emrataThis is not what our quarantine looks like (we’re mostly in sweats and hoodies) but since I posted this during my q&a why not post it here? This was about 6 months after we got married, summer ‘18. 🤍
emrata4 things I’ve been reading/listening/watching:
1️⃣All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks. My friend recommended this book to me and it arrived just in time for quarantine. Hooks offers a comprehensive look at something our society both holds in the highest regard and simultaneously shrouds in mystery. She defines love in the first chapter (using M. Scott Peck’s words) as “‘the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.’” With chapters like “Justice: Childhood Love Lessons” and “Values: Living by a Love Ethic”, you’ll find yourself thinking about love, self-love and positive thinking in completely new and challenging ways. What better moment to take a fresh look at love? As Cuomo reminded us last week: “And at the end of the day, my friends, even if it is a long day, and this is a long day, love wins. Always. And it will win again through this virus.” 2️⃣Another concise (albeit dense) and philosophical book I’ve making my way through is Martin Hagglund’s This Life. Hagglund focuses on the value of time and the power we have in what we chose to do with it. He argues that the finite amount of time we have in this life is what gives life purpose. In a moment when many of us have more time on our hands and less things that make us distracted, this is a nice read to offer perspective and purpose.
3️⃣Music! This morning I remembered a band I loved in high school: Electrelane. I’ve been jamming to them all day. My favorite tracks are Saturday, Birds and The Greater Times. Electrelane makes me feel like getting up and dusting myself off but in a gentle, grounded way.
4️⃣ Pen15. I watched the entire series when it first came out but I’ve found it really nice to revisit these past 2 weeks. It’s hysterically funny and serves as a reminder of how small our worlds are when we are in tweens and how real the emotions and experiences are at that age. Felt like you were in hell in middle school? You got through that and can even laugh about it now!
emrataFinished Love Is Blind (um, wow), ate two frozen pizzas w/ ranch, made calls from bed & took family selfies. Day one of working from home. Also Colombo turns 1 next week how do we celebrate plz comment below
emrataResearchers have estimated that women’s stories make up only .5% of recorded history. Our stories have been and continue to be denied and negated. Muriel Rukeyser wrote in 1968: “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.” Unfortunately it’s not going to be quite as simple as Rukeyser made it seem. We have to keep fighting. Every woman’s truth counts. Continue to be brave my lady friends. Happy IWD