It’s already the end of March? You know you’re getting older when you’re constantly befuddled by the passage of time. Let’s get into the roundup!
Quote of the week:
“When faced with a loss, it is no use trying to recover what has gone. On the other hand, a great space has been opened up in your life—there it lies, empty, waiting to be filled with something new. At the moment of one’s loss, contradictory as this might seem, one is being given a large slice of freedom.” –Paulo Coelho
What I’m reading:
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro. I’ve been a long-time fan of Dani Shapiro (her book on writing is a must-read for any writer) and was so excited when she came out with this latest novel. I’m just about done with it and I’ve really enjoyed it.
What I’m listening to:
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley. She’s another author I’ve loved for a long time, and she’s been so supportive of my career since my first book came out in 2016. This latest book of hers is so much fun.
What I’m watching:
I finished Daisy Jones and the Six and…wow. It was so well done. I am not one to shed tears often, but I shed some in the finale. Next up for me is something totally different: the Netflix documentary MH370: The Plane That Disappeared.
Writing news:
- I just wrapped up another round of edits on my latest manuscript. It feels very done to me. I’m looking forward to next steps
- Reminder: Chirp books is having a sale on my audiobooks. Big discounts! Ends next week, so take advantage!
What I’m talking about:
- The Nashville school shooting. I feel so helpless and I know it does no good to wallow in that feeling, but I just cannot comprehend the power of the NRA and this American loyalty to guns over children. Is it really all about money and the contributions the NRA gives politicians? Really? That’s it? So disillusioning. I’m so sad for the families who lost their loved ones, and I’m tired of this ongoing grief
- The indictment of Donald Trump. This should be the first of many. I’ll be eating my popcorn, seeing how this all plays out
Interesting things I learned this week:
- Research is showing that after we die, we are aware that we’ve died. After our breathing and heartbeat stop, we remain conscious for two to 20 seconds
- The FDA has approved the first over-the-counter naloxone spray (aka Narcan). This drug can reverse opioid overdose. So important given the current state of our opioid epidemic in this country
- One in 4 American women goes back to work within TWO WEEKS of giving birth. This is absurd
- After WWII, several Japanese soldiers remained in hiding in the jungle, loyal to the Bushidō philosophy’s emphasis on honor and self-sacrifice. Shoichi Yokoi was in hiding for 27 years, and Hiroo Onoda hid for 30 years!
- Mark Hamill, of Luke Skywalker fame, voices air raid alerts in Ukraine. Quoting a line from “Return of the Jedi,” he says, “Don’t be careless. Your overconfidence is your weakness.” When the alert is over, he says, “May the force be with you”
- Life expectancy continues to decline in the US. It decreased around the world in 2020 due to COVID-19, but most peer countries rebounded in 2021 with the arrival of vaccines. The US has not rebounded. Life expectancy here is down to 76 years
- The Miami Seaquarium is going to release the killer whale known as Tokitae after being in captivity for more than 50 years
- The US is home to 120.5 guns per 100 individuals, making it the only country in the entire world with more guns than people
- Americans are 25x more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than people in other countries
- The Florida legislature passed a bill this week approving carrying a concealed loaded gun without a permit
- A bullet from an AR-15 flies out of the barrel at a speed that would cross six football fields in A SECOND
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Sweat glands in feet.” I went to a yoga ball-rolling workshop (IYKYK) workshop last weekend and the instructor mentioned that there are thousands of sweat glands in our feet. Thousands?! I was intrigued, so I had to google. There are about 125,000 sweat glands in each foot! Feet have more sweat glands per square inch than any other area of the body. No wonder all our socks stink.
What I’m grateful for:
- Seeing progress on my house renovation. Floors are going in this week!
- My new therapist. I’m a big proponent of therapy and think it can do wonders for overall health. I sought out a new therapist who specializes in somatic work and I’m loving it so far
- Finishing edits on my latest manuscript! Well, this round of edits anyway. I love telling stories so much
- My daughter, who has been an absolute delight lately. Parenting is so hard, but I love watching her grow. I don’t share much about her in general, out of respect for her privacy and whatnot, but she is amazing
Snapshots:
