You can have your cake and eat it too

offline *and* online

home sweet home

Hi there,

Sometimes, to this day, when I visit my parents, I ask my dad for his phone and scroll through my favourite subreddits until I feel disgusted with myself, then during brunch the next day, her and I quote our fav subreddit and laugh and laugh and laugh at all the dumb shit said online. The best of both worlds.

Five things to share:

1. I adore the photo in today’s post. I decided to walk home from work that day instead of taking the train and this is the view right before my stop. Two years ago today, I didn’t know this reality existed. No, not the train station and the beautiful view around it, but the possibility of living in this reality. At the time I was living in Michigan and while nature was plenty and beautiful there, my heart belonged in the big city. The idea of reading on the train on my commute, drifting through thousands of swarming bodies and people watching downtown Toronto, and belonging without belonging in the most multicultural city in the world called to me every morning, afternoon, and evening. And while nature was plenty and beautiful in Michigan, one random day in August of 2022, I set fire to walls that felt more like bars than home and found my way back to the city. I thought then, since I was so desperate to read on the train on my commute, drifting through thousands of swarming bodies and people watching downtown, and belonging without belonging in the big city, the price I would have to pay would be the beautiful, wonderful nature I left behind in Michigan: Accessible by car, through a life I had no business living; lying, lying, lying— To myself. I was devastated: I loved time spent outdoors in Pure Michigan. So imagine my shock and delight when I found myself right smack in the midst of breathtaking nature right in the middle of the busy, bustling streets of Toronto. They lied to me the whole time— they said I had to choose— and they are lying to you: You can have your cake and eat it too.

2. A year ago around this time, I was showing up for delight and witnessing miracles everywhere. Two years ago, I bake bread and lament on time running out— I slow down to slow down time. Three years ago, I’m more practical and less whiney, and I write about Spotify and the paradox of choice: How a culture of abundance robs us of satisfaction. For my birthday party this year, my friend makes me a Spotify playlist because I don’t use Spotify anymore, or stream music. I can’t access the playlist without an account but I smile when another friend texts me the playlist is fire. You make choices, life adapts; life is kinda funny that way.

3. A quote I want to share with you:

   Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

   — Matthew 7:7-8

   What you seek is seeking you.

4. Ed Sheeran reveals he hasn’t owned a cell phone since 2015

   To change the stigma around needing to be constantly available and avoid phone addiction as a whole, Sheeran made the decision to get rid of his phone and only use an iPad. His primary method of communication is now email, with the singer explaining that he only checks it around once per week.

5. A challenge for you: Turn your smartphone into a dumb phone.

   You can have your cake and eat it too.

P.s. I used to scroll after work… #yikes

♡

That’s all for this week!

Thank you for reading, and share with anyone you think may benefit.

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Until next time,

Mehret