Reclaiming my passions
I often joke that my job took my hobbies. I'm snatching them back this year.
Hello, friends! Happy Friday!
If you’ve been around me in the past decade, you’ve likely heard me make the joke that my career stole my hobbies. I was watching and live tweeting ‘Scandal’ for fun when my job asked me to make recapping the series a part of my role. I was already attending a ton of concerts as a student when I decided to start writing about them for my blog (and subsequently for my staff writer roles post-college). Being an entertainment reporter – especially a freelancer who is constantly trying to come up with pitches – often feels like mining your personal interests for professional gain. As I’ve experienced burnout in my career recently, I’ve found it’s impacted my consumption of art, too. If listening to the new song or watching that new movie feels like work, then I haven’t really wanted to do it. And when you love entertainment as much as I do, you realize how much that sucks.
A big goal of mine this year is to give myself the space to reclaim my passion for exploration when it comes to new music, films, TV, podcasts, etc. It’s a a part of me trying to climb out of the hole I’ve been in work-wise, but it’s about more than that, too. It’s also about not allowing the constant grind of this industry to take away the things that genuinely bring me joy.
Current Favs.
The Sopranos
My household is currently on the second Sopranos binge in less than six months and no, I don’t have an explanation. The series turns 25 this month, though, so this particular viewing session feels well timed.
I’m so grateful for what this podcast has taught me about a piece of southwest Atlanta history that was previously unknown to me. I’d read Rembert’s Time article on Jamil Al-Amin but this series offers an in-depth look into Al-Amin’s conviction, as well as the West End neighborhood pre-gentrification. Kudos to the Campside and Tenderfoot teams for producing it!
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
I completed my first book of the year and I mostly liked it. I definitely enjoyed one of the perspectives in this book wayyy more than I enjoyed the other, and the activist slant for sure felt like a reach, but that’s all I can say without spoiling things…
My Unraveling: I had my health. I had a job. And then, abruptly, I didn’t. by Tom Socca for New York magazine
I’m still ruminating on this quote and how it should inform the way we treat ourselves and one another:
This is what disability advocates have said all along, not that it usually sinks in: The able and the disabled aren’t two different kinds of people but the same people at different times.
YSL Corner
Now that the trial has officially started, there is a subsection of the newsletter dedicated to its coverage. Each week I publish a 5-7 minute read about the witnesses who testify in the trial. Please read and share the content if you find it to be helpful.
I published a new issue this afternoon where I continue to recap the testimony of YSL co-founder Trontavious Stephens and explain why “Pushin’ P” and “Lifestyle” were played in court.
I used to LOVE all things makeup but after working in tv news and being confined to a very specific look for nearly a decade, I lost that love. I think I'll work on reclaiming that passion this year!!
“Being an entertainment reporter – especially a freelancer who is constantly trying to come up with pitches – often feels like mining your personal interests for professional gain.” so true!!