"While I made my sad, stupid little meals, I thought of Gödel, who believed everyone was out to poison him and eventually starved to death." lol
I have the same problem with "relaxation"! It's as bad as mindfulness in its own way. Let's jointly write a kicky little lifehacking book with a title like "THE PROBLEM WITH REST: how chilling the fuck out can actually KILL you" and make a million dollars
There’s a point to a shriek into the void if the shrieker can write as well as you. Wishing you increasingly better health and a rich patron to send you to that alpine retreat.
as someone who also has a million diseases (albeit less severe), I was really moved by this <3 ngl I would read the shit out of any auto-fiction you write! I hope the fatigue lifts and no one gives you annoying goop-y recommendations to remedy it.
an old teacher of mine supposedly said (to illustrate the difference between rest and leisure) that when he took his first sabbatical he spent it reading in French and listening to Mozart—leisure—and he when he took his second he spent it listening to the Beach Boys (can't remember what he read)—rest. but I don't think the point was that the Beach Boys were stupid, or at least I don't think _he_ thought they were stupid, just that you listen to them differently than you do to Mozart.
I think I understand this distinction. There are some things that are actually good that are restful (eve babitz, lubitsch movies) so it may be time to return to those things….I was in a hard things phase I was enjoying, but alas, my body says no
The two pieces you mention are both great—the piece about coconuts et al was for me the best read in WAPO for a while. You and that piece remind me of the golden days of the WAPO style section and Michael Kernan, a wonderful writer who also did reporting for his Style section pieces (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-07-me-kernan7-story.html).
Also your confession was a great read. I’m an old retired dude so I work at relaxing—workouts include white wine and tiny amounts of the sativa variety inhalation therapy.
You’re brilliant and hilarious. I just finished your book and it blew me away. Can’t stop thinking about it and arguing / agreeing with you in my head. So sorry to hear about all you’re going through.
I also find it very stressful to "relax". As a neurodivergent, the "relaxation techniques" specified for neurotypicals just stress me out. Not drawing any comparison to you here, just saying, I feel you.
"While I made my sad, stupid little meals, I thought of Gödel, who believed everyone was out to poison him and eventually starved to death." lol
I have the same problem with "relaxation"! It's as bad as mindfulness in its own way. Let's jointly write a kicky little lifehacking book with a title like "THE PROBLEM WITH REST: how chilling the fuck out can actually KILL you" and make a million dollars
This is an excellent idea and we should certainly do it!!!! We will make our fortune!!!!
There’s a point to a shriek into the void if the shrieker can write as well as you. Wishing you increasingly better health and a rich patron to send you to that alpine retreat.
Thank you! Have to find a patron asap
as someone who also has a million diseases (albeit less severe), I was really moved by this <3 ngl I would read the shit out of any auto-fiction you write! I hope the fatigue lifts and no one gives you annoying goop-y recommendations to remedy it.
<3
Dear Becca,
This was more fun than De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium-Eater.
Hang in there!
George
Thank you so much, George! Extremely high praise!
an old teacher of mine supposedly said (to illustrate the difference between rest and leisure) that when he took his first sabbatical he spent it reading in French and listening to Mozart—leisure—and he when he took his second he spent it listening to the Beach Boys (can't remember what he read)—rest. but I don't think the point was that the Beach Boys were stupid, or at least I don't think _he_ thought they were stupid, just that you listen to them differently than you do to Mozart.
I think I understand this distinction. There are some things that are actually good that are restful (eve babitz, lubitsch movies) so it may be time to return to those things….I was in a hard things phase I was enjoying, but alas, my body says no
i also think this is why people get really into baking… but i have never really gotten into baking myself lol
The two pieces you mention are both great—the piece about coconuts et al was for me the best read in WAPO for a while. You and that piece remind me of the golden days of the WAPO style section and Michael Kernan, a wonderful writer who also did reporting for his Style section pieces (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-07-me-kernan7-story.html).
Also your confession was a great read. I’m an old retired dude so I work at relaxing—workouts include white wine and tiny amounts of the sativa variety inhalation therapy.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! I guess I too will start working on relaxing!
You’re brilliant and hilarious. I just finished your book and it blew me away. Can’t stop thinking about it and arguing / agreeing with you in my head. So sorry to hear about all you’re going through.
Thank you so much ♥️
Very best wishes on the recovery. and congratulations on writing better after cancer treatments than most of us while well!
♥️
I also find it very stressful to "relax". As a neurodivergent, the "relaxation techniques" specified for neurotypicals just stress me out. Not drawing any comparison to you here, just saying, I feel you.