this is technically my third weekly report, but the other two were posted directly on patreon (if you become a free member, you can read them here no.01 & no.02). i decided to send the letter here this week instead because I think this website’s interface might be better suited for the format.

the past two have taken on the form of a “weekly report” where I used the tiktok format of sharing what I’ve been reading, eating, playing, obsessing, and treating myself along with what i’m recommending in the week. i am going to modify it a little further to fit my ecosystem. i hope you like it!

recent excerpts from my morning pages

01.when you don’t fill your creative cup, what do you expect to pour out of you? I definitely want to make time to nurture my inspiration jar and fill it with things that spark creative expression.

02.i haven’t been able to sit down and write and i’m curious about what the block is being caused by. i keep thinking it may be the computer, that maybe I should try by hand or with the typewriter but the immediate thought that follows is: “that isn’t optimal” or “that’s not the best way to do things.” and I stop and ask myself: when did best become synonymous with fast?

honestly, i’m so tired of the word optimal taken out of the context of personal experience. this notion that “optimal” means “faster or more productive” completely disregards that high speed may not be everyone's goal. optimal should always be specific to you; “the best” is determined only as it relates to your specific circumstance. the generic, all-expansive version of optimal is a washed-out, capitalistic version of itself, and I’m tired of it.

it’s funny because I moved to the countryside to live a slower life but I can’t say with total certainty that i’ve accomplished that. and the truth of the matter is that, unless you choose to disconnect fully from society, there is only so far you can get from the grasp of capitalism.

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last week’s media consumption

Shows: One piece (I’ve entered the Punk Hazard arc)

Movies: A Good Person with Florence Pugh & Morgan Freeman. During a particular scene, I wrote down this sentence that came up for me and then later went on the procreate app and drew it onto an art piece/background i created on Friday.

Music: I Hate Myself & The Best Part (both from the movie, both sung by Florence Pugh)

Books:

• Wabi Sabi by Leonard Koren ( i am going to be commonplacing about this soon and making an accompanying blog post, stay tuned).

• Anne of Green Gables (i’ve made it to chapter 6)

Notable Youtube Videos:

• Video essay by CJ The X “On Online Entitlement”

• Sketchbook tour by Chromaphile

Notable Podcast episode: “The internet as a creative practice” by Kening Zhu ( i wrote a blog post about this episode which i’ll link down below).

last week in the ella nym ecosystem

here’s what i was up to on other platforms last week:

Youtube:

• Sunday’s release was the Quarter 2 Daily Journal Flip through

Blog:

I posted two blog posts on my website last week!

• a journey through journaling: embracing the inevitable shifts This blog post is based on an older video’s show notes that I didn’t realize I hadn’t finished. Subject matter is still relevant even if the video is a bit older

• in response to “internet as a creative practice”
  this blog post is based on the podcast episode i referenced earlier in this newsletter. i use the episode’s show notes and my commonplace entry as basis for it

Patreon:

• if you’d like to see some of the pictures from the past week, you can access that here by becoming a member of the slice of life tier.

• in last week’s journaling update i discussed my hobonichi cousin avec as an inspiration/creative exploration journal & visual diary, my media journal epiphanies and thoughts, digital media journal spreads, pocket moleskine as a daily reflection/ gratitude journal, and my tumultuous love affair with daily logging. i also answered a question one of my patrons sent me regarding why i stopped journaling digitally and what i think the Pros and Cons are. you can access the video here by joining the journal lovers tier.

excerpts from last week’s wins & gratitude list

• grateful for the cooler weather and working from home on days like this. grateful that i’m able to put on socks and a cardigan and that it feels like i’m able to handle what’s thrown at me because i am not overwhelmed by the heat

• grateful for the company of my cats even when they are a nuisance

• grateful for interesting podcasts to listen to while doing the dishes

• grateful for the feeling of my brain expanding when i learn new things or am reminded of concepts i had forgotten

• grateful for paid time off and being able to spend time creating and reading

• grateful for gift cards, and pizza, and ice cream

i don’t have much else to say at the moment, other than i’m happy today is once again a cooler day and that i was able to send this letter out to you before the end of it.