Heliotropic List #13
Phone-detox like a Renaissance woman and meditate like it’s 2024
This week, I bring you a potentially life-changing app, an addictive 5-min dinner, another Podcast to laugh on the commute to work to, and at the end — some life updates featuring a very satisfying recent thrift find and the latest crochet project.
Something beautiful - Discovered these photographs by Mona Kuhn this week.
Words for thought
“Slowly is the fasted way to get to where you want to be.” // “Humanity is on a treadmill that’s moving fast and if you were to ask “where are you going?” The answer might very well be “I don’t know but I have to get there quickly.” Because we’ve convinced ourselves that life is short. I don’t buy into that. Life is long. It appears short, because we’re in a hurry to accumulate things. That is not the meaning of life. Life is for you to realise your purpose.” — André De Shields
A 5-min lazy dinner - Gochujang (a Korean fermented chilli paste), has had a big moment recently, causing my obsession to try it. This week was the week I finally picked some up and I put it to good use in a v. speedy Gochujang rice noodle situation. While the noodles are on the hob, just put the following ingredients in a small bowl, stir and pour over the noodles: tamari, Gochujang, miso paste, peanut butter, sesame seeds, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, the green part of the spring onion and grated garlic. (Ignore coriander in picture, it was all I had).
Podcasts - this very amusing ep of After Work Drinks detailing J Lo’s new chaotic lemonade-esque film coming out — see trailer here.
A meditation app - I started using Balance a month ago after someone recommended it. I’m on the 1 year free trial and have been loving it and most importantly; sticking to it, which has been my biggest pitfall. It guides you through an entire meditation course, taking out any effort or decision-making aside from showing up.
Latest thrift find - Picked up a solid wood sideboard last Sunday ($1,600 new) for $400. There’s something so thrilling about a good thrift find. Almost everything in this pic is thrifted, actually (the chairs were handmade and $180 for two on marketplace). Just wanting some art on the wall + to ebonize the coffee table my partner made and we’re good.
Current project - I had a random couple of months break from crochet, but this week remembered how much I need it in my life, so I started making this boat-neck-ish top. This is how it’s going (will show finished pic next week). I’m not following a pattern, just free-handing, hence it’s awkward shape, but you can’t tell once it’s on (see previously freehanded top in pic below to see what I mean). Anyway, all this to say, if you find yourself glued to the phone before bed, consider adopting a Renaissance-inspired hobby. They had hours to kill with no phones and are therefore inadvertent experts of how to stay sane and occupied while digital detoxing.
