July 2023 Stand-up
here's to more months that feel like july...
June was the month that felt like I lived 3 years of events in 4 weeks— I was made redundant at my job, I moved into my partner’s apartment, went to Nicaragua, got sick, recovered, got sick again, etc etc. July was the first month this year that finally felt like I could be a bit settled, fall into a routine, romanticize the mundane, little things of my life again. I loved it. And I’m happy to be healthy, and happy to be happy.
In this newsletter, I’ll cover:
How I picture my life in the coming months and year
The joy of the “Buy Nothing KW” Facebook group
Good reads, good eats, and good tunes
Planning and plotting for August
Why are we here?
I once led a marketing team meeting at Feeld and had a slide at the beginning of the call that was blank, except for that exact question in the middle of the screen. Why are we here? Of course, I went on to talk about team cohesion, surfacing, transparency, blah blah blah, all valuable things, but I got a few laughs from the team before I got to it. “Julie’s asking the important questions now”, someone sent in the Google Meets chat. “Julie’s answering the important questions!!”, someone rebutted.
I wanted to think and talk and ponder this question while I was in Nicaragua with some of my favorite people in the world, in paradise, watching the chickens run by and get chased by our house dog. Instead, I was fighting for my life and eating whenever I felt lucid enough to do so. But, since I’ve come home, things have been stable and kind enough to me that I could ponder this. I set some things into motion, and created a page on my personal Notion page called Planning for the Best Phase of my Life. In full transparency, this space is mainly blank right now, with the exception of some budgeting and planning my financial runway. But the idea is…
My best life is going to be filled with working a few different jobs, none of which are incredibly stressful or strenuous, yet all are going to be challenging in their own ways and serve their purpose. I picture freelance marketing and content writing for around 20-30 hours a week, charging an hourly or project based fee that makes it comfortable for me to live the life filled with travel, training, and yummy food that I want. I’m involved, but not so involved that I fall asleep at my laptop, working late until 10pm (which I’ve definitely done while working full time before). I’ll invest an equal amount of time into creative writing, self-publishing a series of essays that don’t quite have a name yet, and maybe, writing for select publications (here’s looking at you, Vice!). I’ll bake and make granola on the side, maybe just to be creative with my food, maybe I’ll sell some of it. And, I’ll teach yoga a few times a week, maybe 4-5 times.
The things set in motion: I’ve started freelance growth marketing and content writing for two different marketing agencies, both of which I’m pretty excited about. I’ve thought a lot about writing and even began writing the intro of my series of nameless essays, and I’ll be using the post-breakup makeover budget I was given when I was let go to complete a Yoga Teacher Training certification, which I absolutely cannot wait for. I’ve been cooking a lot still, but the granola has not gotten to a point where I’d want to sell it. More granola for me, I suppose.
This is how I picture a dream life: filled with the things that feed my soul, things that are like mental and physical candy, a new challenge on the day to day, things with some creativity, things that provide me a kind and warm community. Gone are the days that my work, my company, my job define who I am. I just want to be. And I think at everyone’s core, that is why we’re here.
The “Buy Nothing KW” Facebook Group
I still use Facebook kind of religiously. I love Facebook Marketplace. I like seeing what the moms of my friends are up to, my high school teachers, family friends, family in Vietnam, etc. I get that it’s Boomer behavior but that’s fine. I think the kids will understand it one day.
I learned about the Buy Nothing KW (KW referring to the region I live in) group after listening to a podcast where the hosts talked about living a zero-waste life, and joining a Buy Nothing NYC group to facilitate this life. The concept is in the name: you post things you’re getting rid of for free, and people claim them. People can also post in search of certain items. I’ve seen everything on there from bags of flour, furniture, plants, appliances, etc.
When I moved out of my apartment and into my partner’s, we had several redundant items. Two beds, two bed frames, bedside tables, dishes, dishware, rugs, everything. While I sold the items I knew were worth something, it was often a lot easier to just give away the odd bits and ends, and I received the badges of a “top contributor” and “visual storyteller” on the Buy Nothing group very quickly. I felt like I was getting a peak into a lot of different lives, and felt like I was giving away parts of my own that just no longer served me. An old (but branded) dog leash, paintings I put together, bedding that I purchased in my last “big girl” apartment, ugly ass mugs with sentimental significance— all going to better, more appreciative homes. Women who were starting over from scratch and trying to put together a household for their children, furnishing new cottages, an international student’s first TV.
I’m not going to act like I’m Mother Theresa, but it was just nice to know that my trash was someone else’s treasure, or lifeline.
Good reads, good tunes, and good food
I’ll keep this somewhat brief:
Currently reading: The War of Art (Steven Pressfield), Demon Copperhead (Barbara Kingsolver), re-reading: Men Without Women. Yes, it’s my third or forth re-read. I just love love love the symbolism in the writing. I like revisiting old pieces as I embark on my own writing journey.
Listening to: Modern Love (again!! such a great podcast), Fleetwood Mac, Sweet Tea by Snoh Aalegra, and Rauw Alejandro’s latest album, Playa Saturno.
Eating: if you’re a menstruating human, please look into seed-cycling. This has changed my life already in terms of decreasing and in some cases, even eliminating my period symptoms that normally leave me debilitated. I’ve also been perfecting my chocolate chip cooking, but admittedly have flopped on a few other baking adventures I’ve had lately.
Planning and Plotting for August
I cannot wait for another month of settling back into this beautiful routine and life I’ve made with myself, and continue to build with my partner at home. Please don’t get me wrong, I love traveling and I love the adventures it brings, but being home has been so wonderful. I love having this apartment with my partner and making it feel like ours, like a source of pride for us. I love feeling inspired in our newly renovated kitchen, I love going to trivia nights (almost) every week with a hodge podge of new and old friends. Besides diving really deep into my work and creative writing, I have nothing planned except camping, half-marathon training, and doing lots of yoga.
As always, if you’re around I’d love to hear from you and get together. If you’re not, send me a little letter, or a voice message. Let me know what you’re reading, listening to, and beyond.
Figuring out a new sign-off,
Julie