Happy March 24th!đ
Celebrate yourself.
Happy Wednesday, my dearest Twenty-Somethings! And also, happy March 24th! But, whatâs on March 24th? you might be wondering. Well, itâs a funny story, reallyâŚ
You may know I come from a rather eccentric family: the Fish Family. The tradition of March 24th stems from a classic tale from none other than my older brother and fellow Twenty-Something, (Colin) Xeno Fish. Iâll let him explain:
On March 24, 2006, I had a great day. I told jokes and people laughed, I did well on a test, I played knockout (a basketball game which I am terrible at) and won the whole thing! The air was fresh with spring and the music (R.E.M.âs Document on my Walkman, probably) was fantastic. I told myself on that day that March 24th would henceforth be my holiday. Why not?
Jump forward to March 24, 2007. My grades are slipping, my friends arenât hanging out with me, dating has not gone well, itâs pouring rain outside. The tween angst of being a 13-year-old is in full swing. I curse the man, I curse God, and I curse myself for my problems. And then I realize: itâs March 24th! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Such a perfect day but a year ago had become the nadir of my young existence! I vowed on that day that no matter the state of my world, I would celebrate March 24th from then on as my holiday, a reason to be happy. Even if the world was crumbling around me, I would never have another sad March 24th. Every year I would dress up in some ridiculous costume, with a morphsuit or a psychedelic cape of my motherâs design, always with some bizarre hat Iâd collected and I would tell my story and tell my friends to be happy, for it was March 24th!
This year is the 15th anniversary of the first March 24th and I plan to wear a stupid hat and maybe a cape and watch some of my favorite movies! In my years, I have found that life can be hard to live. Everyone is different and beset with unique challenges and while I canât claim to understand them all, Iâve been through hard times of my own (worse than teen angst, mind you) and have always found some solace in March 24th. It is the beginning of spring. The plants will change, life will go on. Sometimes it is good to let yourself be happy, to give yourself an excuse, even one as ridiculous as commemorating a good day I had when I was 12. I hope you have a good March 24th. I know I will.
Consider this something of a Dear Twenty-Somethings guest post. And if you know my brother, this adds up. In true Xeno fashion, heâs continued the goofy celebratory tradition for more than half of his life. (And alas, try as he did to find a photo of him in full March 24th garb, he couldnât. Phew!)
Every year, people heâs met through every avenue of life comment on his Facebook wall: Happy March 24th! Friendsâ parents, professors, cousins, you name it. Such a silly occasion left a mark on all of these people. How could you be anything but happy on March 24th from here on out?
My point in telling this bizarre story about my quirky brother is this: Find any reason to celebrate yourself. This life is too short for anything less. Cook a good meal? Celebrate! Bomb a job interview? Celebrate! Get approved for your dream apartment? Celebrate! Burn your toast? Celebrate!
Not to be cheesy, but after all, life is a celebration. Or, in the wise words of Desus Nice:
I know life doesnât always feel worthy of a bash, but let my brotherâs exuberant energy inspire you to live it to the fullest. Put on your favorite song, dab some blush on your nose, and boogie around the room. Because every day is March 24th.
With that, here are a few picks to get you through the week:
LISTEN:
âIn a Dreamâ by Hether - This dreamy bop smells like summer to me! Enjoy the sun and the breeze while you prance to this one.
âLEAVE ME ALONEâ by Kari Faux - For when you need a me-day. Or, honestly, any other time. (Where my introverts at?!)
âTulsa Jesus Freakâ by Lana Del Rey - Unfortunately, I identify as a chronic Lana stan. Her new album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, dropped last Friday, and itâs a sad, beautiful, intimate, classic Lana work. Enjoy if youâre into that sorta thing!
READ:
Talking Animals by Joni Murphy - OK, full disclosure: Iâm not done with this book! But that doesnât mean I donât want you to read it! Itâs a hilariously clever story about the environment and the ever-changing cityscape of NYCâtold through the lens of a self-conscious alpaca. Love.
The Lily: âFor an Asian American woman, the spa shootings reignited the trauma of everyday racism and misogynyâ - Senseless acts of racism are nothing new, but that doesnât lessen their impact. This first-person essay is a powerful take on how, in author Jezz Chungâs words, âviolence isnât always loud.â
The Los Angeles Times: âRare sneakers. Bots. Insider connections. This scandal has it allâ - Thereâs truly nothing like a good scandal! And this has got to be one of my favorites. Rich kids, executive moms, sneakerheads⌠What more could we ask for?
The Cut: âWhat Was the âCuomosexual?ââ - No comment. Just going to leave this one here. Oh, CuomoâŚ
WATCH:
Netflixâs Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal - Oh boy. This new doc-dramatization combo details the mastermind behind the scandal that rocked the nation not too long ago. Itâs wild what the obscenely rich are willingâand ableâto do.
Netflixâs Marriage or Mortgage - This isnât my fave show, but a little trash reality TV never hurt anyone. These couples have to decide between putting tens of thousands down on a wedding or a house. Oh, the paradox of choice!
LAUGH:
LOVE:
Glossierâs Cloud Paint - I realized I never told you which cream blush Iâm putting on my nose! Yes, this is an incredibly problematic company, but Iâve been using the same tube of blush in âBeamâ for probably two years now, so⌠at least it lasts.
UE Boom 2 Speaker - My beloved parents got me this waterproof Bluetooth speaker for my 21st birthday, and itâs still kicking! I canât do so much as sit up without listening to music, so this little guy comes with me in the shower, to the beach, and pretty much anywhere and everywhere else. Great battery life and sound quality, too!
Intelable HEPA Air Purifier - My room gets pretty dusty, and this purchase helps me breathe a little better. Plus, you can add essential oils or other fragrances for an extra zen moment!
COOK:
Fresh Basil Pesto - Nothing fancy here, just clean, simple and yummy. Put this on literally anything.
Easy Rice Bowl - The best thing about this recipe is that you can make it your own. Add shrimp, salmon, chickpeas, lentils, chicken, beef, whatever! Just make it slam (Bay Area for âdeliciousâ).
CONSIDER:
âThe Brideâ by Maggie Smith
How long have I been wed
to myself? Calling myself
darling, dressing for my own
pleasure, each morning
choosing perfume to turn
me on. How long have I been
alone in this house but not
alone? Married less
to the man than to the woman
silvering with the mirror.
I know the kind of wife
I need and I become her:
the one who will leave
this earth at the same instant
I do. I am my own bride,
lifting the veil to see
my face. Darling, I say,
I have waited for you all my life.
Question of the week: When was the last time you celebrated your own achievement?
Thank you always for supporting meâit means more to me than youâll ever know! Iâm always looking to improve my work, so leave a comment or send me a message about what you want to read about in the next Dear Twenty-Somethings! Iâm all ears.
Connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads or online if you feel so inclined. And check out last weekâs newsletter here in case you missed it.
If you liked what you read, send this newsletter to a friend! Heck, send it to 10 friends! Sending love and light to you, wherever you are. đ
Cheers & happy March 24th! And, of course, happy March, i.e., Womenâs History Month! See yâall next week.
xoxoxo, Quinnie <3
Love!!
This is my favorite one yet!! So unique and really makes you think! Definitely what i needed to hear. Love love love and keep em comin!