Hi Reader,

There’s no low-key way to kick off this newsletter: It’s my birthday!

A few weeks ago, I promised to share some of the things keeping me grounded and light this summer while we record Season 3 of Roar. Then I went and took an impromptu two-week newsletter breath—because sometimes we need one. Not only am I back, but today’s the big day. For me. Time to celebrate!

As someone who is profoundly grateful to be walking and running and tripping and falling and often flailing around this spinning orb for another year, here are the five things I’m super-duper digging right now:
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​1. The outside shower. Ed put this outside shower in a few years ago, during Covid, when it seemed like we suddenly all had time for house projects, and I loved it. It was like this whole new shower experience, with the sun literally shining on me as I scrubbed my hair. But then there was some sort of leak (which I admittedly ignored) and the days of outside showering were over. Temporarily. Because today I kicked things off with a sunshine-infused, music-enhanced, outside shower experience and It. Was. Glorious. Highly recommend.
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2. The profound impact of stories. When I was in my early 20s and wanted to be an actress, one of the things I struggled with—besides the whole ‘success forever eluding me’ part—was that I wasn’t helping. Not in the way that doctors or lawyers or accountants or shoe designers are technically helping. It took a long time to embrace the idea that storytelling, like all of the arts, makes life better. While it’s not going to ‘save’ a life, art often makes life worth living! It inspires us! And I’ve been thinking about it as I’ve watched the show “The Studio,” because the main character, played by Seth Rogen, really wrestles with this. And it’s funny. 10/10​
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3. Fighters. Have you heard this concept before? That if you aren’t paying attention to the news, well then, that’s kind of a luxury that not everyone has. Because while some of us might be lucky enough to be able to put our heads in the sand to block out the bad news when it gets overwhelming, other people are living the bad news. And they don’t have the same luxury of safety or health or finances to ignore what’s going on. Ugh. It’s a killer, this realization. It’s why I always try to keep one foot in, even when I take a breath. Because it’s important to stay sane, and take breaks when necessary, but also important to help our friends and neighbors by staying involved. But it’s also why I’m SO FREAKING GRATEFUL for fighters. People who are fighting for us, even as we take time to retreat. I saw this from Dr. Kelly Casperson speaking to the FDA and was like “THANK YOU, AMAZING LADY". Talk about a fighter:

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4. Money, honey. This seems like such a totally shallow thing to be grateful for, but since it really does make the world go ‘round, I’m throwing money the bone it deserves. Because without it, we’ve got…not much. Not medicine, or air conditioning, or lotion for our legs, or shoes for our feet. Not jewelry or boat rides or movie nights with our families or pizza. And I am amazingly grateful for the money I have received this year from newsletter readers, women-led businesses, and the speaking gig I’ve booked for the spring. Even the free birthday coffee I’m about to get from Starbucks. Muchas, muchas, gracias. And if you want to get in on some of this love, I’ll never say no to feeding my family (which money allows me to do!): SUPPORT MY WORK HERE.​
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5. My birthday. My birthday’s nothing special in the whole scheme of things. Nothing huge is happening that’s going to make us all have some wild epiphany or make our families safer, bring our friends closer, or achieve world peace. But I’m celebrating anyway. Much like I hope you’re celebrating your birthdays. Because growing old? It can be achy and weird and not always fun, but what a privilege. To have the undeniable luck to still be here, witnessing it all. It’s really sort of a miracle, and I’m here for it. 51 candles and all.

Wishing you all good things this weekend and this year. I’ll be back next week with some podcast updates, fierce feminism, and ongoing gratitude.

XO,
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The birthday girl

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P.S. I am just hours away from digging into birthday cake and a poolside screening of Jaws and I can't wait!

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