I didn’t intend to take a full month off from writing this, but I’ve had a lot going on! Like…starting a new job and watching Slow Horses. Considering that the last two times I changed jobs I also changed cities, a move 25 blocks south for a similar position shouldn’t feel quite so monumental—but I had that job for almost five years. I had a routine. I knew all the ins and outs. I had friends there! So, it’s been an adjustment.
Since I got back to New York after the holidays, I’ve left my apartment only when necessary. My energy seems to deplete three times faster than usual whenever I step outside. Part of it is a need to recharge after an ultra-social December, part of it is the cold, and part of it (I think) is me reassuring myself that this is still my home. A new job does not equal a new apartment in a new city.
My home is still my home, and nothing has changed here. If anything, I need some kind of project. Maybe I’ll finally fill the hole in my gallery wall or find a place for the books currently languishing on top of my AC unit. Whatever it is, it will have to wait until after I’ve finished Slow Horses.
worthy of note
Living in 200 square feet has made me much pickier about what I buy and bring into my home. This ongoing segment will feature the sometimes useful, sometimes just pretty, objects that are worthy of note—and worth the valuable square footage they take up.
Today that object is a butter warmer. I picked up this pint-sized copper pot at a thrift store in Copenhagen for the equivalent of about $30. It’s by George Jensen, and the same one is going for $107 on Etsy right now. My favorite snack is homemade popcorn, and it always feels silly to melt a tablespoon or two of butter in a big pot (I don’t have a microwave). This tiny pot has been a delightful solution. Bonus item: this Jennifer Fisher salt my aunt gifted me for Christmas has also upgraded my popcorn-making experience.
this week’s read
In the spirit of new year’s resolutions, fresh starts, and a new job, I’ve been reading The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. It’s been sitting on my desk for years, and I’m just now getting around to it. This Substack helped me establish a consistent writing practice last year, and I’d love to build upon it. I particularly like this … “I’ve always thought that one of the great rewards of being a creative person is that I get to do it.” I often say something similar about my day job when I’m feeling frustrated with it—I get paid to write! But Tharp’s book is a reminder that the sentiment can and should apply to unpaid creative pursuits as well.
Glad to get the new "letter." Good luck with the new job! Love you! Noni
Happy New Year Bailey💖