Creative residency for those who want to feel

a last ditch effort at self-romance

Hi friends,

tl;dr: i’m starting a Sunday reflection series: you can expect to read about my solo travels, life ponderings and how I navigate through big life moments.

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My name is Aaisha and I have written in a journal every single year since the weensy age of 7. And so, I consider myself quite the reflection enthusiast.

Me, Age 7

Often, I liked to write about what was happening around me or trying to hold onto the memory of a person or a place. I wrote about my first attempt at mango achaar in the kitchen and described in detail the layout of my cousin’s room. I wrote extensively about my mom, big city feels and little rants about whoever pissed me off that day.

But I never wrote about myself. I guess most of us don’t. Two years into therapy as a late twenty-something year old, I’m learning to pay attention to my needs and create space for my feelings. Today, I write about things that bring me joy and fears that stand as limiting beliefs. I write about who I am in my safe space and who I am in the face of the world. Writing about myself has shifted my mindset from “them” to “me” for I cannot understand “them” if I cannot understand “me”. This understanding has allowed me to bring myself wholly to my relationships, work and the quiet moments before I sleep.

I want you to write about yourself too. My pipe dream is to host a literary salon for writers and non-writers. For now, this corner of the internet will serve as that creative residency - where self-love, emotion, and collaboration is celebrated. Surrender your heart, come as you are.

Every Sunday, I’ll share a reflection as we navigate the ups & downs of life. It can get lonely in this vast & strange world, like no one truly understands what you’re feeling, your unique experience, the oneness. But we are not alone. Take a few minutes every week to reflect together, perhaps our experiences can then become relatable in collective. Maybe then, the oneness can be felt in multiplicity. Maybe then, it won’t feel selfish to spend this time on ourselves. It might even feel sweet. This is a last ditch effort at self-romance. 

My first Sunday prompt:

What choice would you make over and over again?

If you are open to sharing, you can drop your answer or a solo date rec in the comment section of the article. Anon answers are completely acceptable.

Take yourself out on a journaling date. My first solo dates often involved a journal. If you are afraid to go out on your own, it helps to busy yourself with a pen.

NYC cafe pick of the week: PlantShed, 87th st & Columbus Ave, UWS.
Coffee shop meets plant nursery, the chairs and tables are reminiscent of Parisian cafes.

Stay connected, send me a note, and subscribe below.

In community,

Aaisha

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