Well hello there Reader!! 🖤😁
I’m writing this email at my standing desk - and today, its kinda essential. 😂
You might remember me mentioning some shoulder issues? Well, after a LOT of physio and an injection straight into the tendons (a definite yikes moment), things are finally healing.
Not only is it no longer painful 24/7 (which is SUCH a relief), but I’ve also been able to ease back into regular exercise again. BUT, as much as I hate to admit it... I am clearly not 20 anymore 🤨
After a few months of being pretty inactive, lets just say I can feel every single muscle worked this week. So today, standing is definitely easier on the gams. 😜
But honestly, one of the best things about being able to be active again is that it’s really helping me get out of my head a little. Running a business, trying to grow an audience, staying sane with the horrendous things happening in the world (which feels like a lot right now)... it’s easy for me to get mentally overloaded.
Sometimes I feel exhaustred, despite not having done anything in particular. The constantly thinking, planning and worrying is enough.
Being a bit more physically active is helping alleviate that. A bit more awareness of my body is just making me feel a little more present - and giving me a bit of (welcome) perspective on things.
BUT - it’s also made me realize how often we (especially as business owners) treat our physical and mental wellbeing as secondary to our work priorities.
So this is just a gentle reminder to prioritize your physical (not just fiscal) wellbeing this week - whatever that looks like for you and your limits. Lets be honest, we’re no good to anyone if we’re unwell, burnt out, or disconnected.
As RuPaul says: “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” 🖤
From observer to collaborator
On that note - one of the things I’ve noticed with social media lately - and I know I’m not the only one - is how easy it is to fall into the trap of just scrolling. Consuming (barely) everything I pass with zero real interaction. And honestly? I don't like that feeling.
As I get older, I increasingly want to be more engaged with life, not less. Obviously, that goes way beyond social media, but it does feel like a pretty good little micro-analogy.😊
This week over on YouTube, I’m playing with that idea by using a new trend to create an interactive, stop-motion style animation for the Instagram on mobile - just using the carousel post format and bit of Instagram functionality that may surprise you.
There are so many potential ways to use this technique, but in the spirit of being more hands-on (literally), I actually made something with my real-life human hands too. (Shocking, I know. 🤣😜)
The key thing about this type of content is that it helps shift people from passive scrollers to active participants...collaborators really. It invites people to do something. And when people interact with your content like that, it not only boosts engagement - it builds connection.
I’d love to know what you think, check it out and let me know in the comments. Did you know you could do this with Instagram?
Meaningful Creations
If you’ve been on my list for a while, you’ll know how much I admire Japanese culture - its craft, its values, and its beautiful approach to life.
Today, I want to share a resource that might help explain why it resonates with me so deeply.
Musubi Academy is an online platform dedicated to sharing the essential wisdom, creativity and quiet beauty woven through Japanese culture. Their mission is “To bridge cultures and empower individuals to better navigate their lives and our planet.”
They do this through interviews, essays, video content—and an immersive online program that I’m REALLY hoping to take in the future.😊
What I love about Musubi is how their exploration of tradition and philosophy never suggests we should stay stuck in the past. And when they speak with craftspeople, thinkers, and practitioners, it is fascinating to me how they never suggest any kind of rejection of progress or change. Quite the opposite.
There’s a sense that these ancient ways of being - these small, thoughtful rituals - are becoming more vital. They help us reconnect with what really matters and with each other. And they help us slow down, pay attention, and be more present in the moment. Something that I personally find hard to do generally.
Check out their instagram or website. And tell them I sent ya. 😉
That's it you lovely people! Take care of yourself, and please look out for those around you that may be feeling scared or even at risk right now. Even just a bit of kindness can help someone feel safer and more valued. 🖤
I appreciate you.
