Thinking, Reading, Consuming This Month
Today I thought I’d do a little roundup of articles and sales I’ve been enjoying lately.
But first, a life update!
Last week marked five months since I began my new position as a curate in Houston. And I have been a priest for two months now! Adjusting to a full-time ministry position has been more challenging than I expected. Don’t get me wrong: divinity school had its own adjustment period (and honestly, I don’t think I ever really got used to its demands).
But navigating a new organizational system, working under direct supervision, attending to parishioner relationships, trying to make friends – it’s a lot!
My position is a public one in a way it hasn’t been before. That makes me subject to a lot of feedback and insecurities. I’ve needed to make lots of mental adjustments, build a thicker skin, and acknowledge my needs with more intentionality than ever.
My husband, mother-in-law, and I took a roadtrip to Kansas City, Missouri a couple of weeks ago and it offered some much-needed distance for reflection. One thing I have come to understand about myself over the last few years is that mental and physical distance from work is vital to continuing the work. I can’t get my bearings or make appropriate judgments if I don’t get out of the weeds.
I think our relationship toward work in this country – and maybe even more so in ministry – disconnects us from intuition and big-picture thinking. We keep our heads down and plow through. And, in the process, we miss all of the connections and revelations. We lose sight of the magic of collaboration. And the way some things untangle themselves without our meddling.
(On our way back from Kansas City we stopped in Oklahoma City to visit the First Americans Museum. It was incredibly moving. You can read my sermon about it here.)
These days, I’m trying to spend more time doing things that bring me simple joy. Things that let my brain relax and reconnect me to my spirit. I feel like I’m starting to reconnect with my inner child, which is an unexpected joy. I am reading, rollerblading, singing, crafting, and blogging more.
Here are some other things I’ve been enjoying
Fleishman is in Trouble is the best new show I’ve watched in awhile. You can watch new episodes each Thursday on Hulu.
(Affiliate link) PACT is offering 12 days of sales through 12/12. I love their sheets, but their women’s clothing this season is on point.
My div school colleague wrote this beautiful essay on body and spirit. CW: graphic medical descriptions and eating disorders.
What do American food shows reveal about the deranged American psyche, I wonder?
Reading: I just finished reading Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey and Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut. I recommend both!
I watched Netflix’s recent Trevor Noah standup special last night. I was impressed with his willingness to grapple with the downsides of the pandemic at great length. Sometimes it feels like our trauma is demanding that we ignore what we’ve endured. But I think we need to keep talking about it, and feeling it.
What have you been up to?
By the way, I am interested in learning more about what you’d like to see on StyleWise. Are there any issues, events, or topics that could use more coverage?
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.