Rivers in the Desert
Weekend Reads v. 16.8.2025
I am about to complete another trip around the sun, so I have lots of reflective thoughts this week. For some reason, I find birthdays to be a better benchmark for resolutions than New Year’s Day. This year, I am drawing a blank on resolutions.
I know I should focus on health – strength training! diet! proper rest! – or maybe picking up a new skill. I should probably make more time for reading and improving my professional acumen. And there’s always a list of loved ones to touch base with, so that area of my life could use tackling, too.
Instead I keep coming back to one question. “How does my future self want me to mark this birthday?”
Do you ever think about your future self? I’ve developed a habit of doing things in the present as a sort of gift for my future self. This could be as simple as cleaning and stocking up on basic groceries before a trip so that when I return all jetlagged and brain dead, I am greeted by a tidy kitchen and a small carton of half and half in the fridge. (That first-day-back coffee is essential!) Or maybe I start prepping for the holidays by adding to the “gift closet” in…March. I get gas the night before an early morning. I tackle the hard stuff first. And on and on the list of gifts goes.
I can’t shake the idea that while my future self is cheering me on to make good choices about my health and time, she is also willing me to savor this season of life. To be grateful for the view from my window and my current set of circumstances. She’s pointing out all the days I prayed and worked for this life I live on August 16, 2025. She’s reminding me of how I already look back and wish I’d been more present in my past.I suppose it tracks that I’ve had this one Bibl verse replaying in my mind over the past week or so: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
One day, this body I constantly critique will seem like the high-water mark after more years of wear and tear take their toll. One day, I will look back on this week’s schedule and feel an odd longing for the busyness and list of decisions to be made. And one day I will view today’s grumblings as small potatoes when compared to what’s ahead. I will ache for the feeling of my niece’s little hand in mine. The day may come when I am crushed with longing to hear my husband’s laughter or feel his hand on my knee when we are driving.
I’ve carried a fatal flaw around with me for as long as I remember, and that flaw is to dwell in regret. Maybe my resolution for this year should be to hit the mute button on regrets and spend more time splashing in those rivers in the desert.
Speaking of splashing, here’s what it's like to swim in the Seine.
Radiohead quietly dropped a new album full of their live recordings between 2003 and 2009. Somewhere my sister is weeping tears of joy.
This incredible man builds watches from scratch in his Brooklyn basement. The photos of the artist at work are something to see.
“At 40, she discovered she was one of America’s best free divers.”
Whether you’re headed back to school or not, you can get a brand new 2025 MacBook Air on sale right now for $799.
Is Japanese Walking a fitness trend worth trying? (NYTimes giftlink via this Cup of Jo post)
Yeah, yeah, the sourdough craze was supposed to end when we all came out of lockdowns for you-know-what, but I kept on baking. Last weekend I tried this recipe for a loaf-version of sourdough bread and gosh was it perfect. Another hit recipe from Alexandra Stafford, whom you may recall authored all those salad recipes I previously shared with you.
It’s that time of year when my friend M.C. and I swoon over the latest Serena & Lily catalog. She enjoys the good fortune of living close to one of their outlets which is akin to a winning lottery ticket.
Well this is a disturbing trend and yet also makes perfect sense. From The Free Press’ weekly TGIF column comes an explanation as to why it appears the personalities of younger people vary so wildly from their older peers.
“According to a recent analysis, our personalities have been profoundly warped over the course of the internet age, with positive traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness in free fall, especially among younger adults.” (Source)
Random things you talk about when you are getting older – does this tea really work to curb bloating? (K.L., this might be one for us to try and trade notes on!)
For everyone into gardening, here’s an August checklist for your garden and more checklists for every other month on the calendar.
This caftan from Emerson Fry looks like a perfect uniform for closing out summer 2025.
There appears to be one community in America that has successfully avoided allergies. (WaPo gift link)
I may have bought this BaubleBar bracelet because it’s on sale for $7.50.
Hope this weekend brings you some sun, sweet fruit, and surprising encounters with kindness and encouragement.
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