Mood
Things worth spending time with, in any mood: a playful, profound one-woman show, insightful data about independent work, a writing retreat for riotous souls, and peeping through pinholes.
••• A Brief Unfolding
When I was a kid, a teenager, and even a young adult, people called me moody. I used to wince at this, the same way I’d wince when I was called shy. Now I embody both without judgment. Turns out I’m not exactly shy, it just takes me a little effort to leave the safety of my protective Cancerian shell. And I am moody, I own that one. At the moment, I genuinely don’t know how anyone isn’t given to sudden or frequent changes of mind or temperament.
When I’m feeling grounded, I ride the waves between moods and try to just be with them. It’s easier to type these words than to live them in the moment, but I do try. When I lilt toward melancholy or pessimism and can’t seem to catch a wave in the other direction, I try to look outside my shell, outside of my self. And then I feel so lucky, because there are heartened offerings and soulful gifts everywhere, for almost every mood.
••• Moods
Things worth spending a little time with, no matter your mood: a playful, profound one-woman show, an insightful look at how independent workers actually…work, a writing retreat for riotous souls, Fiona Apple (no notes), and peeping through pinholes.
It’s Giving… Mood Boost
My brilliant friend, literary artist, and comedic storyteller, Malaika Carpenter, has a new one-woman show she’s launching with this year’s Fringe Festival. To say that I’m ecstatic, in awe, and cannot wait to see it, is an understatement.
It’s Giving... Single is a playful, profound, and interactive one-woman show exploring the joy, pressure, and misconceptions of being a modern-day single Black woman.
Delivered in five sharply crafted monologues—woven with music, poetry, visual arts, and improv—that bring the emotional landscape of modern singleness to life with humor, heart, and bold vulnerability. Each story reveals a facet of the single experience: desire, dating drama, societal judgment, heartbreak, and radical self-love. Together, they chart a journey of growth, reminding us that singleness isn’t a plight—it’s a powerful space for becoming.
Ticketing is through Fringe Arts Festival (September 25 show)—so if you’re in the Philly, NJ, or surrounding areas, grab tickets NOW!
New HQ, New Mood
I would take the opportunity to work with strategist and consultant Leslie Zaikis (again) in a heartbeat. And I would take her advice without pause—especially when it comes to work/life harmony. Leslie and her cofounder Kaylin Aarts created TNHQ as a space to explore the possibilities of independent work.
If you’re a solopreneur, freelancer, independent operator, (or generally want to expose yourself to good-work-resources), don’t sleep on exploring The New HQ. Subscribe to the Substack and definitely check out the free resources. (I’ve already contributed to and found so much value from The Tech Stack—a crowd-sourced, ever-growing list of what real people are actually using to keep things running.)
Mood Writing
I’m cohosting an inaugural in-person(!) writing retreat for restoring, recovering, or reinventing your sense of creativity as a radical act in a time of cultural resistance.
Write for Your Life is an intimate, day-long workshop designed specifically for writers who want to recover or tune more deeply into their creative frequency, and find grounding amidst the chaos.
We’ll spend the day moving at an easeful pace with effortless access to nature, opening and closing the day with expertly guided meditations focused on creativity and grounding. Sliding scale registration; coffee and morning refreshments, catered lunch, and some transportation coordination is included.
Heavy With Mood
Writing this letter unlocked very specific memories of listening to Fiona Apple’s Slow Like Honey. Have a listen if you want to drift, feel sultry, fall in love, or sob.
Petite Pinhole, Massive Mood
My friend and neighbor got into pinhole photography, and has taken it to the most wonderfully crafty level. She makes homemade cameras out of aluminum cans, slips of photo-sensitive paper, and some tape. She hands them to anyone who’s interested—complete with a set of instructions and a SASE to get the photo paper back to her to “develop.” It’s one of the most joyful and artistic things I’ve seen (and experienced) all summer.
Check out some of the photos that have emerged in the project (including mine, above)!