I usually don't decide what I will write about here until a day or two before I send out the email. I had already written 3 or 4 paragraphs today on this week's topic, and I thought I had a decent rhythm going. But I always end up hitting a wall; so I walk away from my laptop and do something else for a bit.

The topic this week was how conversation tends to make me fatigued. The subject was fresh on my mind, as I had a particularly grueling 75 minute phone shift at work. So grueling in fact, that I ended up taking the rest of the day off.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was probably burnout. Work has been particularly unpleasant the past few weeks. I'm trying to get into a new position in my agency; and the application process for a government job is cumbersome, to say the least. I had a pretty awful interaction with a colleague who "joked" about violence. And, to be honest: I'm quite bored at work.

I'm probably minimizing the burnout, which I know isn't healthy. And while I'm grateful for a job that gives me good PTO benefits, it always feels like I'm cheating if I use it. Viva Capitalism, eh?

But I'm going to start seeing a new therapist this week, so that's something to look forward to. I've been getting out for more runs and eating a little better. Maybe everything just needs time to sync up.

I didn't get a chance to read much this week. But I did come across this article in Psyche about 'thick skin bias': the idea that the better off you are, the more adept you will be in dealing with adversity.

A key foundation of the bias seems to be people’s more general belief in the toughening effects of hardship. Earlier studies suggested that people strongly endorse the idea that ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’, such that they often think experiencing hardship makes people less sensitive to future harm. It might not be surprising that people associate hardship with toughness, given the presence of this idea in culture and media (for example, it has been a theme of hit songs by Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Kanye West). On the other hand, it is not self-evident that people would see hardship – especially the chronic hardship of poverty – as toughening, instead of something that would exacerbate vulnerability. So, what is going on?

Give the whole thing a read.

This week on Movies Andy Finally Got Around To Watching, I checked out the Coen Brothers' 2013 flick 'Inside Llewyn Davis'. It's an era of folk music that I don't know much about - and one that the movie didn't really expend on. Which wasn't the point of it, I guess. I thought it a was fine film - certainly not my favorite Coen Bros. piece. But it was an acceptable way to kill 90 minutes on a Saturday night.

I peaked through the window of Mickey's Diner last year and took this. I don't think they've reopened yet, but I'd love to get back there one of these days. Hopefully the booth jukeboxes will still be there.

m u s i c b r e a k

Mimi And Richard Fariña - Reflections In A Crystal Wind (1965)

Speaking of 60s folk music, this was an act I wasn't very familiar with until recently. Richard lived a lot in his 29 years. (check out his Wikipedia page to get a full sense of it) Mimi - younger sister of Joan Baez - continued to work in music and activism after Richard's death, setting up a nonprofit organization to bring music to people in institutions, or those who otherwise wouldn't have access to it.

Take care,

-AG