It’s the end of the year, which means I’m in that nostalgic, where-did-this-year-go head space. At the same time, I’ve been thinking of what I want to take with me into 2022. Not so much resolutions, but the small things that helped bring me joy and clarity.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but here are some of the things I’m thinking about: 

• More handwritten letters. They’re kinda exhausting but supernice to give and receive. 
• Making my bed each morning. I know it’s a cliché but, wow, it does wonders. 
• The book “All About Love” by bell hooks, who sadly just passed away. She helped change the way I think about love.
• This recipe has gotten me through many weeks and will continue to.  
• I learned so much about habit building from “Atomic Habits.” The thing that stuck with me most is that if you’re trying to build a new habit, you should do it every day, even if it’s just for 20 seconds. So, yes, I do sometimes only work out for 20 seconds. 
• Calling siblings and venting to them. It’s very therapeutic. 
• Making a Middle Eastern breakfast. Eggs, labna, za’atar, honey, cheese, olives. What more do you want?? 
• I tried multiple times this year to finish the book “The Artist’s Way,” but wasn’t able to get through it. It’s basically a workbook to help you tap into your creative side. Luckily, I just started a group chat with some friends who also wanna do it, so we’re gonna support each other and make it happen in 2022!
• Reality TV. I know, it’s not great, it rots your brain, blah blah. It’s entertaining and helps me get through the dishes. 
• Decluttering. My camera roll, my kitchen cabinets, my clothes. It feels so good. 

OK, I’m going to stop now, but this is actually a pretty fun exercise. Highly recommend it.

We officially wrapped our fifth season (!!) of “This Is Uncomfortable,” so the team is gonna go on a little break before we start working on new episodes! We’re also gonna take a short hiatus from the newsletter, but I’ll be back in your inboxes soon. Until then, happy new year and may we all find more small joys in 2022! 

— Reema

This week on the podcast

The Mariachi Rent Strike

Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood has historically been home to tight-knit immigrant communities. Francisco Gonzalez had lived in an apartment a block away from the neighborhood’s Mariachi Plaza for a decade when the building was sold, and the new owner nearly doubled his rent. Several of Gonzalez’s neighbors got rent hikes too. At first, Gonzalez figured he had no choice but to get out, but then he learned about another option. On this week’s show, the last of our fifth season, we’ll follow Gonzalez and his neighbors through a rent strike — involving lawyers, protests, tense sit-downs and, maybe, a way to stay in their homes. (Listening time, 32:10) 

The comfort zone

What our team is into right now.

• Is cozy season a cry for help?
• We don’t need more celeb beauty brands
• Highly anticipated winter TV
• Good dog
• A generation’s despair
• Fast fashion is scary fast now
• Do you know about Web3? It’s doing great
• “Without Parental Leave I Might Be Dead”
• It’s weird that the woman in this TikTok didn’t know who Keanu Reeves was, right?
• Donna just read “How I Became a North Korean”
• Phoebe illustrated this book!
• And she recs “A Map to the Door of No Return”
• We applaud the effort
• Your weekend vibe: Darlene Love performing “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” every year on “Letterman” from 1986 to 2014