Happy Friday, friends.
There are many problems that come from being a child actor.
One of them is that I have romanticized notions of just about everything. This comes from reading too many scripts and watching too many movies. I assume true love must require one of us running through the rain because otherwise, it’s just not legit. I assume grocery shopping should happen as an adorable montage. I often wonder what the soundtrack is playing as I walk down the street, or when I look out the window on the train.
And I also think being sick is going to look like being sick on screen. I’ll get a cold, and I’ll sit on my couch, with kleenex strategically strewn about and I’ll watch old movies and read magazines and be on mini-vacation while my immune system does its job. And my hair will look amazing the whole time.
My cold last week was nothing like that.
I couldn’t hold my head up long enough to watch a movie or read a book. The skin of my eyeballs hurt too much to keep them open. My ears were plugged so I couldn’t hear anything. My head pounded and my throat felt like I was trying to swallow a cactus. When I could speak, I started every sentence to my husband with: “if I die from this…”
It was not the Movie Sick I wanted, sipping hot tea and dabbing my nose gently.
I was an exhausted, snot-filled monster. And needless to say, my hair did not look amazing.
Luckily. That’s over.
Back to work. And happy to do so.
Here is your germ-free weekly rundown.
What I’ve been watching
Too Funny to Fail - a hilarious, fascinating documentary about the crash and burn of The Dana Carvey Show. If you’re interested in comedy, how television works, or why something called Grandma The Clown could be so.damn.disturbing, check it out.
What I’ve been reading
Focus: the hidden driver of excellence - I’ve been doing more corporate events lately, and this book is a good introduction to mindfulness as it’s seen through a business lens. Ironically, the book is kind of unfocused and bounces around a bit, but it helped me to get my head around corporate culture on this stuff. OVERALL LEARNER EXPERIENCE! LEVERAGE! PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES!
If you’re interested in my take on mental wellness in the world of corporations, I just released a podcast on that topic - find it here. And if you’re interested in having me put on my corporate pants, curb the swearing, and come talk at your company - contact me here.
What I’ve been cooking
I don’t get Blue Apron deliveries anymore, but there are a few recipes that I got from them that I make over and over. Cauliflower STEAKS, y’all. And who knew putting grapes in brown butter was such a great idea? (Honestly, I should have known. You can put dirt in brown butter and I’d bet it would be incredible.)
What I’ve been listening to
Thing I’m looking forward to
“One of the most powerful, supportive growth experiences of my life. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
That’s what one of the participants of my workshop at Kripalu said about the workshop last year. It kind of makes me cry because I’m so touched by that.
But honestly, these workshops are so much fun and tend to be pretty profound for everyone involved. Including me. Part of it is because of the place. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is like Disneyland for yoga. (Kripalu marketers, you can use that if you want.) It’s one of my favorite places on the planet and I and honored that I get to teach there.
If you want to know more about my workshop Anxiety Management Through Yoga, Writing, and Learning to Embrace Your Weird you can visit the Kripalu website or email me your questions. I’d love to see you there on March 13-15 in Lenox, MA. And no, you don’t need any experience with yoga or writing to attend. We’ll take it all slow. Promise.
You can check out any of my other upcoming events by clicking on that cute button below.
Take your vitamin C, everyone, and never ever expect anything to look the way it does in the movies.