Wishful thinking plus 10 things I'm into
Hello all you beautiful people. This week’s issue of 10 things I’m into is for everyone to enjoy. I want to thank you, as always, for caring about the things I write and have to say on the reg. Connecting with you this way has altered my own perception regarding the internet as a place for community and practice (for the better.) I also never thought I would reach this many people tbh! For all the new readers, WELCOME. Feel free to come or go as you wish (this goes for everybody)—my aim is to reach you in a way that’s chill and fun and completely on your terms.
I write these emails because well, I clearly love writing lol but I am also a woman who shares impressions of herself with strangers on the internet, and I often struggle with knowing just how much to share and why I would share something. Does it feel good to post something? Does this message help anybody? Does it make sense to me? So, I try very hard to use my platforms wisely. (Not to mention I am targeted with plenty of unwanted messaging and creepy comments from… the world’s finest people.) But while many of us opt-in to share such intimate parts of ourselves with one another online, which is normalized in our culture now, my personal WISH is to just reach all the kind minds who I’d actually want in my corner. I love storytelling and expressing my honest thoughts and dreams out loud. I believe the most meaning exists in the smallest normal everyday details and occurrences that we’re all accessing, all the time :-)
This is a space where I try new things, share stories, interact with and draw out anything that is actively on my mind or an important part of myself.
Anyway. I just emerged from the dark depths of this month’s PMDD episode. When I’m riding that wave, it is very hard for me to feel positive or even feel like myself at all. I have to be reminded by those around me that it’s always temporary, because while living it, the symptoms feel like they’ll never end. All I ever desire is the opposite feelings: I want to laugh, I want to create, I want to feel happy in place of pain, I want to look forward to something. Feeling much better now in this moment. I am grateful for all the help I have, my supportive family and friends, who are always there for me.
Now here are some things I love in this moment:
10 things for November
1) Visiting my favorite grocery store clerk
Her name is Tonya. This week I transcribed what Tonya said to me. It felt like the beginning of a monologue that would come from a book that a young actor would choose for a theatre audition.
TONYA: (Speaking directly to me) You look at me now and you’d never think that only yesterday I was on the floor having a mental breakdown! And a headache for four hours. I’m telling you. I’m tired of being both the man and the woman my whole life. Do you know what I mean? Like—(to the customer ahead of me) hun I didn’t charge you for the bags. There’s an error anyhow so I’m ringing them for free. (back to me) Thank you for listening.
2) The artist Yumi Sakugawa’s message on deep healing
“The alchemy of healing shame occurs when you start practicing the opposite energetic qualities of shame in your day-to-day life. So if shame is about rejecting yourself, then shame healing begins when you practice accepting yourself…
The power of shame is decreased when we challenge the shaming voice with a new voice, a narrative that dares to affirm our inherent worthiness simply for being alive. Shame becomes stronger with practice and repetition. Shame decreases with the practice and repetition of thinking, doing, feeling the opposite of shame.” (source: Yumi Sakugawa)
When I first read this, I was feeling so bogged down by (none other than my own) negative self-talk. Having a perspective like this comes from practice, just like Yumi said. Everyday is a new chance to start practicing better self-acceptance and understanding that our feelings are very powerful—so by being courteous to how we think and feel, we can be better friends to ourselves. I’ve definitely benefitted from my own daily affirmations and rituals but I reeeeeally love this concept of opposing shame by creating a better story in its place <3
3) This gas station sun hat
…that I regrettably did not buy. Side note: I am into the entire concept of repellent fashion and wearing moody direct statements like “GO AWAY” but how do I adopt these under my own guise of personal style? If someone is holding a masterclass on how to be chic and classique while also being funny, lmk. I will be shopping at the gas station in the meantime.
4) This tape by Casia Levine and Kendall Babl
My sweet dear talented friend Casia released a cassette this month titled AARU that is curiously fun and full of unusually vivid dimensions for your ears to enjoy. We listened to this tape in my car while riding around Eagle Rock on a Friday night. This collection of sound echoes a special depth, and I recommend! Also at my house we recently acquired a radio cassette player that produces the most gorgeous ambiance and I am just so stoked on it. Playing the radio, tapes, it’s just great.
5) My personal trendcast: the Italian charm bracelet
Despite still pinching my arm hair, she is just as customized and quintessentially telling of my young curating skills via symbols. It fully brought on so much nostalgia for me, remembering the way I would intimately peruse a shop like Limited Too or a similar store. But why did these bracelets fall out of style when they were a multi-decade crowd pleaser??? Am I nuts? I want to wear this out more often because I just know whoever recognizes it will feel the same way that I did (purely elated) when I rediscovered this in my old jewelry box. BELLA
6) Finding poems everywhere, like in the subject of this email
7) The Jean Shorts Planter from FORMAS
Damn person how’d you get all them plants.
8) This substack post by Annika Hansteen-Izora: annikahansteenizora.substack.com/p/my-creativity-is-magic-not-a-brand
I’m such a fan of Annika’s writing. In the public post titled ‘My creativity is magic, not a brand’ they discuss their relationship with creativity, while also dissecting this society and the tumultuous commerce cycle that we’re all apart of. OOF. I think—no, I know—you’ll really enjoy this piece.
9) Objects my fiancé surprises me with
David found these coasters at The Spiral.
10) Celebrating life as much as I can throughout this season and beyond :’)
Have a great week,
Gabrielle
Hi! If you’d like to support my ideas and the writing I produce, consider upgrading to a paid subscriber today! This substack is completely ad-free, made with love, and is dedicated to my interests, musings, humor, stories, and so much more. A mild achievement was reaching the Top 50 in Humor on Substack within the first few months of publishing in 2022. You may also LIKE this post or spread the word if you feel like it. I look forward to what’s to come, and thank you for all the love.