"I exist. Right?

Why we take selfies.

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Hello Friends,

Coming to you a little late, but better late than never.

I listened to Tim Farriss interview Sara Silverman while on my run today and she said something that was so true I had to stop in the middle of the trail to make a note in my phone.

They were talking about why we take selfies. It’s not for the narcissistic reason you might think. It’s because we want to prove we live in this world and that we matter. She said, “I exist. Right!?!”

A few years ago I thought I wanted to be a coach with Beachbody. Turns out I loved making silly workout videos (seriously, this one is hilarious) and honest posts about being a mom with two kids under two and trying to stay healthy, BUT I wasn’t so keen on the selling part.

One of the “job requirements” is that is you have to take pictures of yourself. My camera was full of beautiful candid pictures of my kids, but I had so few of myself. Beachbody got me out from behind the camera. This essay from Scary Mommy says it better than I can.

Last year when I ran every street in Santa Barbara I kind of became obsessed with taking pictures of myself in front of the concave mirrors people have when their driveway is on a blind corner. These pictures became a digital version of writing “Emily was here” on a park bench.

Anyway, this is a long ramble without much of a point except to say, selfies are awesome and we should all be taking more of them.

This is where I am today. Thank you for listening.

xoxo,

Emily

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Read

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

The pandemic book I was ready for, right when I was ready for it. Had I read it any sooner I would not have had the same experience. So much happens in this very quiet book; love, loss, social commentary, BOOKS! (more)

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Links to Ponder

This vegetable soup looks delicious (Sarah J Hauser blog)

A force recognizes a force. Joan Didion on Martha Stewart (The New Yorker, February 2000)

Blog hop on running, mothering and making. Start here (Melissa Reeser Poulin)

Reader’s Block is Real (Book Riot)

“Reading is a solitary activity… Unless you read with a pen in your hand.” (Modern Mrs. Darcy)

100 ways to improve your life (The Guardian)

The Next Smallest Thing (Modern Mrs. Darcy)

The sweetest thing on the internet (YouTube via The Daily Respite)

2022 #LikeYourselfChallenge “No resolutions, transformations or returns necessary.” (Instagram)

The Girlscouts have a new cookie and I must try it! (The Kitchn)

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What are you reading or listening to this week? What have you created that wasn’t there before? Post your response in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @emilykathleenwrites