A gentle close to the week

5 things that made life brighter and better / Issue 1,491

Oh, hi friends!

If ever a week needed a gentle close…

I always look at Fridays as a way to tie up “loose ends” and address any lingerers from the week.

A Friday is a page turn, and this newsletter is a marker telling me to “go rest now — it’s okay to rest.”

And so that’s what I say today.

Go rest now.

Rest from your phone, your plans, your lingerers, the commitments you don’t really want to hold.

Rest from the voices, and rest from the tsunami.

Hibernate, if you want.

Create, if you want.

Do one thing that makes you feel better than before.

Protecting your mind isn’t a nice-to-have, but a necessity. 

We rest, so that soon we’ll be at our best.

I am, and will forever be, a relentless optimist, and I will always want the very best for you.

Go rest now.

5 Things That Made Life Brighter and Better This Week

• Chatted on the phone with my friend Emily yesterday while walking around the Central Park reservoir. It gets dark so early, but nighttime can be beautiful, too.

• Early on Tuesday night, a group of brilliant and kind colleagues gathered at the BMI Librettists Workshop, where we did a full read-through of Marathon, the musical I’m writing with Kris Bjarke. It went so well and was so lovely. A bright comet of joy and possibility. I can’t wait to share this show with you.

• Probably mentioned this before, but I now record all my Zooms using Fathom to get instant AI-flavored notes and action items. The premium trial period is free. I love a good tool.

• You might think that every hot dog cart in New York is created equal. Not so. Billy’s Hot Dog Cart on 93rd and Central Park West is the gold standard. 

• I have a overwhelming desire to consume as many good movies, TV shows, musicals, plays, and books as possible right now. Art is always there. Thanks Jane Frye for sending Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story my way. Gentle stories for the win.