This is a hopefully weekly post where I share the things that are lighting me up. I get very, very into things and I love to tell people about the things I am very, very into. Here’s what I’m obsessed with right now:
1. Sunrise Movement
Sunrise Movement is “building an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.” I first learned about the organization at an Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez event, and have since started their Sunrise 101 leadership orientation, a three-week webinar series designed to train new leaders and help people become more informed about the structural and intersectional issues that have gotten us to this terrifying point. (The next one starts Wednesday, January 30.)
Sunrise’s leadership team includes a lot of college students, many of whom have lived experience of the devastating effects of climate change in the form of natural disasters and extreme heat. They are smart, organized, and inspiring. One of my favorite principles of the movement is: “Changing the world is a fulfilling and joyful process, and we let that show.” The kids are alright.
2. My Valentine’s movie podcast
This week, I started recording episodes of a podcast miniseries I’m doing in the days leading up to (and including) Valentine’s Day. It’s similar in structure to my Hallmark Christmas movie podcast, Business Christmas, but with a mix of Hallmark Valentine’s movies (duh) and general Hallmark romcoms. Controversial opinion: Hallmark’s garden-variety romcoms are actually better than their Christmas movies. Put it on my gravestone.
I’ll share more details about the podcast in the near future.
3. This video of Tom Holland dancing to Rihanna’s “Umbrella”
This is literally the only thing I care about don’t try to talk to me about anything else:
4. Book of the Month
I joined Book of the Month after seeing it on my friend Lauren’s Instagram feed, and it’s maybe the best monthly subscription service I’ve ever signed up for. Every month, for $15, you get to choose from five new, noteworthy hardcover books. Some I’ve received so far are Ling Ma’s Severance, Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere. (If you use this link, I get a free book! And you get a free add-on book if you use the code in the BOTM site header.)
5. Not running
As I write this, I should be wrapping up the half marathon I was supposed to run in Central Park this morning. But a couple of weeks ago, I realized I didn’t want to run anymore. At least not for now. I signed up for the Covered Bridges Half in Vermont in June, and I plan to run the Brooklyn Half in May, which is my favorite race. But running just doesn’t sound good to me these days. What does sound good: spin class at BYKlyn with my friends, hot yoga, daily meditation, brisk walks in the cold. I’m glad I didn’t build an identity around running, because I have nothing to divest myself of. I’m just not doing it, until I feel like doing it again.
How to Be Creative 