I'm still holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity

Plus I'm studying my sleep and my money

Dec 03, 2024

Welcome, dear Readers, to the very first edition of Worthy Distractions. As you know, the world is really bad right now. And while the leaders of our crumbling institutions continue to make horrible decisions, I know we’re all in need of some treats.

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Why I sobbed throughout Wicked

A few weeks ago, my friends and I went into the city for a matinee showing of Wicked. Our expectations were high as Wicked was the soundtrack of our childhoods. We snuggled into our reclined seats with our large popcorns and our 3D glasses ready to dive into the world of Oz. And dive in we did. I’m not really a theater kid. Sure, I acted in my grade school musicals, but I was never good enough nor dedicated enough to pursue my singing career past eighth grade. The only musical I’ve ever really been obsessed with was Hamilton. Its soundtrack was, while deeply embarrassing but also very true, my most played album of the 2010s according to Spotify’s Wrapped. But Wicked, with its loving friendships and catchy ballads that I sing around my house, pulled me in.

The film was excellent, magnificent, a two hour and forty minute masterpiece. I cried, laughed, gasped, and fondly remembered all the times I sang Defying Gravity with my college roommates. The film itself was worth the horrors that is the Wicked press tour. The wonders of Oz made me able to stomach Cynthia and Ariana’s theater kid obsession with each other, the tears while speaking to journalists about the trials and tribulations of set. The joy of Ariana’s Galinda and the power of Cynthia’s Elphaba made me wonder if we really should be holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity. When I once rolled my eyes at the two of them claiming they really did something with this movie, I now wholeheartedly agree. They really DID do something! As the final scene blustered throughout the theater, Elphaba flying off on her broom, I couldn’t move. I was blown away. In shock. Aghast.

Wicked is the most wonderful and most worthy distraction for us all right now. And if you have yet to see it, get your ass to the nearest AMC.

Ariana Grande Grabs Her 'Wicked' Costar Cynthia Erivo's Fingernail in Viral Video

Getting to the bottom of my dark circles - P1

Recently, as I stare at my face in countless mirrors, I see large dark circles under my eyes. These are new and rather scary. My buoyant face is deflating. So, of course, I ran to TikTok to diagnose my issue. And the many dermatologists of TikTok told me I am tired. My sleep is bad. I’m a shell of my former self and the only way to fix it is with a healthy sleep routine.

This made me mad. I already have a healthy sleep routine you see. I read before bed! I wear a silk eye mask and sleep on a silk pillowcase! How dare TikTok tell me my sleep is bad! But alas, I heeded the application’s advice and began tracking my sleep. To do so, I wore my Apple Watch to bed and began using AutoSleep, an app that tracks an insane amount of information while I’m in REM.

To no surprise, I’m an excellent sleeper. On my first night of tracking, I got a perfect score of 100. Did TikTok lie to me? Do I actually not need better sleep? Am I already the best sleeper that ever was? Since that night, I kept tracking my sleep and my average sleep score is 90. I obviously sleep worse when alcohol courses through my blood. But I am overall, very content with my sleep. This left me hopeless. If my sleep is actually okay, then why do I wake up with dark circles that make it look like I was awake until 4 AM?

Well, dear Reader, you’ll just have to wait until next week to see if I am able to answer that question.

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Managing my money…finally

Look, I’m not a math girl. I’ve never excelled at adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. The worst part of the ACT was always the math section, when I stared at the numbers waiting for them to mean something to me. This was all fun and games when it just meant I should study the liberal arts. But now that I’m a single woman in charge of a household of two (me and my child, Hoagie), it’s time I finally figure out my money. While chatting about this dilemma over drinks with my friend Emma in Paris (yes, it’s imperative that I include the Paris part), she recommended the app Copilot. Copilot connects to all my bank accounts, credit cards, and investments. I see how much I make, how much I owe, and how much I have invested, all in one, gorgeously designed place.

In my month and a half using Copilot, I’ve learned a lot about my money. If you want to try it out, head to this link and use my referral code [ FRW679 ] for 2 months free - no charge!! Let’s learn about our money together!