And Everything Else (11/2/20)
Life updates you didn't ask for.
Hi, friends—hope you’re all staying as healthy and calm as possible given, you know, tomorrow. But if your self-care habits have totally gone out the window lately, trust me, you’re not alone. The amount of snacks I’ve stress-eaten this past week is high, and it’s been a struggle every day to just get dressed and do basic tasks, let alone take care of myself by writing, exercising, etc. It happens!
That said, I’ve still been quite busy this past week getting ready for our move to Raleigh in five days (!). For more info on that and other life updates, read on for this week’s edition of And Everything Else:
#1. I’ll be teaching a “Writing for the Internet” class this winter!
Come January, I’ll be teaching an eight-week “Writing for the Internet” course via Zoom through Redbud Writing Project! It’s open to all experience levels, and it’ll cover pitching and writing personal essays, op-eds, features, and more. There’ll be writing exercises, workshops, and other great experiences to give you all the tools you need to successfully write and place your stories.
The course starts in mid-January, and you can get more info and sign up here. Hope to see your names on the list!
#2. I’m turning 27 tomorrow
Nothing like having your birthday fall on the most stressful Election Day of our lifetimes, right? Obviously, I won’t be celebrating as usual due to the election and the pandemic, but I was lucky enough to do a little something with my parents yesterday and Kurt and I will go out for some delicious sushi on Tuesday night. And yes, I’ll be eating ice cream cake for days.
With everything going on, I haven’t thought much about the birthday itself, and what I want out of my 27th year (other than the world not being a trash fire, of course). I’m truly excited to see what it brings, though, as between the move, wedding planning, and my book-to-be, there’s a lot of good things in store for me in 2021, despite… everything. Focusing on the positives, people!
#3. We’re moving to Raleigh in five days. FIVE.
Our apartment is filled with boxes, we’ve said goodbye to all our friends, and yet…. I still can’t believe that we’re heading to NC this coming Saturday. With everything else going on in the world, it’s been hard to focus on the move, but I’m super excited now that it’s coming up so soon. I’m absolutely going to miss NYC, my home since college (and pretty much always, having grown up in Westchester), but I can’t wait to explore something new and settle in down South.
Also, I already got a few Raleigh recs from some of you (thanks!), but if you have any others, please do send them my way!
#4. I’m working on owning my achievements—and you should, too
Earlier today, I was looking at my bio on the Redbud website for my upcoming class mentioned above, and I realized something—it looks cool. Like so many other people, I rarely give myself credit for my accomplishments, instead focusing on and worrying about everything I haven’t done yet. Sure, I’ve written for the Times, but why only two pieces, not 10? And yeah, I’m working on a novel, but why isn’t it finished yet? You know the drill.
But looking at my bio, with all my achievements laid out nearly, I felt genuine pride in my work and all I’ve done so far—things my younger self would’ve been seriously impressed by. If you’re also guilty of often being too hard on yourself and dismissing your success, I highly suggest taking a step back and celebrating what you’ve done. Trust me—it feels great.
That’s it for now, everyone! Here’s hoping that one week from now, the world will look very, very different. With love from me and Ellie, who was a devil known as Helleanor for Halloween,
-Rachel