Eucalyptus as a metaphor
What's bringing you joy right now?
On my Trader Joe’s run this weekend, I impulse-purchased up two big bundles of eucalyptus. In the moment, that fresh-air, cooling scent felt like it could save me.
As the sadness of the election result have faded, I’ve found myself sitting with a lot of white-hot burning anger and dread. I know I’m not alone in that feeling. It’s daunting, what’s ahead. Four years of this constant chaos, the dismantling of our country and our democracy, the harm it will cause too so many. It’s too much to contend with.
So, eucalyptus it is.
Last week, my friend
asked on Instagram what’s bringing you (literally any) joy right now. Not only was the question what I needed, but seeing what brought other people joy was touching — I got second-hand joy from the responses.So that’s this week’s prompt:
What is bringing you literally any joy right now?
Deceptively simple, sure. But also how we make it through these dark years ahead together — not just noticing our own joys, but celebrating and honoring what sparks joy for others, as well.
Also on my joy list this week: The Paul Mescal Gladiator II press tour (especially the Irish bits), a new sweater vest I got off Poshmark, and the anticipation of trading favorite things at an annual gift exchange. What’s sparking joy for you?
P.S. — If you’re looking for joyful escapism, you should check out
’s new book, Fang Fiction, which will let you escape reality and fill you with absolute delight. 5 stars.Bergy Bits: The Mount Rushmore of Bread
Some icebreakers cause such a stir they deserve a follow up. So this week, I’m introducing a new section of the newsletter: Bergy Bits (apparently this is what they call shards of icebergs in the water), where I share notes and feedback from you all about the previous week’s icebreakers.
Boy, did I not expect the controversy that came with asking people about bread! The debates were rampant: Are croissants bread? (No.) Are bagels? (Sort of.) Does bread need to be baked? (Probably.) Does banana bread count? (Definitely not.)
What I landed on was this: if you’d find it on Paul Hollywood’s list of approved bakes for bread week, it counts as bread. I call this the Great British Bakeoff Rule.
I also loved how some people got super specific in their responses — specific brands, preparation specifications. That’s the kind of detail I crave. Here are some of my favorite answers:
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread, challah, deli onion roll, focaccia
English Muffin, sesame bagel (toasted), a really seedy whole grain sandwich loaf, flour tortillas
Pretzel buns, baguette, Persian bread, naan
French bread, garlic bread (which is really just French bread with other stuff on it), sour dough, pizza crust
Sour dough, rye, Sarahbeth’s homemade English Muffins, Montreal-style bagel
See you next week,
Danielle