october round up
“In the depths of a crisis, a less punishing and more beneficial use of one’s time would be a combination of self-care and self-reflection. We should seek out undemanding pleasures and pastimes: warm baths, box sets and comfort food. And, if we must be productive, we should apply ourselves to the task of understanding our own minds, so that we’re able to get to grips with the root cause of our anxieties and hopes.”
This is from The School of Life’s most recent email, which has really stuck with me. I have had some really lovely projects this month, as well as a week of freelancing for Bloom & Wild and the launch of a project from during lockdown. You can see all over here.
MONTHLY FAVOURITES
Two brilliant series I really enjoyed. Both of which look at relationships in interesting and unusual ways.
Enjoyed the Vice Guide to Film: Sofia Coppola. Sofia has long been my film idol, I am excited for her new one, once again with Bill Murray.
Listened to… Bringing Up Baby Islamabad on the BBC World Service. What an insight into parenting around the world.
Turned Up Online for... Creative Mornings. How To Manage Clients with muralist and graphic designer Annica Lydenberg.
What I read this month:
1. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
2. The Wild Other by Clover Stroud
3. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
I loved The Great Alone from Kristen Hannah (although it drove me NUTS at times, I didn’t claim to love it just after I read it but it has stayed with me for a year so viscerally which has made me rethink my feelings) so I was excited for her more renown historical fiction about WW11 and the women of the resistance movement. God it was beautiful.
I also re read one of my favourite books from 2018 Clover Stroud’s The Wild Other. I love this book in many ways. I rarely re read old favourites but I am going to try to as if I loved it the first time there is a high chance that I will find different elements to love during a re read.
American Dirt was another absolutely amazing read. One that I have thought about endlessly. It has given me more empathy for immigrants than I already had and the day I finished it a boat sunk off the coast of Dunkirk and I just felt such pain hearing this, and knowing the fight that those people must have been through to make it that far and then not reach the UK. What must they have been fleeing? I would say unimaginable situations. Was it cultural appropriation of her to tell this story? She was telling a story, a well researched story, which no one else had told and I don’t think she can be criticised for that.
Hope you are coping well with the new UK lockdown. I am just going to keep focusing on connection and nature and thinking about those two big ones: self-care and self-reflection. Thanks Alain de Botton.
