Hey there. Happy Valentine’s Day. ♥️
How was your week? Mine was pretty great. Here are 5 days.
February 10
If you’re looking for some quick interesting reads besides political news, I definitely recommend subscribing to Air Mail, a Graydon Carter publication, along with other great editors from Spy (remember that awesome magazine??) and The New York Times. It’s a welcome email to receive, filled with lots of worthwhile reading!
I read this article today & love a deep dive into worlds I’ll likely never set foot in. A modern tale of legal ambition and gambling addiction.
Also today, I came to the honest realization that I will never work out to home video workouts, unless it’s kundalini yoga. So, with great reality-facing maturity, I scoured my email and phone for all workout apps and programs that I’d subscribed to but had ignored, coldly forgotten, and unsubscribed.
What I did instead though, was encouraging. I tried doing 10 squats every hour or two and by the end of the day I’d done about 50 or 60 squats, initiating progress on my never-ending quest to perhaps get really fit one day. I’ll let you know how it goes.
February 11
To answer yesterday’s prompt, how it’s going is this: apparently doing 50 squats a day is enough to almost put me in a wheelchair the next day. I think I might need to try my squat-and-lunges-all-day every other day.
Today was an art-making day and I fell down an art-spiration Instagram rabbit hole, where I discovered an artist who uses color in a most exciting way. I could look at his paintings allllll day. Check out Michael Berryhill’s vibrant and original work.
Also today, I watched Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show again & I’m kind of obsessed with how good it was. Lamar was so slick, production brilliant, dancers beyond. And if it weren’t for the halftime show, I would have never have seen something like this or probably even heard most of these songs because I haven’t exactly been listening to Kendrick Lamar Radio on Spotify…so thank you NFL and Apple.
February 12
Really working on getting myself back “online” health-wise. I think I mentioned that last fall I kind of hit a wall, got the blues, and was generally totally burnt out. So I’ve been clawing my way back to health and happiness, and it’s been a relief finding out I actually do know how to dial in all the things I need to lift myself back up to a state of thriving.
It’s always the basics, the classic interventions, isn’t it? Exercise, more protein, less sugar, sleep hygiene, consistency of good habits… And I added “switching gears” in areas of life that had become repetitively heavy and demanding, shaking up my daily routine so it was filled with activities that brought more manual creativity, joy, play and curiosity. Thus, “A Year of Making” which is how this whole Five Days started and my art practice dusted-off and reinitiated.
I’m starting to see that A Year of Making is actually turning into A Year of Rethinking and Integrating. A year of realizing and shedding who I no longer am. A year of deeply considering and taking action in ways that represent who I’m becoming. Like learning a new “recipe of self.”
Have you reconsidered who you are now, as well as who you might no longer be?
Have you taken the time to unplug from autopilot and refine your intentions?
Where you been taking IRRATIONAL, joyful action?
Energetically (astrologically), I think 2025 is THE year to come up with a New Recipe of You.
February 13
Today was a painting day. Here’s what I completed:
I want to be a beginner again! “Firsts” are the best feeling. I think everyone should indulge in becoming a beginner again. This culture is expert-obsessed. Experts rely on known data, what’s come before. Valuable, but not exciting. No mystery.
I’m chasing the liberating zing of starting FRESH, full of suspenseful experiments in which I get to come at my day with wonder, saying “I don’t know.” I want to allow myself to make mistakes that aren’t critical to my future. To not have to plan. To learn something new about my capabilities. To trust myself as I dive into the unknown. And to be allowed to improvise.
How do YOU feel about taking leaps into the unknown? What are you feeling irrationally called to explore? Allowing ourselves to be irrational at times (without being overtly stupid of course) is really important to feeling fully alive. We humans often wait until a spontaneous idea or instinct makes “good common sense” (insert curmudgeonly serious old person face) to feel justified or ready to go for something— this is the intellect running the show, instead of the heart. Just sayin’.
How do YOU feel about taking a leap into the unknown?
What are you feeling irrationally called to explore?
February 14
Instead of only asking myself “how am I going to get through this era?” I’m really trying to ask myself “how am I living today, DESPITE the context of these times?”
Because collectively, each one of our lives forms the environment for other people’s lives. You and me—I am the backdrop for you, and you are the backdrop for me.
With that in mind, we each can provide a single, flickering point of steady, inspiring light for another— and that matters. It’s not selfish to improve your own life-- it’s imperative. It’s thoughtful to consider how we show up as the best version of ourselves, impacting everything and everyone we encounter.
And it’s my hope that Five Days is making your inbox a tiny bit more interesting, informative, entertaining and hopeful. (Please let me know if you like it by clicking the heart at the top of this email, or in the app. It helps me (and others) know if Five Days is a worthwhile read.)
Here’s my Valentine gift to you (and my husband- hi Chuck), a playlist of some of my favorite love songs. Happy Valentine’s Day. Go make someone’s day brighter. 💕 xoxo
♥️Lots and lots of love to you, for real.♥️
xoAubrey
P.S. 5 things:
With my renewed protein goals in mind, I’ve been diligent about jamming these essential amino acids (EAAs) everyday. I swear my energy has improved. Love this company, Kion. Here’s a link which I think should give you 20% off.
What do essential amino acids do for your body, you ask? Here’s a quick list:
More Energy
Reduce fatigue
Protect bones, increase bone mass
Build and protect muscle
Help with muscle tiredness
Reduce inflammation
Reduce neuroinflammation
Cognitive support
This is a fantastic interview in which Dr. Daniel Amen spills everything you need to know about brain health, ADHD, dementia prevention, kid brains, adult brains— ALL brains. LISTEN or watch.
(Ignore the title of the video- the host of the channel, Steven Bartlett, changes the titles of the videos frequently— the first time I watched, ADHD was bolded red, then marijuana, and when I went back to share with you, it’s caffeine... bottom line is they cover everything you want to know about taking care of your brain.)
(Also, hot tip: I listen to YouTube videos, instead of watching them…I use YouTube like a podcast app.)
Mushroom power. Speaking of brain health and physical energy, I put a mushroom blend in my smoothies everyday. This company, Four Sigmatic, was founded by one of the original mushroom guys, Tero Isokauppila. You can trust the quality of their products. I used to go to their tiny store on Abbott Kinney in Venice years ago and Tero had a table at all of the wellness festivals when no one (except for herbalists) was talking about mushrooms. I like the Focus Blend and you can get 20% off with the code AUBREYTHORNE (if it doesn’t already give it to you with the link I’ve given you.)
Good stuff! Happy Valentine's, Aubs!