issue #214 - the one on change
is it Mercury in retrograde, a long time coming, or something else entirely?
Do you ever feel…
(currently resisting the urge to not scream-sing ‘like a plastic bag’)
Let me reset. The only constant in life is change, and change will always surprise us even when we expect it.
I’ve found a decent acceptance for change when it comes to my family, my health and body’s changes (thanks, perimenopause), and with Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals. But the change that’s been surprising me the most is my relationship with social media, and the business I’ve built through social media.
There’s a widening gulf between why I show up online and how I’ve been showing up online, and I’m apparently not alone in feeling this way:
I feel at peace with the changes I’ve made with
, but I feel like I missed something in my increasing frustration with Instagram. I don’t know when I stopped creating content that I really wanted to and started creating the content I felt like I had to, but it slowly happened over the past year or so.It’s left me feeling really unsettled, mostly because I don’t even know what I want to create anymore.
And maybe the reason is because I’ve been creating instead of writing - filming video and shooting pictures, assembling little visual packages instead of letting the words spill from my fingers, and obsessing over my insights if a post failed to hit a certain number of likes or views within the first hour.
Here’s what I do want:
to write - and specifically here on Substack
to spend less time on my phone, and especially on social media.
to feel connected to people instead of catering to metrics
to live my life instead of documenting it
I would also like a pet pig and for the Phillies to win the World Series. But that’s just me.
If you’ve been here for a short time or a long time, you’ve seen this weekly letter go through its own changes (new name and branding, new format). And because I’m failing to find the words, I’m going to borrow what my friend
wrote about turning on paid subscriptions:“I feel very strongly that people should be paid fairly for the work they do. And this mission, so to speak, impacts nearly everything I do in both my professional and personal life…
…I spend hours every week working on this newsletter that is a labor of love. But nearly a year in, it also needs to be a source of income.”
For paidsubscribers, I’ll be sending a weekly plan (workouts, meals, outfits) on Monday mornings, and packing lists from my past trips (with more to come).
If you enjoy my work and have the means to upgrade your subscription (think of it as a virtual tip jar for now, with exclusive content coming in time), it would mean the world to me.
And if you want things to stay the same with this newsletter, you don’t need to do a thing.
Either way, I’m really grateful that you’re here.
The Future Built By Women
by
If you’re depressed about the state of the world and feel like there’s no way to change it, you need this book. Brooke expertly combines stories from some of the most impressive women (and me - I’m humbled to be in excellent company) with tactical, specific advice you can implement immediately, whether that’s a startup or new income stream, within your current career, or in something else entirely.
If you’re in NYC, I’d love for you to join me in conversation with Brooke on Tuesday evening at 7 pm ET (a copy of the book is included in your ticket purchase).
You can find my 2024 reading list and reviews here, and my April reads here.
Kion Amino Acid Supplement ($55)
As obnoxious as this sounds, I feel so good being back in my normal workout routine - lifting weights, running in Central Park, going to Heatwise to practice yoga. And I know I sound like a Huberman dude bro, but I’ve noticed a tangible difference when I drink these aminos before or during a workout versus when I don’t. I have more energy, can push harder in my workout, and feel less sore after an intense session. The cool lime flavor tastes like a diluted version of my favorite lemon-lime Gatorade. It’s also a lifesaver after a late night out - trust.
You can find my monthly Amazon favorites here.
‘A roof over our people’s heads’: the Indigenous US tribe building hempcrete homes
published in The Guardian
Did you know that there’s an affordable, sustainable building material that’s resistent to mold, pests, and fire - and offers strong temperature regulation?
That’s what the Lower Sioux Indian Community is building with hempcrete, a hemp-based building material that they are vertically integrating in the tribal nation (from the farming and production of hempcrete to building the homes in the nation). In doing so, they’re creating jobs, building necessary housing, and more importantly staying true to their commitment to sovereignty.
This is such a hopeful story.
You can find every issue of #5SmartReads here, and subscribe to the daily newsletter here.
Sharing
WNBA’s League Pass is just $35 - and that includes every. single. game. #everyonewatcheswomenssports
Making
art with my kids. I bought myself this paint-by-number kit, this set of canvases for Rhaki, and this set for Rho.
Answering
the best t-shirts (get 20% off with code SPRINGSTYLE)
what to read if you’re still chasing the way The Idea Of You made you feel (that’s how I described it to
, who purchased it immediately).how I fake a flawless complexion (I use this color corrector in Perk, concealer in shade 13, setting spray, fluffy brush, concealer brush, powder in Sand, and foundation brush).
Reading
Private Equity by Carrie Sun
Trying
to spend more time off my phone than I do on my phone. I’m on a dopamine roller coaster and I need to get off it.
xo,
HPN
Love this, Hitha! And feel the same way! ❤️
Hi! Just wanted to share my appreciation for your writing and the work you do! Love your writing here on Substack and look forward to seeing your newsletters again!