Hello, friend. I hope your 2025 has been peaceful so far. I’m a big swirl of emotions right now - immensely grateful, a bit dysregulated, happy, tired, and wistful. The past three weeks were a wonderful, chaotic blur (we spent them in Dubai, Hyderabad, and Kochi). I loved our time traveling (and also needed my extra anxiety meds), and being back home in Hyderabad soothed my soul in ways I can’t explain. I’m equally happy to be heading home. I miss the mundanity of our routine. I miss preparing my own meals and working out uninterrupted. An unexpected gift from this long trip is having spent the first few days of the year away. It’s minimized the lofty expectations that often come on January 1st, and allowed us to tiptoe into 2025 and what we want to accomplish this year. Other than 2 big goals at work, my only goal is to continue to practice imperfect consistency. I want to keep showing up for myself every day, even if it’s a bare minimum version or I feel like I’m phoning it in. It’s a decent night’s sleep (6 hours), a solid breakfast (usually my savory yogurt bowl), 2 strength workouts a week (bonus if I hit 3), and reading entire fantasy series and making them my whole personality (because they spark joy). I’m just going to do my best (and try to follow January’s plan as much as I can): I want to thank you for welcoming me into your inbox and share these musings with you. I’ve been sharing my life online for 16 years now, and your kindness and support is the reason why I continue to write and publish here. You’re the best. You can catch up on the latest posts here: If budget permits, I would be so appreciative if you upgrade your subscription. You’ll receive the full edition of #5SmartReads (my weekly news series that amplifies underreported stories and underrepresented perspectives), and access to our accountability group for the plan. I’m extending the annual subscription discount (50% off, just $30/year) through the end of January. Artefacts of Ouranos seriesby Nisha J. Tuli I never thought I’d be grateful for jet lag, but I am because it allowed me to blaze through this brilliant series that had touches of ACOTAR/The Selection (especially book one), Throne of Glass (entirely), and even Lord of the Rings. These vibes aside, it’s an original romantasy series that I loved and am missing now that I’ve finished it. I’m glad Nisha has another series I can dive into (which I am saving when the winter blues hit). You can find my 2024 reads here, and my December reads here. Pill Case ($18)I don’t know if it’s age, having to take medications every day, or my Capricorn rising/Virgo moon tendencies, but filling this pill case every Sunday brings me such satisfaction. Find this month’s Amazon favorites here. The Technology That Actually Runs Our World (The Atlantic)gift link via my subscription Does anyone else feel like technology has made them dumber or more boring? I do. And it’s not me - or you. And it’s not a new phenomenon - Aldous Huxley wroet about the unsatisfying state of culture in the early 1920s (demand was high, and it was easier to mass produce the content people were clamoring for). We’re re-living that same cycle - though this time, algorithms (and how we engage with them) is the key driver in what we find ourselves numbly scrolling through, listening to, or watching. And algorithms go much deeper than in how we spend our leisure time. They dictate everything, from how much we pay for our essentials, how much our ride share costs, or if a medical procedure will get automatically covered. What’s meant to minimize human-led bias is prioritizing profit over societal benefit, which further grows the inequality we see today. So what can we do?
The best things I packed for 3 weeks away:
If you enjoyed this weekend’s letter, please consider:
As always, take exquisite care of yourself this week. xo, |
tiptoeing into 2025
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