Week 2
I go back to yoga!
Welcome back to Junk Drawer! Week 2 and I think I’m figuring it out :) This week we talk about yoga, crafts, fantasy, and more. If you enjoy this newsletter and want to see it in your inbox next week, please subscribe!
Weekly Gratitude
Yoga! I first started my practice last summer after graduating college and moving back in with my parents while I applied for jobs. It quickly became a crucial part of my self-care routine. Since moving back to DC, I haven’t prioritized finding a new studio BUT!! I set that as a goal for myself this week and got back into class - and I already feel more at home in my body for it.
Craft Stores… the peace I feel in a Michael’s is indescribable.
My mom <3 I’m very lucky to have a close relationship with my parents, especially my mom. We facetime at least once a week and text all the time, and I just appreciate her place in my adult(ish) life.
Lesson of the Week
Take it slowwwww. Cliche? Probably. True? Most definitely.
Getting back into yoga has been so incredible, and while I love being in class, my body has also been reminding me that I can’t just jump right back to being 5+ classes a week. After my first session this week, I was sore and my body was a bit fatigued. I stretched and used muscles I haven’t in a while, and the mental process of getting myself into class again was also took a toll. Yoga for me is a spiritual practice as much as a physical one and there’s a certain kind of vulnerability to enter that space.
At first I was a little disappointed by the way I felt. I was so excited to be doing this thing that I love again and here I was, sore and tired. But as I sat with that, I realized this is a part of yoga. Learning to listen to your body, and not rushing life. It would have defeated the purpose to push myself into a class the next day, and I probably wouldn’t have felt better for it. If anything, I would be more fatigued and could potentially injure myself.
A lot of my life is fast paced, especially living in the nation’s capital, having a full time job, and deciding to go back to school. I like to think I thrive in this setting, and while I probably do in my professional life, it can come at a cost. Particularly for my physical and mental health. Going back to yoga and taking care of my physical and spiritual health was a reminder and lesson for me that going slow is good and it’s better to set the pace yourself, rather than come to a halt if/when your health starts to suffer.
Now, this isn’t always our choice, as I was reminded by a friend earlier this week. I’m lucky to have a flexible work environment and a pretty regular work schedule that allows me to set routines and build in down time. So I won’t preach that everyone needs to practice yoga or to slow down - it’s just not possible and it’s not right for everyone. But I will leave you with the idea of taking a moment, taking a few deep breaths, and asking yourself what you need. If the answer is something you can address, do it! If it’s something bigger, are there small things you can do to get closer to that?
We might not have control over every piece of our lives or the pace at which things move, but I think we can all take a few moments to take it slow.
Currently Consuming
Book(s): in full transparency, I’m still reading the Throne of Glass series… I’m almost finished! But I’ll give a recommendation that I’ve read in the past, Magic for Liars, by Sarah Gailey. A wonderfully queer, murder mystery, very fall-feeling fantasy book, Gailey creates a cozy world and a compelling storyline. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be re-reading this fall!
Podcast: a recommendation from my mom, I sped through Three this week. On the surface it’s a true crime podcast, but go deeper, and it’s an examination of the dynamics of teenage friendships and social media. The case they discuss is the death of Skylar Neese, and working with her family, they paint a picture of high school friend groups that I’m sure resonates with many people. In particular, the bonus episode struck me. I felt both validated and exposed by the analysis of teenage girls and the friendships they strike. ANYWAYS. Highly recommend but with a note that you might feel exposed by the end.
Music: a few weeks ago I got to see Dr. Dog in concert with my little brother (he’s the music nerd of the family). Since then, Nellie and That Old Black Hole have been in heavy rotation.
Shows: behind the trend by a few years, I just finished Game of Thrones. Unsurprisingly, it was incredible. I don’t really know what else to say, I feel like the cult following of the show speaks for itself!
Misc.: not sure if this counts as media, but I’m going to include it anyways! I have been back into my paint by numbers (I get them from Michael’s and they come out really nicely) and it’s been so relaxing! I like to think of myself as a creative person, but the preset design really helps with my lack of painting skills.
Another note here: you can get personalized paint by numbers made, and I think these make great gifts! I made one for my dad a few years ago for Christmas and it was a win-win, I got to wind down by painting and he got a painting of him and one of our dogs!
Phrase of the Week
I am in my own place I am my own house -- Living Room Floor, Sammy Rae & The Friends
A note on this week's phrase: if you haven’t listened to this song, please please do. I get chills every time. I was lucky enough to see Sammy Rae & The Friends with an old friend earlier this year and the whole crowd was in tears when they played this - it’s just that good.
Career Corner
For this weeks career corner, I want to focus on resumes. A strong resume is key to a job application. Now, I’m not saying I’m an expert or that my advice is anything revolutionary, but these strategies have helped me secure a few different positions! Do with them what you will.
Customize for each position: you don’t need to completely change it, but make sure the positions, skills, experiences you’re listing are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Demonstrate your strengths for this job.
Use numbers: if you have metrics for something, put the number! For example, I used to be a student fundraiser. Instead of saying, “I raised money for university funds”, “I say I raised over $10,000 for university funds”. Numbers add legitimacy and demonstrate your efficacy.
Keep it to one page: there’s some stat out there about how few seconds people spend looking at your resume, and I bet that’s true. Keeping a resume to one page shows reviewers that you respect their time and you can communicate concisely.
Include volunteering: this may apply more for current undergraduate students, but if you don’t have a lot of professional experience but you volunteer, make sure to add that! For one, you gain useful skills while volunteering. Are you communicating with others? Updating a system? Using a specific software? All of those count. Volunteering also demonstrates commitment to a cause on your part and being well rounded.
Don’t skimp on social media skills: it might seem obvious to you that you can use instagram, facebook, snapchat, etc. with ease, but it may not be obvious to your employer. These are absolutely marketable skills! Including them in your resume shows your competence with a variety of digital platforms and comfort with modern advertising and marketing platforms.
Thank you so much for reading! I’m glad you’re here :) Stay tuned for next week, and if you want, subscribe so you know when it’s published.
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