Hello friends! It’s Sunday and it’s Valentine’s Day and I hope someone that loves you made you a cup of coffee and kissed you on the head. I hope your day is filled with warmth.
I’ve been in Asheville, North Carolina this week, wearing a puffy jacket (it’s not so warm), sorting my mind and settling some life. Asheville seemed like a good place to get sorted with very good company from Ashley and Glenn and their tribe of homesteaders and artists.
The Internet happened this week and I tried not to pay it much mind, just because… sometimes the Internet is better left mostly unattended. Here are some things that caught me:
• Because we all care about love very very much. Eileen Myles on the Excruciating Pain of Waiting for Love
• File under, Very Good Questions? How To Be Human: how much should I sacrifice to make a relationship work? You know… easy Valentine’s Day reads.
• How People Learn To Become Resilient “Which side of the equation weighs more? The resilience or the stressors?” It’s like, who you gonna listen to? The strength or the stress? (Sometimes the stress dammit, but usually not dammit.)
• I found love because I got lucky; not because I changed myself. Thumbs up. Not sarcastic.
• Agnes Martin on Art, Happiness, Pride, and Failure: a rare interview with the reclusive artist.
• It just gets really weird, ok? The Incredibly Sad World of Niche Dating Apps
• Here’s a Sunday rabbit hole that will also make you feel old. The teens are killing us at the snapchat game. (And we’re ok with it, right?) How to Snapchat Like The Teens
• Why fruits and vegetables taste better in Europe. We’re Americans and we want to grow ALL the tomatoes even if they don’t taste that great.
• What makes The Perfect Email? Keep it short. Keep it sweet. No emojis? Wait… how many exclamation points is too many exclamation points?
• And then we all bought metallic bronze Nike throwbacks.
• Citrus and Greens, Avocado and Cashew. A very good Winter salad that is bright and bold.
I love you. Not just today but usually.
xo Joy
Amy
I just wanted to say that I found you through @drakeoncake, am about to get “23 on a money tree” on my birthday cake tomorrow, and all of the pieces here were exactly what I needed to read today. So thanks, Joy!!
joythebaker
This makes me so happy! Right on! Happy Birthday!
The Queen of Dreaming
Great post as always!!
https://justsem.wordpress.com/
Carlin
I have followed Ashley since the start of her book publishing career, and I love when two creatives I admire are friends. Makes the world seem warm, small, and approachable.
Angela
Were you recently in a commercial?
Angela
I cannot believe that you cook in that tiny oven. Amazing! If u can, I can.
Mary Berghaus
I spent valentine’s day in a new city at a brunch full of ladies I don’t really know. Apart from one gal with whom I discussed career paths and hiking and life goals, the entirety of the four hours was spent discussing dating. Mostly bad dating, as a result of various online sites and apps. And yet, even as we are sitting there rehashing the worst dates these successful, smart, grown-ass women had ever had, some of them were on their phones, swiping whichever darn way it is you swipe to say you think someone’s cute.
Once I got home and the mimosas wore off, I felt really sad. Maybe it was just the V-day occasion that brought it out, but is this really all 10 women in a room have to talk about, to lament about? And if you’ve been online dating for multiple years with no success, why are you encouraging me to sign up? I’d like to find a loving partner, but I just don’t have it in me to make it my whole life’s work.
So thanks for providing some other perspectives on love for this holiday, it’s making me feel a little less alone in my take on this whole thing. I’m leaving it in the hands of luck! Or maybe I’ll just stay single.