Hi there,
It's been a year since the start of the lockdown. It has been intense but we're slowly settling into a different normal. The New York Times came up with questions they asked artists about how the past year was like for them. I love how varied their answers were.
I think all of us can answer this. I answered them below and you might want to, as well.
1. What's one thing you made this year?
I made this newsletter! It's been a great outlet for me to become less inhibited with my writing. I'm the type of person who edits the life out of a Facebook status post.
Sending out a newsletter has a finality to it. I can no longer edit or take back anything once I've pressed send.
2. What art have you turned to in this time?
BTS! I've never been a fan until I heard Dynamite and went down on a rabbit hole of videos. This morning, we watched a segment of them trying to sing a Korean nursery rhyme while half-asleep.
3. Did you have any particularly bad ideas?
Emotional eating. I gained 20 pounds in a span of 3 months.
4. What's a moment from this year you'll always remember?
I went to our small balcony to hang clothes and I heard someone with a megaphone say in Filipino, "I heard you haven't eaten in days," to a large group of stranded construction workers.
5. Did you find a friendship that sustained you artistically?
Our trading community's book club! We talked about everything except trading and encouraged each other to start our own creative pursuits.
6. If you'd known that you'd be isolated for so long, what would you have done differently?
Maybe try out a crazy hairstyle and just wear a hat during video calls.
7. What do you want to achieve before things return to normal?
I don't think things will return to normal but I want to become a better co-learner to my children.
Here are this week's curated links that are worth at least 16 minutes of your time:
⛰A "Steep Learning Curve" for "Downton Abbey" | Ben Zimmer | 🕰5 minutes
If you're like me who has been confused with the use of "steep learning curve," we're not wrong to feel confused. It can both mean easy and difficult to learn.
🍸The Three Beverages You Should Have at Work | Amanda Mull | 🕰4 minutes
The third one for me is always something cold and has alcohol. Except when it's kombucha. What's yours?
📚Good Books | Books recommended by successful people
Filed this under "Things I Wish I Made"
📝How to Take More Effective Notes on the Books you Read | Srinivas Rao | 🕰 7 minutes
One thing I wish I did was to take better notes of the books I've read in the past. Or at least write to myself small notes in the book. If you want to put your highlights into practical use, here's a neat guide.
'Til next week!
Bituin💫