A mutually created universe

Offline Recess is a newsletter that invites you to pause from digital distractions and rediscover the joy of finding inspiration on your own terms, away from the algorithm.

A quick summary: It’s Sunday and today we’re exploring:

• “Being singular in growth so you feel the individualness, but also the unity”

• Group laughter

• Recommending and seeking

I did not have anyone edit this so if you see a typo, be relieved that I’m a human and not a robot.

Intersections

things that are connecting during my recess

I attended a beautiful event last Wednesday¹ where I was able to sit very close to a string quartet (probably 6 feet away). I have never sat this close and even if I was technically close to the front row at some point in my life, my vision isn’t great so I miss a lot of detail. 

I was moved by my ability to notice the details — their eye contact with one another while fully focused on the sheet music in front of them, the seamless transition between violins where I would have assumed it was just one, their excitement.

A few days later, I read this quote by Twyla Tharp on the ideal outcome, “being singular in growth so you feel the individualness, but also the unity. The more you can bring differences to the table and yet reconcile, that's power.”

For most of my life, I have never been a group project kind of gal. I wasn’t in group sports. I played singularly: painting, drawing, piano, collecting, reading. I did the group project work myself. Even at the start of my business it was fairly singular, where I was the one creating the majority of the work. 

Now, day-to-day, I practice the outcome that Twyla describes. Over the last six to twelve months, when I see a friend or acquaintance, they compliment me on the quality of work that is coming out of my company. And I’ve been able to say, with confidence, “I agree! My team is amazing. We make really beautiful work together.”

I hope to learn from this joy and step into this collective power, both professionally and personally.

A Form Of Therapy

but not really, please also go to therapy

To expand on the idea of group work, I really enjoyed two other events over the last week or so. I saw Elf at the symphony in Indianapolis. If you have never been (it was my first time), the movie plays as usual but the music is performed by a live symphony orchestra. I was mesmerized by watching just how many individually talented people come together to perform the score. And what it must feel like to make a movie without it incorporated. (I remembered this interview clip with Winona Ryder). There were moments of a song that I would have sworn, before seeing it live, had to be someone’s voice. But it wasn’t! 

The other added layer to this experience was the laughter. Group laughter. It’s not something I experience a lot, especially since the pandemic. I don’t even see movies at the theater when they’re really full and packed. It was heartwarming to watch a 21-year-old movie with a large group of people and still laugh at parts we’ve probably all seen many times.

I also saw Joel Kim Booster² do standup last week. I loved watching and hearing jokes land well, I loved hearing that I thought a joke was funnier than the majority of the people around me, I loved hearing the groans and the awkward moments. 

In a way, the quote above by Twyla translates to audiences as well. A singular laugh, made up of hundreds of different laughs. I can’t think of anything quite like it.

Too many people knock “live, laugh, love” but I experienced it last week and I’m sold.

Recommendations

things I’d recommend, and things I’m looking for

• Seeking: a documentary to watch that doesn’t have to do with true crime or celebrity and was made within the last 5 years that is on Max, Peacock, or Hulu.

• Recommending: I mentioned one of the singles but the whole album is out now and I can’t stop listening to 070 Shake’s new album Petrichor. It feels like it spans every emotion and decade and beyond.

• Seeking: 100% cotton sweaters! All wool irritates my skin. Also always looking for winter shoes³ that must be comfy and warm!

• Recommending: These pants! If you’re short like me, petite will get you this crop look. If you’re short like me, regular will give you cute full length flare pants that are comfy!

Notes:

1 The event was a collaboration between Parable and Chamber Brews. There were four pieces performed (paired with a drink). One of the pieces performed was called This Is It (you can listen to it here) and I loved the quote about it below (bold and italics are my own):

2 Go see Joel on tour!

3 Shoes must be comfortable for me! I become the most miserable, irritable person if my feet hurt or are cold. Perhaps I should stop caring what other people think and lean into my ideal footwear world: crocks, uggs, and hokas.