i'm taking a break
and that's okay
I texted my best friend from high school last night and said, “I need to take 2-3 weeks off of my newsletter. Please tell me that’s ok.”
“Yes it’s ok!” she responded. “Isn’t that what it’s all about?!”
So, I’m taking a few weeks off! I am listening to my body and mind. I’ve been feeling super run-down and overwhelmed lately, and I am afraid of over-extending myself to the point of burnout or falling back into my ED behaviors.
This newsletter means so much to me, and I know it has so much potential. I am feeling a lot of shame for needing a break from something I love writing each week, especially so soon after launching. But I want to take care of myself.
I am sending this out as a reminder that it’s okay to rest. It’s okay to put some responsibilities, obligations, or passion projects on hold while you prioritize your mental and physical health. Rest is productive, too.
I’ll be back - I promise! In the mean time, I hope you also make space for rest and self care.
interview request
For an upcoming edition of weightless (when I return from hiatus) I want to talk to LGBTQ+ folks who have struggled with body image issues, an eating disorder, or disordered eating. You can be anonymous! Respond to this email or DM me on Twitter. I want to hear from you.
give me suggestions
What do you want to see in this newsletter? Who do you want me to talk to? What do you want me to write about? What questions do you have about eating disorders/disordered eating/diet culture/“wellness” culture/mental health? Respond to this email or DM me on Twitter.
what nourished me this past week
what nourished my brain: This Twitter thread by Marianne Kirby (@TheRotund). She writes that ableism is tied to the “fat people can be healthy, too” sentiment.
what nourished my brain (pt. 2): “My ADHD Led To An Eating Disorder. Here’s What I Wish People Knew” by Sam Dylan Finch for Inflow. It is fascinating to me to read about how other people’s eating disorders function. It was also a good reminder that the seeds of eating disorders can be planted in so many different ways, and they are all valid.
what nourished my brain (pt. 3): “My Delusional, Wonderful Recipe Book,” by Charlotte Mendelson in The New Yorker. A beautiful piece of writing that encapsulates how our intentions are just as much a part of us as our actions.
what nourished my brain (pt. 4): “Journalism Taught Me to Ask for Help” by Akanksha Singh for Catapult. This this this this this: “I’d always tried to compartmentalize the writer me from the journalist me (and before that, from the copywriter me)—terrified that the writing styles would mix in the manner that the brightest of paints do in a primary school art class, leaving behind shades of muddy brown. It never occurred to me that both sides might benefit from the other.”
what nourished my soul: I started writing to my pen pal again. I felt bad that so much time had passed since I last wrote her, but once I put pen to paper so many stories and thoughts flowed right out of my brain. It was so cathartic. Consider this your sign to reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
what nourished my body: Running! And lots and lots of stretching and rest.
what nourished my belly: The Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. Easy to make and super filling. Yum yum yum.
what nourished my belly (pt. 2): Is this a Trader Joe’s fan newsletter? Maybe. I have been having a few of their Sea Salt Petite Brownies at night for dessert.