait for this summit. Here’s to a wonderful week, and to redefining words so they reflect who YOU are and want to be, and not what society expects of you. xo,
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issue #145 - the one on definitions
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