Hello friend,
How was your summer? Did you travel, enjoy the long evenings, get a bit of a tan, and unwind with your dear ones?
My summer was pretty low-key. No big adventures, no festivals, and barely any beach time or vacations. But it was nice. I kept it easygoing, exactly as I intended, fully embracing the JOMO like a champ. I enjoyed some quality time with my family, did some reading and writing, indulged in TV shows, and made sure to sneak in a little daily siesta to recharge my batteries for whatever lies ahead.
As you read this letter, my hope is that it captures the essence of this transition — infused with renewed energy and a dash of inspiration. May it add a bright note to your day and remind you of the simple pleasures that make life beautiful.
Enjoy it!
🎧 A song
Oh I might as well be anyone at all…
🍴 A recipe
This August, I spent a few weeks in Italy doing the whole "Eat Pray Love" thing on repeat (my jeans can vouch for that). So now, back in Granada, I'm facing the pasta & prosecco aftermath. Detox mode initiated! Lately, it's all about piling on fruits and veggies and giving alcohol and carbohydrates a serious side-eye. And here's a little source of joy in this journey: homemade mango lassi. The recipe is super simple, and I wholeheartedly recommend trying it out. Here’s what you need:
1 cup of ripe mango chunks
1 cup of plain yogurt
1/2 cup of milk (I use Alpro coconut milk)
A sprinkle of cardamom and cinnamon
Blend these ingredients, and if you wish, toss in some ice.
Savor and relish!
📖 A book
This book marks my third attempt at reading in Italian, following my experiences with "Harry Potter" and "The Little Prince" — so yep, the bar has been raised! I chose this book because: a) I LOVE Calvino. "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler" is one of the best things I've ever read b) It's a collection of short stories, which is the type of reading I prefer during the summer, and c) The cover is pretty awesome. Allow me to be a bit shallow.
I'm currently at the halfway point of the book, and I'm having an absolute blast— even though I'm not always sure if I'm fully understanding everything… 😆Marcovaldo's struggle to reconcile country habits with urban life is both amusing and endearing, with a right touch of melancholy. It's a brilliantly original concept, the kind of thing only Calvino could pull off. I strongly recommend it, much like I do with all of his other works.
📺 A tv show
I had a little internal debate about whether to keep it real about what's currently capturing my screen time, given that it doesn't quite align with the *intellectual aura* I try so hard to project... But hey, this space is all about truthfulness, so here goes: I've practically binged two whole seasons of "Just Like That" in a week. Now, let's be clear — I wouldn't exactly label it as quality television. While “Sex and the City” had its groundbreaking moments, this show seems to be awkwardly contorting itself to fit the mold of today's diverse era. Some scenes are genuinely painful to watch. Yet, here I am, devouring it. Quoting Samantha Irby — she's a writer for both seasons — who aptly addressed criticisms of the first season in a New York Times interview, "People will hate season two too, but they'll watch it." That’s me in a nutshell. I'm still glued to the screen because, let's face it, indulging in some guilty pleasure TV often serves as the perfect antidote to the daily routine.
🌎 A place
And the coveted title of "August's Best Spot" belongs to a charming little house in Caorle, particularly to its garden. This is where I set up my remote office, enjoyed delicious homemade dinners, jotted down postcards and articles, and even penned the first lines of this very Roundup.
You know those places that effortlessly win you over with their easygoing charm and relaxed atmosphere? This is one of them. It's the kind of spot that whispers, "Hey, how about you grab your bags, move to a fisher's village, and let the chill beach life work its magic on you?”
I could live a hundred lives and still not have enough time to experience all the places I envision living in.
💭 A Thought
My Summer Challenge is coming to an end, with just a few postcards left on their journeys (if you're still waiting for yours, hang in there — it's en route!). Crafting these personalized exercises has brought me so much joy, enabling me to connect with friends from all around the world and share their experiences and outcomes. I'm a firm believer that these creative endeavors add depth to our inner worlds and create bridges between our genuine selves and others. Looking ahead, I'm thinking about how to keep the energy going and expand this sense of community and inspiration…
If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!
🪄Bits of inspiration
Leo’s illustrations
The Antidote
I recently discovered the Antidote Substack page, where Christina Tasooji, a teacher of meditation and holistic well-being, writes about everything related to the realm of female energy. Moreover, I also found out about her free Guided Meditation sessions on Eventbrite, which are just GREAT (and, let me repeat it, FREE). I highly recommend giving it a try!
Roxane Gay on how she arrived at herself
“I have found that the things that scare me most end up being the most intellectually satisfying. And so I try not to ever let my fear control me to the point that I don’t do something that could be good and useful. I do things that terrify me all the time. I just have the capacity to be terrified and do them anyway.”
Despite Roxane Gay's self-described introverted nature, she’s a fearless black author who confronts societal norms through her unapologetic writing. Here you can find an exceptionally inspiring conversation between her and Sam Fragoso.
How well do we know each other?
I came across this fun challenge on Instagram not too long ago. The concept is pretty simple: Complete the blanks with your picks and then have your partner, friend, or family member guess what you've chosen. You do the same for them and see how well your choices align.
Here's my board, and here's what Marco guessed for me. As you can see, he's got me all figured out (and to be fair, I was unsure about which character to pick, and Harry Potter is a solid go-to choice!)