Monday Motivation
Right now I’m in the sweet spot of post vacation glow where you feel all refreshed and inspired and also just thankful to be home. After recording personal record daily steps in 90 degree days in Europe, returning to New York feeling like September has been most welcome. I know it’s only “fake fall” and we’ll get another wash of sticky summer weather before sweater season is in full swing, but I’m loving this little taste of autumn. So far I’ve resisted the urge to pull out the fall decor, but the pumpkins and woodsy candles are coming soon. The seasonal change also triggers my back to school vibes, I feel I will forever be hardwired to want new pens and a fresh dark denim each September until I leave this physical body.
Speaking of this physical body, I’ve felt a bit like a potato and while vacation reminded me of how nice it feels to put together a cute outfit, the photos of these cute outfits also highlighted the ways in which my body has changed in a way that doesn’t feel great to see. I’ve had some health issues that caused this, but while hormones were at play so were a lax diet and exercise routine. I’m not going to beat myself up about it, I wouldn’t take back the fun I had drinking cocktails with friends or blame myself for not wanting to exercise when my internal organs were damaged, uncomfortable and downright painful. Nor will I hate on a body that’s doing everything I ask of it. I come from a family with arthritic people so I will never take working joints or anything else functioning properly for granted. If my only complaint is based on aesthetics and my vanity, I am blessed.
On another note, August was an expensive month! Vacationing in Europe in August isn’t the best time or place to score travel deals. Also Maury’s annual, very comprehensive vet visit was this month, an expense I’m thrilled to have, and hope to have for many more Augusts to come! My other substantial expense this month (and probably the reason I’m here typing this), is my annual Squarespace bill for this website. Much like paying for a gym membership you don’t use, there’s a certain shame with paying a not insignificant sum for a service you aren’t using, particularly when it feels tied in to your sense of self and what you could and should be accomplishing if only you weren’t a (nsert negative self talk here). I registered for amybhappy.com during the pandemic, 3 years ago, thinking it would be a place where I would write on a regular basis, learn how to maintain a website and basically build skills and writing clips for potential freelance work. In the time since then, I’ve done 5 posts! But to quote Penelope Cruz in Vanilla Sky, “Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.’
Here are some finds I used this Monday that made me feel like it’s starting to turn around.
This essay
I found Olivia Muenter via Grace Atwood, founder of one of my favorite blogs, The Stripe. When Grace stepped away from the popular Bad on Paper podcast, Olivia took over her spot co-hosting. She’s great on the pod, but I really love her on Instagram. She has a cute dog, a gorgeous upstate house she’s re-doing, relatable and lovely fashion picks and her writing is so beautifully vulnerable. I love her substack essays, where she also provides an audio track option. I listened to this one when I was still in bed cuddling with Maury and it was a great, gentle jumpstart to my day.
This episode
I used to work with Taylor Rooks, and she was amazing from Day 1. I’m so, so proud of all she’s accomplished in her career and she’s only getting started! I had this podcast saved in my episodes forever and I’m so glad I listened to it on my rich dog mom walk today. She shares a lot of career advice that is applicable across many fields, but especially in media. I also love her love of reading, I got 4 book recs in this episode. A bookworm, a sports fan, a southern girl after my own heart.
This class
Filled with motivation after listening to Taylor on our morning stroll, I decided a workout was in order. I usually opt for strength training with weights, forever trying to tone my triceps, but today called for something that felt a little more graceful. Anna Greenberg actually used to teach at my beloved East Yoga studio, which closed years ago sadly. I remember her classes being so good, and during savasana she would come and give us a little massage with rosemary mint lotion. So delightful. I was recently reminded of her, because one of the home accounts I follow, @brownstoneboys was working on her swoon worthy brownstone in Brooklyn. This was my first pilates class on the Peloton app and my first pilates class in a while, to be honest. She was just as wonderful as I remember, explaining alignment in an understandable way. I wasn’t dying getting thru it, but abs were sore after.
This post
I saw someone else I follow on Instagram post something from Mark Manson, and I followed it to his account page where he has this pinned. Seems like a nice parting thought and thought provoking way to end this entry.
I hope you all are feeling the buzz of a new season, reach out and let me know how you’re getting your shit together too, inspiration in numbers.
