Returnist Recs: 6
Three moments worth visiting or revisiting this weekend
Focus on what’s working well. I’m still struggling with anti-multitasking, and I think it may be more of a long term transformation than quitting cold turkey. But there are pockets of my day where doing one thing at a time, mindfully, intentionally is working. My coffee is sipped and enjoyed through deep breaths and awareness of the morning air around me, enjoying that slight shift in September light. My evenings are centered in winding down quietly, making even that simplest cozy tv session feel like a luxury. So until the muscle memory is built up enough to expand and spread to other parts of the day, I’ll give myself some grace and focus on what’s working.
Buy some pork chops. Bone-in if you’re feeling adventurous, boneless if you’d like it a little more straightforward. I’m in a big time pork chop phase, if you couldn’t tell from my weekly farmer’s market hauls. I’ll score the fatty edge in a crosshatched pattern, season liberally with salt and pepper, render out that scored fat cap and then cook it hot and fast enough to get a nicely browned sear without drying it out. Then let it rest while you daydream about how good it will be ten minutes from now. It’s so much more flavorful and satisfying that a boneless skinless chicken breast. Perhaps this hyperfixation will shift and I’ll be touting the benefits of another protein soon, but right now a pork chop is where it’s at.
Add to your sleepy time toolbox. I have a habit of waking up in the night or needing a little help in dozing off. I have various tips and tricks that have helped in the past, including an alphabetic exercise inspired by Patti Smith in M Train and doing a full body scan in my mind, trying to individually relax each muscle. Then I saw this clip. Holy cannoli I’m a fan. I have no idea what the science is behind it or any evidence to back up these claims, but my sleepy field research says it’s a winner. Eyes closed. Look up, down, left, right, around in a circle, then crossed toward your nose. Slowly and with intention. Suddenly my eye balls are bean bags, tiny weighted blankets for my brain and i’m off into dreamland. I guess I should add that to the list in rec #1 - one thing at a time, and it’s certainly working well.