Me, re-reading my curation that dropped on @pocket today. 💫 Okay. So boom! Life update: Last year, after a particularly tumultuous pandemic (you guys may have heard of something called Covid), I left my role as VP of Content EIC of Okayplayer. and OkayAfrica. I left two brands I love dearly in the hands of my amazing, capable colleagues as I took a leap into a new exciting CEO opportunity. There is no way I could have expected the change that would alchemize in me after making that move. In all of the planning, adjusting, and life strategizing that comes with shifting roles at an executive level, I did not account for the silent shifts happening within me, and so many of us, throughout the pandemic. That faint nagging kept tugging and reminding me that new worlds required new ways of being. So, I quit. Or, as I tell my friends, "I blew up my life." And almost immediately, I felt at ease in my body for the first time since 2019. As someone who has taken great pride in my career, the one thing no one tells you about is the shame and confusion that comes with detaching your worth from work. So When the team at Pocket asked me to curate a collection, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to explore this personal revolution and share some of the materials that have helped me contextualize this weird time in this strange new world. (And to share this life update!) I plan to return to full-time employment later this year (free agent!!!). But since stepping back from full-time work to consult with a more flexible schedule, I have spent more time with myself, and my loved ones, focused on making new connections and rekindling old ones. I am a lady who lunches, journals, travels on whims, takes long morning walks, meditates, and finds the joy in simply being, not always doing. It's kind of cute here! There is a lot to say about how much of ourselves and our stories we owe to the Internet, but if this collection helps just one person feel seen, it's worth my discomfort with oversharing. New worlds require new ways. May we all be brave enough to find them. I’ve popped the link in my bio. Special thanks to @amymaoz + @rebecca_m_smith