Root for the Other Team!👏
This life is too short and this world is too small, baby!
Happy Wednesday, my beautiful Twenty-Somethings! I hope you’re all doing as well as can be. It’s another beautiful day to be alive!
This week, let’s talk about rooting for the other team—something that took me a long time to get a good grasp on, but what I now always strive for.
2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate?!
Remember that? Ah, good times. A few weeks back, I wrote about comparison (i.e., the thief of joy) and how us Twenty-Somethings can combat it. One simple way: root for everyone.
Now, what I mean by that is this: Show support for other people’s accomplishments, no matter what. Say their name when an opportunity arises and they aren’t there to advocate for themselves. Speak positively about others, especially when it really matters.
You might be feeling bummy yourself because you didn’t get that job or life just doesn’t seem to be going your way, but don’t let that yuck other people’s yums.
As a friend’s boss—who happened to be Steven Spielberg—once told her (who then told me, making me semi-famous, right?): This world is too small and this life is too short for you to ever be a dick to anybody. So obviously, don’t be a dick, but also, buy your friends’ art. Share your acquaintance’s GoFundMe. Recommend your colleague for that position they really want. Compliment your girl crush on her nails via Instagram DM. Congratulate that connection on the promotion, no matter how close you are. Share their newsletter if you like what you read. 😉
But really, you never know if that intern will one day be the hiring manager you need to impress. Or if that stranger was having a rough day and really needed that compliment. And yeah, maybe it’s that annoying girl from your Comms class and maybe you’re not certain she deserved it, but hey, that’s the way the world spins. If she’s got good news, then maybe you have some coming. We’re too old to not want everyone in this world to be happy!
And after all, what can you possibly stand to lose from spreading some love?
I really believe deep in my core that this positive energy will come back to serve you in another way, thanks to this wild universe. And as I like to say, what other way is there to live this life?
I’m going to keep it short and sweet this week, because that’s simply all I have the energy for—a true boundary-setting Virgo queen.
And with that, here are a few picks to get you through the week:
LISTEN:
READ:
New York Magazine: My Week in New York - My favorite media company of all time (hiiiii, recruiters!) has launched a weekly e-newsletter that comes out every Saturday recapping the news of the week and recommending media that ought to be consumed. Big fan!
The Cut: “The Nightmare Share: She posted an ad for a roommate. What’s the worst that could happen?” - If you ever feel like your housing situation is bad… Just read this article. Yikes.
The Telegraph: “The dark side of our houseplant obsession” - This one hurt to read! Nothing good in this world can last. Big changes to come!
The Telegraph: “‘MDMA cured my alcoholism’: Inside the remarkable ecstasy trial offering an escape from trauma” - What a wild read! I bet you can find it somewhere without a paywall. 😉
WATCH:
This week, I only watched The Secret Life of Pets, America’s Next Top Model, Survivor, and Unsolved Mysteries, so… here’s the video that got me into spoken word and poetry altogether. I was way too young when I watched it 100 years ago, but here we are. Enjoy!
LAUGH:
LOVE:
Commonwealth Provisions Grapefruit & Sage Candle - Another week, another candle! I need to stop. This dreamy scent is so light and citrusy and herbal, I already know I’ll need another once she’s done. Plus, 10% of profits support animal rescue!
Benefit Brow Grooming Tweezer & Brush - I was using the Tweezerman tweezers I stole from my mom 100 years ago, and thought I’d finally upgrade. If you’re like me and have been doing your own brows for over a year now, these are a great pick. They’re even coated with diamond dust to catch the finest of hairs—where have you been all my life?!
Colourpop Lux Gloss - This gives the same energy as Riri’s Gloss Bomb, which is also a fave of mine, but this one’s only $8! What’s not to love?
COOK:
CONSIDER:
“There Is So Much Pressure In a White Dress” by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
The thing is life gets in the pits,
all yellow, all used. Get out of here
with your dog-eared under-arms, baby.
You have to pretend to be dead
or wear it for a good reason. So I wore it
to the movies & I cried at the previews.
I wore it to the cafe & I asked for some alternative milk.
I wore it to the protest & they took a picture of me
without my permission. I spilled beer on it
at the punk show. I took the train
going the wrong way. I learned my lesson & I took it back,
tucked it into a box & then under my bed.
I wore it to space. I tried to be a star-fucker
but I forgot protection. I wore it to a brand new city. I tried to live
in the moment but my bank account overdrew.
I listened to “Heaven knows I’m miserable now” & it got stuck
in the zipper. I hopped up & down & it didn’t come off.
I went to the park & I pretended to read a classic on a bench.
I held flowers then I put them in my hair. I went to parades.
I said “Woo!” because I’m a “Woo!” girl. I had a few drinks
& I said “Esooo!” instead. I walked under the archways.
I threw pennies into the fountains.
I went to the readings. I wrote down my favorite lines.
I passed by all the mirrors.
I touched all of the sandals on sale.
And it still got colder. And the leaves still
changed color. And you still couldn’t see me.
Question of the week: What is the biggest change you’ve noticed between the person you are today and the one you were at the beginning of the year?
Thank you endlessly for supporting me—it means more to me than you’ll ever know! I’m 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! I’m all ears.
Connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads or online if you feel so inclined. And check out last week’s 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. 🌟
Cheers & happy Wednesday! Stay well and have a lovely Mother’s Day. I’ll see y’all next week.
xoxoxo, Quinnie <3