Sick Days

I successfully wrote five articles this weekend! I suppose it helps that I have been super sick with low energy. As a busybody, this is very unlike me. I don’t spend much time sitting around writing. As much as I love writing, I love feeling like a physically productive person, and I spend most of my waking time on my feet getting something done around the house—and there is always a lot to do around my house all the time.

Clearly, being under the weather has forced me to slow down, but I’ve been able to channel all of my energy into writing instead. It’s funny how that happens—when life forces a change of pace, sometimes you end up being productive in an entirely different way. Even though I usually struggle to sit still for long, I have to admit it felt good to get ahead on my articles. I’m going to be putting out five articles on Medium, instead of only three, which has been my usual. Maybe this forced writing due to low energy being sick will make me want to publish five articles per week every week.

That said, I’m definitely ready to feel better and get back to my usual routine. There’s a certain restlessness that comes with being stuck inside, and I have a working list of things I need to take care of once I have the energy again. If you know me, then you know that I always have a list of things that need to be done, and I like my list to be as small as possible, so I’m always completing items on the list.

But for now, I’m trying to remind myself that rest is just as important as work—something I’m not always great at accepting, which is why I’ve done so much writing. Contrary to what it may look like, I know how to relax, but I feel better relaxing once my list is as small it can be for the day.

Reading Recommendations

I’d like to recommend a book that I read at this time last year, since I have not completed any additional books in the last month or two. But last year, I read a 63-page novella called Waiting for Love by Liz Zerkel. I believe this was one of those books that I found on a whim while browsing Kindle Unlimited. 5/5, it’s a fun, short, and sweet read down to the very end. Lex is a sweet dream, and this is absolutely worth the read if you want some good smut and something sweet that’ll make you smile.

I’d recommend a few other books from around this time last year, however, the other books that I finished in February and March 2024 were average 3-star ratings or less. I will not be recommending them, but I will also not be mentioning those here.

Current Reads

I’m still making my way through Filthy Rich Santas by Eva Ashwood, and while the holiday season has long passed, I’m enjoying the over-the-top, indulgent fun of it. Sometimes, a little festive chaos is just what you need, no matter the time of year. As a lover of Christmas, I have definitely celebrated Christmas by listening to holiday music and drinking hot chocolate in June and July.

I’m still making my way through the dark and intense read that is Love Hard by Eva Ashwood. This author has a way of crafting characters that pull you in, and this one is no exception. The tension, the emotions, the chemistry—it’s all there, and I can’t wait to see where the story completes.

Recent Finds Unrelated to Reading

I’ve recently started watching some of the controversial content on Michelle Mana’s YouTube channel, specifically the deep dives into creators like TwoSoulsOneBod, The Wonderland System, Pixielocks, and DissociaDID. Of course, it’s impossible to diagnose someone or claim someone is faking a disorder over the Internet, but it is truly interesting to see these creators present themselves and how they shift over time, seeing the breakdowns and inconsistencies or even too consistent—as in, rehearsed—information.

The internet is full of voices claiming expertise, but at the end of the day, complex conditions can’t be fully understood through TikTok and YouTube. If you’re looking for real insight into mental health, always go to a professional. Don’t get your information about mental health over the Internet from some random person.

Recent Movies & TV Shows

This past week, I’ve been rewatching the most recent season of The Amazing Race and realized that I never actually finished it the first time around. How that happened, I’m unsure, but I’m correcting that now. There’s something about the mix of travel, strategy, and sheer chaos that makes it such a fun and exciting watch. Plus, seeing teams navigate challenges in different countries always makes me want to apply to be a part of the show.

I also just found out that the next season airs on March 5th! Perfect timing to get caught up before a whole new set of teams hit the road. Safe to say, I’ll be tuning in.