Welcome to random things that improved my life! An article series about the little things, whether they’re habits or hobbies, practices or purchases, that have helped me with my life in general. Originally, this was going to be one article, but then, after 5K words, I was like lex, this is 6 articles. Because there’s lots of categories of life that this list can be broken up into, so I’m going to start dipping into more of this as the months go on.
I’ve decided to start with the most vital of the (ever-growing) categories. Jouissance. AKA living life and liking it.
Actually taking time to listen to music.
100% listening to Chappell Roan in this selfie.
With good headphones! Whether I’m sitting and knitting or doing monotonous house cleaning, it’s actually really nice to just set aside time to just listen.
Emailing people, even if it’s been a while!
Whether they’ve shared news on social media you’re excited about or you’re thinking of them, don’t be afraid to email. I have two acquaintanceships that are suddenly friendships because they emailed me (or I emailed them).
Buying extra of my favorite things
OOOOOOOH baby look at that STUD
- Pens
- These simple yet versatile t-shirts from Quince
- Fancy lip balm—my favorites are the OLEHENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment (it’s clinically proven to make lips more voluptuous the more you use it). The Crème Brûlé shade smells like you’re making out with a patisserie (in a hot way). Bisou Balm, a subtle but stunning matte lipstick balm from French brand Violette. I do not earn anything from those links, I am just trying to make your life easier.
Linking my Libby (library app) to multiple libraries.
Borrowed from the library, enjoyed thematically at the bakery.
I read 90 books in 2024 and at least 70 of them were digitally borrowed from the library. This article showed me how to do it.
Reading dates
Probably one of my favorite things I did last year was take books to a restaurant by myself for dinner and a drink. Occasionally, I’ll put on some red lipstick and sit at the bar counter, or somewhere I could look up from my pages and people watch, or chat with my fellow book girlie bartender. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to being French.
Buying less stuff on Amazon
I’m trying to wean myself off the convenience in favor of a more environmentally-friendly, small business-supporting transaction. And, frankly, Amazon doesn’t need more money with which to destroy the world!
And sometimes, it leads to adventures!
I’ve started making matcha lattes with homemade lavender syrup. Instead of just zipping over to Amazon to buy lavender, I Googled around to see who might have it. I discovered a really cool feminist apothecary that sells food-grade flowers and fancy herbs just ten minutes away! I checked it out while on an errand-run-hangout with my sister.
It was awesome. Next time they said they’ll give me a free palm reading! Can Prime do that? Fuck no it can’t.
Trusting my gut
I truly believe there’s an inner voice that lives in the periphery of our senses, quietly perceiving information and compiling it in meaningful ways.
So when it speaks, I know I need to listen.
One random October day, that voice told me to send my book to an agent I knew was out of my league. It had to be that day, it had to be that agent (even though it was outside of the querying schedule I had set up). A few weeks later, she offered representation.
Taking pictures of things that make me smile
A glowing window into autumn. I sat on the living room floor and just stared and stared.
Ever since I started my newsletter, I’ve tried to take more pictures of things that I do in my life. A quick pic of a particularly good breakfast, a neighborhood dog (or peacock), my kitchen table, my mom after I forced her to let me do her makeup. I share a few of these on my newsletter and occasionally on my social media, but mostly what I snap, I save for myself. My Photo app has become a photo journal. It’s so much easier for me to remember things that happened that I want to savor.
Going off script in favor of being myself.
There are so many social and professional scripts we have to follow, as human beings. The monotony of it is exhausting. So lately, when I’m moved to be myself instead of stick with the script, I do. It’s terrifying. And sometimes, embarrassing.
But more often than not, I’m glad I did it.
Like, when I included a chapter-by-chapter food guide in my query letters and got such a positive response from agents. Or, when I told the barista at the local coffee shop that I liked how many bats there were on their shirt and they just BEAMED at me and showed me their new bat tattoo.
I think people want to break with the script more than I realized.
My new smock for cooking! I’ve lost too many shirts to tomato sauce!
And that’s it for now! Though I think this one is the one I’ll probably add to the most. Next, writer stuff!