Speech, Adolescence, Jelly Roll, Daylight, Opinion

Friends,

I started this newsletter as a way to continue writing and sharing with folks who have are interested in my thoughts and recommendations. Yet, I have felt creatively stifled these past few weeks. Perhaps you are feeling the same way? Regardless, I want to ease back into this writing process. So here goes with the current Five.

1️⃣ Speech

Earlier this week, Senator Corey Booker broke the record for longest speech delivered on the Senate floor. This man spoke for 25 hours! He did not go to the bathroom, let alone take any breaks. It turns out he prepped his body for days in advance. He fasted, including water. Did his muscles nearly give out? Yes.

Journalists are debating whether or not the actual content of the speech was the star or just the mere fact that Booker took on this experiment and DELIVERED.

I am sharing this here, because a speech can be so much more than words. It has to be embodied. And watching any snippet of Booker from that 25-hour event, proves this to be the case.

2️⃣ Adolescence

Have you watched Adolescence on Netflix? It is breathtaking, gut-wrenching, and a level of artistry that requires your complete one-screen-viewing attention for an hour at a time. If you have managed to avoid any behind-the-scenes footage or think pieces, continue to do so and watching this 4-part series without spoilers. It’s challenging but in the most beautiful of ways.

3️⃣ Jelly Roll

Two words, technically, but itis one guy. I don’t know much about Jelly Roll’s music or his life as an artist. But a few seasons ago on The Voice, one of the contestants, Lauren-Michael Sellers, sang a cover of his song “I Am Not Okay” and it blew me away.

Since watching her performance 4 months ago, the song and its lyrics have stuck with me. And since so many people are not okay at this moment (or ever, really), it’s a good one to watch/listen to right about now. “It’s all going to be alright.”

4️⃣ Daylight

In my ongoing search for technology that prioritizes human well-being, I learned about Daylight and the DC-1. My goal is to replace my iPad with this device, use this for creative writing, note-taking, email on the go, reading and YouTube viewing and only use my laptop when it is work related or something that absolutely cannot be done on this thing. I haven’t purchased it yet, but it’s at the top of my list for when I have the funds to do so. Meanwhile my light phone 3 is en route and I cannot wait to switch over to this model. I got the light phone 2 about 6 months before they announced the new model. I hadn’t realized how long the LP2 had been around and they’ve ensured their customers that the LP3 is designed to hold on to for as a long as possible. It has the hard and soft infrastructure to stand the test of time.

5️⃣ Opinion

The title of this OpEd hooked me. And hopefully it will hook you to. The future of storytelling is scary, folks. Let’s all do our best to change this!

Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers,

Hillary