Issue #8  //  Shining Lights 🔦

“Give light and people will find the way.” 

- Ella Baker

From Melia:

This week, as I do every week, I’ve hung out with some of the wisest women I know.

Cheryl Strayed told me about her struggle to write her first book, how getting it done required letting go of her aspiration to write something great. “Surrender to your own mediocrity” and just do the thing you’re meant to do with humility and without expectation of outcome, she said.

Elizabeth Gilbert, in conversation with Marie Kondo, said, “I think that the more honest I am about my journey, the more connected I feel to everybody and their journeys. The more I reveal that seems really vulnerable and really private, the less private it becomes, because all I hear is a chorus of voices saying, ‘me too, me too.’”

Glennon Doyle, in response to Liz Gilbert’s post on Trump’s tweet telling four U.S. Congresswomen that they should “go back where they came from,” replied to commenters who said we should be compassionate toward the white women who voted for him, not angry. “Every movement toward progress on Earth began with holy anger,” Glennon wrote. “Telling people not to be angry is a weapon of the status quo.”

This week I’ve heard from Oprah Winfrey and Brené Brown, Gretchen Rubin and Hilary Rushford. Each has something to share that can come only from her unique experience and point of view. And several of them are friends with each other, which makes me want to go out for drinks with them right this minute. (When Brené showed up in a cameo in the movie Wine Country with those brilliant ladies from SNL, my heart could have exploded with joy.)

These women can put into words things that I’ve felt but hadn’t been able to pinpoint or describe. They speak openly about their struggles and their wins, which helps the rest of us open up about our own. They’re some of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time, and I get to hear their insights every day for free in my social media feed and podcasts app. What a gift that is.

During a dark time for our country, these shining lights are pointing the way forward, teaching us to act with less ego and more compassion. The more we can follow their example and learn to do that ourselves, the better we can light the way for others.

🎙 Latest Episode: #20 - Self-Care Is Not Just For Women, with Chris Myers

In our culture, we often talk about self-care as if it’s only for women. But it’s just as important for men to prioritize their physical and mental health.

We loved interviewing our friend and listener Chris Myers about a guy’s experience with self-care. Chris is an architect, the father of two young kids, and a connector in the Jackson community. He has great insights on how he manages anxiety and fits habits like meditation into his day. And he shares advice for building strong friendships, even when time is scarce.

• Listen to the episode and read the show notes 

👉 Steal This Tip from Chris Myers: Figure out ways to spend time with people you like.

It can be lunch or breakfast or a quick meetup at a bar after the kids are asleep. Even if it’s 30 minutes, the energy gained by spending time with a friend is immeasurable.

👋 ICYMI

Episode #8: The Dudes🎙

Our husbands join us as our first guests for this special episode. We tell the story of how we all met, then Brian and Darren offer a few life hacks in the segments Livin’ the Dream and Steal This Tip, and each couple shares a Get It Together / Got It Together.

Listen to the episode for more on this process. 

😄 Things We Text Each Other

Scroll through if swearing isn't your jam!

via @fuckjerry

via @badasscrossstitch

😍 Stuff We Love Right Now

On the Interwebs  🖥

• Two of Our Faves in Conversation
  This is just one of the best interviews you’ll read, which is why we're linking to it here as well as in the intro. Liz Gilbert talks to Marie Kondo about cleaning out the most dreaded area of your house in order to set yourself free: “Your home is a portrait of yourself … “If you’re too afraid to look into the scary attic in your mind, look into the scary attic in your home.”
• Dressing Funny
  Staying with the theme of incredible crossovers, Tan France of Queer Eye styles comedians like John Mulaney and Ali Wong for the Netflix series Dressing Funny. The episodes are 11 minutes or so each, and the one with Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch culminates with the three of them modeling Mom Jeans.

In Our Ears  🎧

From Melia: 

• 3am Research Playlist
  Darren and I have a monthly subscription to an episodic murder mystery called Hunt a Killer that’s like a well-designed escape room in a box. I’m loving the bass-thumping playlist that accompanies it, especially my new song obsession “Positively Inclined.” 
• Comedy + Insight 
  I love when comedians and comic actors make you think in unexpectedly profound ways -- Stephen Colbert, Jameela Jamil, and Mark Duplass come to mind. The Pete Holmes interview on Happier with Gretchen Rubin fit the bill; he talks about Zen Buddhism, improv, and repeating the mantra “Yes, thank you” to clear the mind and detach from unpleasant situations. I want to read his memoir Comedy Sex God (three things in life that intrigue him, rather than how he sees himself 😃).

On Our Plates  🍽 

• Cherry Tomato Crostini with Herbed Goat Cheese 
  From Gill: This appetizer is worth turning on the oven in summer, which I don’t say lightly since our kitchen is an inferno. If goat’s milk yogurt isn’t readily available (what, you don’t have that in your fridge?) or you’re not into the extra step, make it with spreadable goat cheese. And skip toasting the bread; just put out a baguette for people to slice.

• Lemon No-Bake Icebox Cake
  From Melia: You can turn off the oven when the crostini is done, because this icebox cake is no-bake! It’s perfect for summer: cold, creamy, a little sweet, and a little tart. A little square is all you need because it’s so lovely and rich, and you can top it with blueberries or strawberries for extra texture, flavor, and color. This one is a new favorite.

Until next time! 

Love,

Melia & Gill 😘😘

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