In a move that seems very meta—the lovely things in this week's newsletter are all things I discovered via other newsletters. I find that I've been spending much less time on social media recently, not particularly due to any specific attempt not to; it's just less appealing to me right now. As a result, there's been more long-form reading and game playing in my life (I'm looking at you Octordle), but fewer pictures of cute animals (though I'm sure someone has a newsletter for that).
Happy reading!
🐿 In keeping with the theme of last week's valentine, this quote (which I found via Austin Kleon):
If you love something that somebody does—some art, some words, some sounds—you tell them that you love it. You tell everyone how much you love it, repeatedly and enthusiastically. Don’t save your appreciation for later, or worry about wearing people out with your passion. Because the happy truth is this: If a piece of art truly moves you, you will never, ever run out of new adjectives to express how much you love it. Getting to love someone’s art is one of the very finest parts of being alive.
🐿 This made me smile (Anne Friedman shared this in her newsletter, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Richard Scarry's Cars, Trucks, & Things That Go):
🐿 The snail analogy I didn't know I needed from Leah Ferguson in her most recent essay over at
(highly recommend the whole essay):You can climb under a rock. Or sprint to the finish. Or you can slowly push yourself along on a sparkly layer of fuel that you managed to create all by your very own self.
🐿 Dinner Music: a weekly newsletter and accompanying playlist full of new-to-me music. I always love a music recommendation and appreciate Jacqui Devaney's deep dive here that includes a recommendation for an album to listen to each day of the week, as well as at least one recipe to try (discovered via Anne Helen Peterson's Culture Study).
🐿 This blessing via Kate Bowler's weekly newsletter:
Blessed are we, mid-change, clutching our old selves like they’re security blankets. May we release them gently (or with a dramatic scream) and make peace with the fact that growth feels a lot like grief wrapped in a bad cardigan.
What good things have you read lately? Played any fun games on your phone (wait, no, actually I don't need any more)? Favorite newsletters? Also, am I missing all the cutest cats/squirrels/hamsters on Instagram? Would love to hear what small lovely things you're finding on or off the internet.
Be well, find tiny joy—
Mary Chris
Thanks for the mention, Mary Chris! With love and snail trails, friend.
Always love to see what you'll share. :)