Microdosing Aesthetics

Art as medicine, two new novels, Montecito madness; and Allan.

Allan says hello. Just because.

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Hello, and a warm welcome (from me and Allan) to this week’s edition of Some Happy Scribbles! I recently realized that when I’m collecting bits and pieces for this newsletter, what I’m really doing is preparing for social interactions: finding interesting topics to chat about, and to insert into any awkward lulls in conversation. Read on for what I’ll be talking about this weekend - and maybe you will be, too!

🎨Artful Goals

At the beginning of August each year, I reliably find myself reflecting on the past year, thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next 12 months, and setting goals. Whether it’s because August is my birthday month, or the last month of summer here in the US, to me it feels like time for a reset and system upgrade.

Often, my ideas for self-improvement are over-ambitious, and this year is no different. Included on the ever-expanding list: completing my novel; growing newsletter subscribers; taking a hot bath every night; going for a walk at golden hour every day; and 20 minutes of “microdosing aesthetics” as enthusiastically recommended by Martha Beck in this piece inspired by the book, Your Brain on Art: How The Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Rose.

According to Beck, “Making or bringing more art into our lives creates what scientists call an “enriched environment.” This makes us healthier and also smarter—it develops more neural connections in our brains and may even stave off age-related brain deterioration.”

In an effort to lower her anxiety Beck tried drawing for 20 minutes each morning and reported miraculous results:

…the whole pattern of my life changed dramatically. I need a lot of sleep and am emphatically not a morning person. If anything, I have something of a morning phobia. Once I started microdosing art, I began to wake up early—sometimes as early as 4:30 AM, a time I once believed to be purely fictional. The excitement of getting to make stuff pulls me out of bed like a bungee cord. I don’t feel the need for breakfast or even coffee; I just want to play with my art supplies.

Waking up early fizzing with excitement sounds pretty great so I’m going to try it. I just need to figure out whether my “art medicine” will be poetry, drawing, painting, or something else. Stay tuned for an update on the results!

🎤I’d love to hear your thoughts: would you try making art for 20 minutes each day?Does singing in the shower count?! If you already do this, what art do you make? Leave a comment below or hit reply and let me know what you think!

📚Books

I’ve just begun Tom Lake, the latest novel by Ann Patchett, and am hooked. The story takes place on a cherry farm in Michigan, in 2020, where three grown-up daughters have returned to shelter with their parents during the pandemic. The real story takes place in the past: when Lara, the mother, had a youthful relationship with a very famous (and handsome) movie star. The daughters are fascinated with the romance and drama of their mother’s life before they were in it, and I am too. If you listen to your books, you’re in for a treat: Meryl Streep narrates the audiobook!

I heard Patchett interviewed on NPR this week and was touched to hear that she is “sharing” her book tour with another author, Lindsay Lynch, in order to shine a light on Lynch’s debut novel, Do Tell, which is about a failed actress turned gossip columnist in the golden age of Hollywood; and which Patchett highly recommends.

🐱‍🏍Montecito On My Mind

This week I experienced the psychological phenomenon where once you’ve become aware of something you see it everywhere: the subject was Montecito, a southern Californian town which I have never visited. It all began with this primer from The NY Times: What Is It About Montecito? which, in addition to creating a craving for neutral cashmere sweaters, made me want to rewatch the Coastal Grandmother classic It’s Complicated, which was filmed nearby. Montecito is described thusly:

With the Santa Ynez mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, and air that smells faintly of lavender and eucalyptus, Montecito is one of the rare places that looks even better in real life than it does on Instagram.

Montecito. It looks dreamy and apparently smells good, too.

The next thing I knew, I was getting acquainted with The Montecito Mafia, aka the new friend group of exiled British royals, Meghan and Harry:

Who, exactly, belongs to this well-manicured syndicate, you’re probably not wondering? Gloria Steinem, allegedly (though she actually lives in Manhattan) and also a “cosmetics tycoon” named Victoria Jackson, whose husband does marketing for celebrity makeup lines. Hollywood power agent and Entourage inspiration Ari Emmanuel, whose talent agency (William Morris Endeavor) signed Markle earlier this year, is also said to be a newcomer to the friend group, along with his wife, Sarah Staudinger, who designed a pink linen pantsuit that Markle wore to a Lakers game in April.

Warning! If you’re on the outs with Meghan, like David and Victoria Beckham are rumored to be, you have been “Markled.”

And then came the Montecito-related Loneliness PSA from Gwyneth Paltrow…an actual invitation to stay at her Montecito (guest) house! It’s hard to be sure whether she’s one of Meghan’s “Mafia” but why not enter the Airbnb lottery and find out?! I’m very intrigued to see who wins the inevitable bidding war to “get Gooped.”

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow on Instagram: “Loneliness is a human condition, but in the past few years, increased isolation and our lack of community has made our lives even more fragmented. @airbnb had the brilliant idea of doing something to make the world a little less lonely, which is why I’m inviting you to come stay at my Montecito guesthouse for a night. While we may begin as strangers, I hope we’ll find connections and commonalities over a delicious meal. Lay by the pool, go on one of my favorite hikes and of course you’ll have a bathroom stocked with my favorite @goop products for a truly luxuriating stay. Book on August 15 at 10am PST at the link in my bio. Hope to host you soon.”

August 2, 2023

🕺An Alan For Everyone

Played by Michael Cera, Allan was a surprise hit of the Barbie movie. While discussing this, Sadie (16) introduced me to another delightful Alan (this one with only one L in his name) from an SNL clip I’d never seen. Please enjoy Bill Hader’s facial expressions and dance moves. It could be that we all need an Alan in our lives…I mean, Allan is now a TikTok aesthetic…

Thank you for being here! Like what you read, watched, and “learned?” Feel free to let all your friends know! 😘