When India Arie said, “It’s the the little things. And the joy they bring”— I understood.
When I think about peace, I’m reminded of the this song. Before I knew anything about glimmers1, I recited this song as a preteen. It still lives with me.
What brings you joy? What is your peace?
Sometimes it requires self-work to find this answer—to peel back your stubborn layers and connect with your needs. While some of these calm and reassuring moments are constant, others are seasonal.
For me, I love the smell of a fresh brewed cup of coffee—the warmth of my favorite mug in my hand—and that first comforting sip. Or the sun’s good morning while I lie in savasana.2 I’ll always stop and smile at playful hummingbirds. And slow browsing the isles of a bookstore is a feel-good song I’ll keep on repeat.
I hope you find your joy and peaceful place. Here are some of my moments in pictures.
Thank you to my new subscribers! This edition of The Cottage is a complimentary treat to the monthly content curation list.
Saving Substack finds is my way of scrolling social media—archiving them for a later undisturbed moment. I’m not quite sure to call them “posts”, but I do know how relaxing it is to carve out time to indulge in some good shorter reads.
Here are 4 articles from newsletters I’ve recently saved and read:
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This is my season of unsubscribing, but Substack friends hear me out. Sometimes we hold on to that email because we feel that we might need that 15% off. Read this and get inspired to declutter your inbox to make those good reads more visible.
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Sending our friends funny videos, gifs, or informative links to check-in is a love language. From podcast recommendations to a favorite everyday bag, Aja and Aliza round up a interesting list for readers. We Now Live In A Koi-Fish Pond
Children’s book author- illustrator Rachel Wilson shares her journey with moving to three different states with her husband, and their dog Annie. (funny family pictures included). The latest post details her experience in San Francisco with a very pregnant koi fish and some discomforts along the way. I’ll be sticking around for updates.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Gut Microbiome
Speaking of buzzwords, like glimmers, the internet has been obsessing over gut health. In fact, #guthealth TikTok has over 23 million views, but it’s more than a social media trend. Second Brain is a newsletter from Dr. Emily Leeming, registered dietitian and microbiome scientist. Read this edition of her newsletter for an introduction on how to improve your gut microbiome.
Listen to India Arie’s song “Little Things” here.
And in TV news…
The 1993 comedy-drama film Mrs. Doubtfire celebrates 30 years this November.
After a delay (writers’ strike), the second season of Issa Rae’s “Rap Sh!t” is scheduled to premiere on Nov. 9. 3
SCAD AnimationFest (Savannah College of Art and Design) will take place in Atlanta this year in the new SCADshow theater on September 28-30. Exectutives from Netflix, Cartoon Network Studios, Artie, and Fox will be in attendance. 4
And the word of the day is…
kaput (adj)—as in tired, done for, unable to continue.
A new-ish phrase on social media. Basically the opposite of triggers-the small moments that bring you peace, joy and/or a feeling of safety.
A yoga pose where you basically lie on the floor. Spine resting and fully relaxed while surrendering your mind to the moment. It’s one of my favorites after a deep meditative stretch.
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/issa-rae-rap-shit-season-2-delay-november-strikes-1235687095/
https://www.awn.com/news/scad-animationfest-2023-coming-atlanta
The colors in your collection of photos are divine! (also, love the idea of a glimmer!)
Aww thank you for sharing my post!