Sometimes you’ll earn money from it, sometimes you’ll have to go get a job elsewhere. That’s how it’s always worked. Just keep doing the thing in the meantime.
- loved this as someone who has just accepted another job. I promise to keep at it !
As a 35 y.o man with kids I think about my ageing and how my physical body is not as resilient to injuries, aches or looking how I wish it would. Trying to accept that my body will have limitations now and that's ok
I refused to acknowledge my physical limitations and permanently injured myself in my early forties. Just because you've been in a physical job and are in good shape doesn't mean you can't wreck yourself. Please learn from my bad example, folks.
I absolutely carry a little pack of nuts around, and often have them for breakfast when travelling! But in all seriousness, a great piece. I'm one of the few of my friends who isn't interested in the 'youth injections'. Fully nodded along to most t of these. I just turned 36, and would add doubling down on sleep protocols: viewing natural sunlight in the early morning and dimming artificial lights at night has been a game changer for the quality of my sleep. Syncing with day/night cycle ensures cortisol and melatonin are released at the right times of day, and better regularity. We were supposed to set our body clocks to the sun - who knew!?
Yes I am very intrigued by the morning sunlight idea but I struggle with the practicality of it. What if it's cold and grey in the mornings? Do you still do it then?
Yes! It’s even more important on overcast and rainy days. There’s still way more light coming into your eyes from the sun on a grey day than what you can get from artificial light. This is super easy to test, you can download a luxometer on you phone! Even the brightest indoor lights will only crack out about 1000 lux. On a rainy day you’d still get a minimum of 5000 lux - there’s just so many more photons outside, everywhere, it’s diffuse.
And it’s also about the wavelength of light hitting the neurones in your retina: when the sun is at a low solar angle, there’s loads of blue light for the eyes - super important for setting the circadian rhythm. I also have a light box, but you basically have to stick your face right in front of it for 15 minutes, which is really impractical.
On a sunny day I go out for 5 minutes as soon as I can after waking, and on a cloudy or rainy day 15 minutes or so. Just a walk around the block. I really recommend giving it a go! To be paired with evening candlelight and yoga nidra for maximum benefits.
I’m planning to write a full post on the benefits of light for health and sleep, I’ve been reading a lot about this recently and the results have been astonishing for me :)
"to find ways to relish life even (especially) when you’re the busiest" is the loveliest sentiment. One must laugh in the face of chaos and find the goodness in it :)
Love this but I would disagree w #2 - going out on a Saturday night, or any night, made me feel like an adult human with a brain rather than a capital M Mum who only converses with small people... & #5 - we had a dryer in our rented house and I think I used it maybe 5 times in 8 years 🙃
This is one of the few emails in my inbox that I actually look forward to opening and reading ❤️. So much of what you write resonates with me...thank you for continuing to make time for writing!
And completely agree with your advice about creative types/endeavours. The success of creativity is very much subject to extremism (1% of creativity is wildly successful, the rest won’t).
Historically most successful creative types had an ordinary job. (at least initially before they hit the big time- or else their work or ideas weren’t appreciated until after their death)
The choice thing is an interesting paradox. I feel I have far more choices now than when I was younger (I’m 33) and it’s partially because I’m older I know more about myself and about the world, as well as my limitations, which allows me to choose accordingly.
Perhaps the choice limiting is people having the same mindset as in their teens and twenties, and of course you can’t be the same as you age. Once you accept that you’re aging, you can make choices accordingly which makes you feel like you have more options.
Within your known limitations, you have many options!
Sometimes you’ll earn money from it, sometimes you’ll have to go get a job elsewhere. That’s how it’s always worked. Just keep doing the thing in the meantime.
- loved this as someone who has just accepted another job. I promise to keep at it !
You can and will!
The garden metaphore is where it's at! Fall is the best season of the year.
As a 35 y.o man with kids I think about my ageing and how my physical body is not as resilient to injuries, aches or looking how I wish it would. Trying to accept that my body will have limitations now and that's ok
I refused to acknowledge my physical limitations and permanently injured myself in my early forties. Just because you've been in a physical job and are in good shape doesn't mean you can't wreck yourself. Please learn from my bad example, folks.
I absolutely carry a little pack of nuts around, and often have them for breakfast when travelling! But in all seriousness, a great piece. I'm one of the few of my friends who isn't interested in the 'youth injections'. Fully nodded along to most t of these. I just turned 36, and would add doubling down on sleep protocols: viewing natural sunlight in the early morning and dimming artificial lights at night has been a game changer for the quality of my sleep. Syncing with day/night cycle ensures cortisol and melatonin are released at the right times of day, and better regularity. We were supposed to set our body clocks to the sun - who knew!?
Yes I am very intrigued by the morning sunlight idea but I struggle with the practicality of it. What if it's cold and grey in the mornings? Do you still do it then?
Yes! It’s even more important on overcast and rainy days. There’s still way more light coming into your eyes from the sun on a grey day than what you can get from artificial light. This is super easy to test, you can download a luxometer on you phone! Even the brightest indoor lights will only crack out about 1000 lux. On a rainy day you’d still get a minimum of 5000 lux - there’s just so many more photons outside, everywhere, it’s diffuse.
And it’s also about the wavelength of light hitting the neurones in your retina: when the sun is at a low solar angle, there’s loads of blue light for the eyes - super important for setting the circadian rhythm. I also have a light box, but you basically have to stick your face right in front of it for 15 minutes, which is really impractical.
On a sunny day I go out for 5 minutes as soon as I can after waking, and on a cloudy or rainy day 15 minutes or so. Just a walk around the block. I really recommend giving it a go! To be paired with evening candlelight and yoga nidra for maximum benefits.
I’m planning to write a full post on the benefits of light for health and sleep, I’ve been reading a lot about this recently and the results have been astonishing for me :)
Okay I’m going to try! If you remember please alert me to your post!
Will do. Good luck. Let there be light!
"to find ways to relish life even (especially) when you’re the busiest" is the loveliest sentiment. One must laugh in the face of chaos and find the goodness in it :)
Lovely. Thanks for gathering and distilling this wisdom.
So much wisdom! I wish I could paste this to the inside of my eyeballs.
Love this but I would disagree w #2 - going out on a Saturday night, or any night, made me feel like an adult human with a brain rather than a capital M Mum who only converses with small people... & #5 - we had a dryer in our rented house and I think I used it maybe 5 times in 8 years 🙃
That's true! I would also not say no to a Saturday pm babysitter, but if I can afford only a few a month, I'd rather most of them be during the day.
Different strokes for different folks, as they used to say 😊
Great list overall, but also some real gems in there. Thanks for this!
Great article! As a 36 years old single mom, I felt very seen :)
I’m so glad
So so beautiful! Just read this list on the front door steps in the sun and it was a lovely moment. Also loved the garden metaphor ! Thank you 🌸
This newsletter is best enjoyed in that location!
Loved this Rosie, thank you.
You are wiser than your years!
This is one of the few emails in my inbox that I actually look forward to opening and reading ❤️. So much of what you write resonates with me...thank you for continuing to make time for writing!
That’s my favourite thing to hear! Thank you for reading
And completely agree with your advice about creative types/endeavours. The success of creativity is very much subject to extremism (1% of creativity is wildly successful, the rest won’t).
Historically most successful creative types had an ordinary job. (at least initially before they hit the big time- or else their work or ideas weren’t appreciated until after their death)
The choice thing is an interesting paradox. I feel I have far more choices now than when I was younger (I’m 33) and it’s partially because I’m older I know more about myself and about the world, as well as my limitations, which allows me to choose accordingly.
Perhaps the choice limiting is people having the same mindset as in their teens and twenties, and of course you can’t be the same as you age. Once you accept that you’re aging, you can make choices accordingly which makes you feel like you have more options.
Within your known limitations, you have many options!