Seven Things: March 2021
As March comes to a close, I am feeling extra grateful that spring really is just around the corner. As they say: March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb. For me, that felt particularly true this year. The beginning of the month felt like a boomerang - good days, hard days, freezing days, warmer days. In this moment, where I have been aching for more outdoor time, less stress, and the promise of spring - lets just say, I am happy for April to begin tomorrow. Here’s the seven things I was watching, reading, loving, and thinking about in March.
Watching: Given the pandemic, TV is still a top priority for me. The highlight of the month was watching Yes Day on Netflix - it was the dose of goodness and fun that I needed. I also watched Deadly Illusions and Dangerous Lies (which both felt like slightly elevated Lifetime Thrillers) and The Stranger. Right now I’m most excited about Stanley Tucci’s Searching For Italy. I had heard about this from a few friends and oh my goodness it is just what I needed. I’m enjoying every minute and dreaming of the next time I’ll travel to Italy.
Reading: If you can’t tell from my movie list, I am a big fan of thrillers, and one of my favorite authors is Ruth Ware. I read her most recent, One By One, which despite being a bit slow in parts, was enjoyable. I’m now reading The Sanatorium, which is another thriller that actually has a lot of similarities to One By One, so it’s interesting reading them back to back. While I’ve dove into fiction this month, I expect to find a balance between fiction and non-fiction as we move into April.
Movement: While I didn’t work out as much as I would have liked this past month, I do want to take a moment to share my favorites. First - Ally Love. Is there anyone more inspirational, relatable, and badass in the fitness industry? I think not. Her Peloton workouts (I mostly do Spin + Barre) are fun and hard, and I’m grateful for her all the time. When I’m not sweating it out on the Peloton, I am doing slower but insanely powerful movement with Melissa Wood Health. I joined her program after having baby A, and she continues to be an important part of my routine. Now that it’s warmer, I’m taking longer walks again - which usually means I’m listening to my favorite Podcast, Crime Junkie.
Getting Away: I miss traveling a lot and feel grateful for how many places I have been able to go in this life thus far. While it will still be quite some time before I step on a plane, I did have a weekend getaway to my favorite place in the world, Falmouth MA, on Cape Cod. For me, nothing is more grounding than being near the ocean - every moment was like getting a dose of the most important medicine, and reminded me that even little (super safe) adventures right now can have a big impact on mental health.
House Hunting: This month also kept us busy, because we are house hunting. Let me tell you - house hunting in the pandemic is no joke, especially in our new state of Massachusetts. Competition is fierce, and this has been a master class in patience and trust. I know the right house will come along, but there have been a lot of ups and downs. I do want to highlight a really helpful resources that we’ve used along the way, Suburban Jungle. If you are considering moving to the ‘burbs, they offer great resources and “insider guides” to towns across the country.
Grief: This month has been extremely painful for our country and the world. Between the horrific mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, to the ongoing coup in Myanmar, to the denial of medical care to trans-youth, to the border crisis, to the ongoing pandemic…the list goes on for far too long. It can be so hard to remember that it is important to create space to grieve, to remember, to really think about what is happening and what you can do to help. Throughout all of these tragedies, it’s also important to remember to take care of ourselves and those closest to us. We can’t help others if we are burned out, or numb, or paralyzed by fear. Take the space you need to continue the fight - this world needs all of us to show up for social justice, human rights, and to build a sustainable future.
Organizations To Support: I love to share a few organizations each month that mean a lot to me, or that I see to be doing important work. The first - which I hope you’ve heard of this month - is Stop AAPI Hate. Next up, is the Transgender Law Center, which focuses on changing laws, policies, and attitudes so all people can live safely regardless of their gender identify or expression. Finally, Color of Change, which includes important resources for all of us to help fight racial injustice.
