365 Days & A Handful of Lessons Later
Four big takeaways from the year that none of us expected.
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365 days. Wow.
I’ve seen my fair share of newsletters, news stories, and posts like this over the past few days but felt compelled to write one of my own. This week, I’m reflecting on the year that no one expected, but — I’d argue — everyone needed. Of course, I don’t say this to downplay the tragedy of what has happened in our country and across the globe. The immense amount of loss is heartbreaking. Life has been forever changed. However, this difficult year has taught me a lot of lessons (and reinforced some, too). Some of which I want to share with you:
1. It starts with you. Before the pandemic, it was easy for us to run from a lot of things. Thanks to: Frequent travel. Regular plans. Long hours in the office. Hustle culture. Once the world shut down, we were all forced to sit with ourselves in a way that we hadn’t before. If you don’t take the time to get to know and love yourself, then I’m of the mindset that you won’t be able to fully show up in your other relationships.
This can feel really hard. Embrace the tough moments. Be brave enough to have honest conversations with yourself. Journaling throughout the past year has helped me unpack a lot. (If you need a journal, Baronfig is my go-to. You can get 20 percent off of a guided edition using the discount code “HURDLE20” at checkout. Use “EMILY10” to get 10 percent off everything else.)
2. Kindness first. This year, the phrase “you have no idea what someone is dealing with,” really … took on new light. Even though Zoom has enabled us to get a look inside the homes of our friends and colleagues (and so many celebrities) — fact is that there is so much going on behind closed doors. Kindness has always been one of my biggest values. This year I felt like I received it more regularly. We have to be good to each other. It’s really, really important.
3. You’ve gotta be flexible. Wonderful things come from the pivot, and change is inevitable. Do yourself a favor: Trust that whatever life steers you away from, there’s something else on the other side that can be equally as wonderful — and most likely better. As Peloton’s Tunde Oyeneyin said in episode 147, life is happening for you not to you.
4. The most important thing in life aren’t things. A highlight for me from the past year has been building an even better relationship with my family. Pre-March 2020, I was used to being “busy” and frankly, didn’t make quality family time as much of a priority as I do now.
Once we were confined to our homes, I lost all of the excuses I had manufactured. I started talking to both of my parents regularly, and most of those conversations involved FaceTime.
This is just one of the non-material things in my life that I’ve come to appreciate a little extra. Money comes and goes. Work comes and goes. We owe it to ourselves to nurture the one thing that will be constant: Our most precious relationships.
PROMPT: What’s your biggest takeaway from the past year?
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
LISTEN: ”Sunbathe” by Miguel and Tainy
Jam of the week. Screw it, this is going to be the song of summer. Can’t stop listening. It’s on repeat.
WATCH: One of these ‘50 Best Comedies on Netflix Right Now’
Thank you Vulture for making my weekend to-do list. It’s much appreciated.
WATCH: Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell
Checked this out last weekend. If you didn’t know the story behind one of hip-hops most beloved legacy acts, now you will. (There’s a pun to be made here, for sure.)
SUBSCRIBE: The Dipp Newsletter
An old colleague of mine, Lindsay Mannering, launched The Dipp last year with her good friend and fellow Bustle alum Kate Ward. It’s a “subscription-based website for TV’s biggest fans” (their words, not mine), and I’ve really been loving their newsletter as of late. Check out the website, here.
PICK UP: Birkenstocks
I feel like I’m in 2004. I’m getting targeted like a maniac by Birkenstock lately on social media, and I have gotta admit they are ON. THEIR. GAME. I’m obsessed with this colorblocked style (and this one, too).
OBSESSING OVER: Puma Deviate Nitro
This new release from Puma is worth the hype. Puma completely relaunched their run category this week, including this carbon-plated pick that is meant to last much longer than some of it’s competition (250+ miles). It’s got their new Nitro foam, which has the Goldilocks amount of give and coziness for a neutral runner like me who prefers some decent cushioning.
GRAB SOME: Super Coffee!
Welcoming a new sponsor into the Hurdle fold this week: Super Coffee. Almost every weekday afternoon, I’m reaching for one of their caramel coffees, with zero grams of added sugar, 10 grams of protein, and 200 mg of caffeine. It’s the perfect sip to help me stave off my relentless sweet cravings and keep me energized through the rest of my work day. They’ve got everything from coffee grounds and pods to creamers, and they’re offering Hurdlers 25 percent off at DrinkSuperCoffee.com, including subscriptions (holy deal) using the code “HURDLE” at checkout.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Megan Roup, Founder of The Sculpt Society
By now you’ve probably heard of The Sculpt Society, a dance-based fitness method with a cult-like following. Monday I chatted with TSS founder, Megan Roup. We talk about everything from the pressures that came hand in hand with trying to make it as a dancer in New York — including struggling with disordered eating and getting to a place where she felt truly comfortable in her body — to how her love for dance-based fitness actually started as a side hustle. We also cover what the uptick in TSS users taught her about herself as an entrepreneur and the need to prioritize self care. Of note, she’s offering Hurdlers a discount! Head to TheSculptSociety.com and use code ”HURDLE25” to get two weeks free and 25 percent off of your first month.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: #HURDLEMOMENT: 5 Different Types of Runs to Add to Your Routine With Colleen Quigley
If you’re new around here, you may not know that outside of being a runner myself, I’m also a certified run coach via UESCA. For this episode, I put on my coaching hat to rap about the different types of runs with Colleen Quigley, Olympian and pro athlete. We talk about the specifics on each (base, tempo, long, recovery, interval), what your rate of perceived exertion (RPE) should be mid-stride, and how often you should be incorporating them into a typical week of training. Plus: We reveal our favorites and Colleen gives us an update on what she’s up to now that she’s left the Bowerman Track Club.
Thanks to this week’s Hurdle sponsors, BLUBlox, Beam, Athletic Greens, Super Coffee, and Baronfig! For a complete list of the show’s sponsors and some really great deals, check out the sponsors page, here.
UPCOMING
Hurdle Book Club! We’ll be reading The Art of Gathering, and I’ll announce a date in the coming weeks for our April Zoom meet-up. To sign up to be kept in the Hurdle book club loop, click here.