tiptoeing into 2025

just the hits #19

Hello, friend. I hope your 2025 has been peaceful so far.

I’m a big swirl of emotions right now - immensely grateful, a bit dysregulated, happy, tired, and wistful.

The past three weeks were a wonderful, chaotic blur (we spent them in Dubai, Hyderabad, and Kochi). I loved our time traveling (and also needed my extra anxiety meds), and being back home in Hyderabad soothed my soul in ways I can’t explain.

I’m equally happy to be heading home. I miss the mundanity of our routine. I miss preparing my own meals and working out uninterrupted.

An unexpected gift from this long trip is having spent the first few days of the year away. It’s minimized the lofty expectations that often come on January 1st, and allowed us to tiptoe into 2025 and what we want to accomplish this year.

Other than 2 big goals at work, my only goal is to continue to practice imperfect consistency. I want to keep showing up for myself every day, even if it’s a bare minimum version or I feel like I’m phoning it in.

It’s a decent night’s sleep (6 hours), a solid breakfast (usually my savory yogurt bowl), 2 strength workouts a week (bonus if I hit 3), and reading entire fantasy series and making them my whole personality (because they spark joy).

I’m just going to do my best (and try to follow January’s plan as much as I can):

the plan - january 2025

I want to thank you for welcoming me into your inbox and share these musings with you. I’ve been sharing my life online for 16 years now, and your kindness and support is the reason why I continue to write and publish here. You’re the best.

You can catch up on the latest posts here:

on storytelling and the status quo

my best packing tips

If budget permits, I would be so appreciative if you upgrade your subscription. You’ll receive the full edition of #5SmartReads (my weekly news series that amplifies underreported stories and underrepresented perspectives), and access to our accountability group for the plan. I’m extending the annual subscription discount (50% off, just $30/year) through the end of January.

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Artefacts of Ouranos series

by Nisha J. Tuli

I never thought I’d be grateful for jet lag, but I am because it allowed me to blaze through this brilliant series that had touches of ACOTAR/The Selection (especially book one), Throne of Glass (entirely), and even Lord of the Rings. These vibes aside, it’s an original romantasy series that I loved and am missing now that I’ve finished it. I’m glad Nisha has another series I can dive into (which I am saving when the winter blues hit).

You can find my 2024 reads here, and my December reads here.

Pill Case ($18)

I don’t know if it’s age, having to take medications every day, or my Capricorn rising/Virgo moon tendencies, but filling this pill case every Sunday brings me such satisfaction.

Find this month’s Amazon favorites here.

The Technology That Actually Runs Our World (The Atlantic)

gift link via my subscription

Does anyone else feel like technology has made them dumber or more boring?

I do. And it’s not me - or you. And it’s not a new phenomenon - Aldous Huxley wroet about the unsatisfying state of culture in the early 1920s (demand was high, and it was easier to mass produce the content people were clamoring for).

We’re re-living that same cycle - though this time, algorithms (and how we engage with them) is the key driver in what we find ourselves numbly scrolling through, listening to, or watching.

And algorithms go much deeper than in how we spend our leisure time. They dictate everything, from how much we pay for our essentials, how much our ride share costs, or if a medical procedure will get automatically covered. What’s meant to minimize human-led bias is prioritizing profit over societal benefit, which further grows the inequality we see today.

So what can we do?

“It’s not that we should all learn to stop worrying and to love the algorithmic-recommendation engine, but this consistent harping on how boring everything has become does distract us from the larger issues. Some technologies really are eroding the viability of public pursuits, and perhaps enjoying or criticizing cultural works based on their merits could help us focus our attention a bit. Asking yourself whether you like something because you actually enjoy it can help slough off the feeling of ambient dread that some critics have called “algorithmic anxiety.””

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The best things I packed for 3 weeks away:

• I rotated through my three summer uniforms: a cotton shirtdress, my Nesara caftans, and my favorite linen blouses and pants.

• I stuck with the same accessories every day: these sandals, either my small or medium Naghedi totes, these cheap-but-effective sunglasses, and this hat.

• The watery version of my favorite sunscreen was my skincare hero of this trip. It’s worth the long delivery time from South Korea.

• I never went anywhere without my Kindle or my power bank (to recharge our phones when our kids inevitably drained the battery on our phones, which we admittedly used to keep them entertained at meals or when we needed a moment’s peace)

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If you enjoyed this weekend’s letter, please consider:

• tapping the ❤️ icon below

• tapping the 💬 and share your vibe for 2025.

• upgrading your subscription, if budget permits.

As always, take exquisite care of yourself this week.

xo,
HPN