Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family,
Why am I wearing swim googles and oven mitts, yet not swimming, nor cooking? Well, let’s just say when your storm door spontaneously combusts into 8 million pieces of glass, you get very creative. Plus, it is my newsletter, and I can put any old weird picture I want.
Can a calendar bring joy? Without meaning to, my own (admittedly overpacked) calendar has actually brought me a ton of delight in the past six weeks. Over here in the world of May-cember that has a lot of obligations / commitments / band concerts / AP tests / budgets, I’m wondering how we can all construct our calendars for a bit of full-blown joy. Goodness knows that as the world and our government pour on more horrors, we have to make our own joy.
Let’s back it up a minute. At some point last month, I realized I had scheduled five nights out in a two-week period – including three ON SCHOOL NIGHTS. For a lady who is out here just trying to run a company and raise some teenagers, my first instinct during my Meeting with Myself was sheer panic, and I brought a lot of the “What-Can-I-Cancel?” energy into that meeting (which, as a reminder, is only attended by me, though occasionally Dr. Together joins for a portion).
Dr. Together and I had a blast celebrating at the TFA 35th Anniversary Gala!
Here were my five Joy Events, my analysis of what they offered me, and why, in the end, they were worth a few late nights.
- Bridget Everett’s new show at the Warner Theater in DC. (The title of the show is not fit for this newsletter, but go ahead and Google it.) Her show Somebody Somewhere is my favorite TV of the past five years (Hacks and Paradise coming in a close tie for second), and I purchased these tickets last November as a holiday gift for Dr. Together. To see a woman who has been a working artist her entire life up there singing, telling jokes, and making everyone quite uncomfortable (again, Google) was some belly laughs I didn’t know I needed on a Sunday night. And yes, I skipped my beloved Sunday swim clinic for this show, and the laughter was well worth it.
- A Friday night dinner club. Now I’m all for having dinner outside with friends when the weather is good, but my girlfriend took it a step further and set up a neighbor supper club – complete with a drop-down menu for what you’re bringing to the potluck (you know, so you don’t end up with all brownies – though that wouldn’t be the worst thing!). It is brave to take initiative and announce a year-long supper club via text and then follow up with a spreadsheet; this kind of joy takes a little bit of planning. Getting to see people from my neighborhood sitting around tables and a campfire was a quiet joy, especially as many of us are inching toward empty-nesting. (And yes, I still left at 9 PM because I am who I am, but Dr. Together hung out past midnight.) This one didn’t cost a thing, minus ingredients for the amazing appetizer I brought.
My whipped ricotta and honey crostini were a hit at dinner club.
- Some appointment television, books, and a podcast. As a highly social introvert (yup, it’s true), Together Teammate Heidi reminded me that it is useful to calendar time for the quieter stuff. I literally made a calendar block for the finale of Imperfect Women and to read the newest Tana French novel released last month. The point Heidi was wisely making is you know yourself best, and if it brings you joy and you want to make time for it, CALENDAR IT. Picture me, hiding in my bedroom with an iPad and some artisanal version of a box of Peppermint Patties watching Kerry Washington and Elizabeth Moss try to solve a murder. HEAVEN. I even put a sign on the door.
- The play Appropriate at a small nonprofit local theater. This is the third play I’ve seen written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and I found the tickets when Facebook (yeah, I still lurk there) served them to me via the algorithm, having seen Purpose on Broadway last summer, and The Comeuppance at a larger DC theater. I don’t have much experience with current plays, but his writing and staging is jaw-dropping. This sort of joy was a bit last minute – with tickets purchased a week in advance – and the deep thought that emerged after 3.5 hours on a school night was well worth it.
- A last-minute couch hang with my bestie to watch Artemis splash down. We both happened to be free – and TIRED – on that particular Friday night, so this bit of joy, a peaceful joy, was found when we were both on the phone, on our respective couches, and realized Artemis was about to land. She drove over and we just sat on the couch, drove a kid to a soccer clinic together, drove home, and laid on the couch – not saying much – and watched the miracle that is space travel. Free, very little planning, very little effort – and a lot of joy.
So, as we inch toward the end of the academic and fiscal years, I’m wondering. . . how can you add some joy into your calendar? It can’t all just be meetings and follow-ups and trainings and more meetings. . . Any long-term joy you can plot in now? (I love looking for free summer concerts and movies!) Any friends and family joy you can plan for? (Be the bold date-declarer and spreadsheet creator!) Any last-minute phone calls for spontaneous plans? (I’m trying to pick up the phone and say “Want to take a 30-minute walk with me?” whenever the weather looks nice in the evening.) The point here is there is lots of joy we stumble upon, but there is also lots we can plan and initiate – and we make that happen by letting it take up some space on our calendars as well.
Also, I think you all know this, but this newsletter is written by a real human (hi, it’s me!) with the help of two Together Team members (hi Lauren and Heidi!), and it is a labor of love. But it is indeed labor – almost 10-12 hours of it for each edition, if anyone is keeping track! If anything strikes you, inspires you, or moves you, please write here and let us know. We cannot write back to everything, but I assure you we read it all!
#togetherforever #clipboardsandclogs
Maia
PS I’m working up a Together Tour post about making time for rejuvenation – featuring some of my favorite mission-driven hobbyists. I’m learning so much! Quilting! Biking! Trivia night MC-ing! Do you make time for a hobby that brings you joy? If so, tell me about it here. Bonus points for photos.
PPS Speaking of Together Tours, check out our latest Together Tour featuring Dr. Jenn Greene and her Together Trifold!
PPPS Because we all have to eat, this Greek chicken meatball pita situation (gift link) has been a huge win on busy weeknights.
- Some new Together-adjacent books I’m excited about. As an author, I love being in the know about what is coming out, and as a working parent, I’m excited for this new one focused on seeing time in abundance, Deborah Kenney’s recent launch which really defines student success beyond academics, and long-time Together Friends Erica Jordan-Thomas has realllly good stuff coming out soon – I hope to host her virtually to discuss her new projects.
- Speaking of joy. . . back to potlucks! Just like our neighborhood dinner clubs, simple but regular gatherings with friends can solidify bonds. I love Jess’s tips, and the “warm authority” was some great language for my own hosting toolkit. I often wear my own nametag to a party – much to Dr. Together’s chagrin. Also, can I just say, I love a baked potato bar!
- Teacher Togetherness and AI. This report from Leading Educators (enter your email for access) was a great read, and I love the framework of Do More / Do Better / Do New. I’m most interested in differentiated student supports, and how teachers can do more of that – and save time.
