To my friends in America, Happy Thanksgiving! To my pals everywhere else, Happy Thursday!
Both are equally perfect days to spend a little time thinking about what we have to be thankful for, and going to town on some complex carbohydrates.
Just over a year ago, Daily Gratitude Time became a welcome fixture in my routine. It's a habit that I've been thrilled to embed in my Tasmanian Devil of a brain, but I don't mind telling you - the origins of DGT (not my best coinage, sure, but by no means my worst) had nothing really to do with me, and everything to do with my surroundings.
It all happened when I got my own locker in the Mass General Cancer Center. Every morning, I go to my locker, which is where I stash my coat, trainers, bike helmet and - most importantly - my snacks and backup deodorant (almonds, dried fruit, dark chocolate and Dove roll-on, respectively), and to get there, I walk all the way down a corridor that looks like this:
All the way along, for about three times the length of this photo and around the corner, the walls are lined with these rainbow squares of felt. Each square has a message written on it, in ink, or multi-coloured glitter glue, and they were all made by patients and loved ones. These are the Cancer Center's 'Spirit Flags' - a project set up by Katrina Scott, Oncology Chaplain and all-round beautiful human.
In the tradition of Tibetan prayer flags, they carry messages of compassion, strength and wisdom from their makers — patients and their families. [...] They also value the results of their creativity — flags that enhance their healing environment and bear witness to courage, perseverance and love.
As we approach a day of Thanksgiving in the most politically unsettling year of my life thus far (though if the bizarro land of 2016 has been my darkest year then I'll floppily admit that I have much to be thankful for) I'm not much in the mood to list my own sources of gratitude, either alphabetically, by price (low-high, like all my online shopping), or in order of humbledom - a coinage I'm even more pleased with than DGT.
Instead, I'm just going to reflect on them in my thinking voice for a little while, and share with you some of my favourite Spirit Flags, in the hope that they might encourage you to do the same.
That blue one on the top row, second from the right, is one of my absolute favourites:
All is Bad but getting
Better is Better.
I Am Getting
Better!
Try walking past that every day and not letting DGT become an immovable part of your routine.
I tell you what though, one thing I am very grateful for is the fact that Ben (my lovely fella) is running the 2017 Boston Marathon to raise money for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children.
All funds raised by the Mass General Marathon Team go directly towards cancer care and research initiatives for some of the greatest kids you could ever meet. I can't even begin to tell you how hard people work to turn that money into magic, and that's coming from somebody who sees it happen, each and every day.
So thank you to Ben for running, and for Fighting Kids’ Cancer, One Step at a Time (not a bad slogan).
For the first time in my life, I would also like to say thank you to my terrible knees, for giving me a watertight excuse not to even entertain the idea of running the marathon myself.
And a squillion thanks to YOU if you'd consider supporting him (along with countless others). I can promise you a star turn in my DGT.
The Cameo
My guest this week is the science writer and broadcaster Dr Kat Arney. I first came across Kat because she plays the harp, and since then I've been completely fascinated by the way she seems to be living eleventy-seven lives all at once. Re: her answer to question #3, I am definitely one of the arch-offenders, and yet am totally remorseless. How does she find the time?? (I guess it's a case of 'read on to find out...')
What’s your job title/profession?
I’m a professional freelance science writer/broadcaster and science communication consultant. I went fully freelance in March 2016, after working in science communications at Cancer Research UK for more than a decade. I’m also a semi-pro harpist – I do weddings, parties etc and also play in two bands, Talk in Colourand Sunday Driver.
What would you love for people to know about your work?
That is has taken a LOT of hard work and persistence to get where I am today.
What do you wish people would stop asking about your work?
“How do you find the time??”
What made you/helped you to choose what you do?
I love science, writing, talking, creating and performing, so I’m really just doing what I’m good at and enjoy. I’m incredibly lucky to be in a place where I can actually earn a living from them.
What’s your perfect breakfast/lunch for a workday?
I always start my day with scrambled eggs, and usually some yoghurt and fruit. And coffee. Lots of coffee. I’ve got really into using my slow cooker now it’s getting cooler, so I make a lot of stews and curries that cook during the daytime and keep me going all week.
What’s your perfect time to go to bed & wake up? (When do you actually go to bed & wake up?)
I’m a real night owl. I find it hard to write and think in the mornings, so I tend to write in the evenings unless I have something else to do, then stay up working until around midnight or 1am.
What’s your alarm sound?
A plinky harp tune that came with my phone.
Do you have a set morning routine?
I wake up about 8.30am and flop around in bed reading and listening to Radio 4, then have breakfast and try and kick myself into gear for the day.
How do you get to and from work & what’s your journey like?
Bed to desk – 5 seconds.
Do you have a dedicated/preferred workspace? If so, what does it look like?
I live in a flat-share so my bedroom is also my office, and I also have pretty limited space. It’s a bit of a mess, with papers and books stacked up everywhere, and a corner with my harp and music stuff. I’m not a tidy person, but I know where everything is.
Preferred stationary/tools of the trade? Essential work items?
I’ve trained myself to always use a notebook when I’m out and about. I fill it full of ideas and make notes on stories that people tell me about. Also I couldn’t live without my smartphone – I’m constantly emailing myself reminders or notes. And I love using Trello, which is a kind on online pin board, to keep on top of work, invoicing etc.
What are your work hours like? Do you have a routine or do you set your own hours?
I tend to faff about and do admin in the mornings as my brain doesn’t really work that well, then get on to writing or audio editing in the afternoon. Some days I have to go and interview scientists, give talks or go to meetings. There isn’t really a set pattern. I also try to go to the gym in the morning or at lunchtime a few times a week for Bodypump and spinning classes.
Do you work with fixed goals in mind or take it day by day depending on what comes up?
I have endless to-do lists! I tend to reprioritise every day (or even during the day) to make sure I’m tackling the most urgent things first, or getting started on long term projects so it’s not quite such a panic at the end. It’s always a panic at the end though, however well I plan.
What inspires you?
The amazing research being done here in the UK and elsewhere around the world. The fantastic writing being done by my colleagues and friends in the science comms and journalism world. My friends and family for believing in me and keeping me going when it’s really tough.
What’s your favourite thing about your work?
I get to do the stuff I love all day, every day. And I love making things, whether that’s a book, an article, a radio show, a song or a performance.
Least favourite?
Admin. Argh.
What do you do to get through days when you just don’t feel like it?
Productive procrastination – I get on with all the little jobs that I’ve been putting off. And if I really can’t avoid it then I just have to mash my hands into the keyboard till it’s done. And drink more coffee.
Do you have a go-to treat to get you out of a slump?
Single malt whisky. I have a growing collection of lovely whiskies, and a dram usually gets my creative juices going. Not before 6pm though – that’s a slippery slope I don’t want to go down!
Go-to work snack/sustenance?
Popcorn. I make mine at home in the microwave and it’s a perfect healthy snack. I also get Graze boxes delivered, which are nice little treats.
What’s your favourite part of the day?
Bedtime. Also breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Least favourite?
Waking up time.
How you define a good/successful day?
Getting at least something done on my to-do list. A really good day is when I’ve done several things on my to-do lists and been to the gym and tidied up my room. That hardly ever happens.
What’s been your favourite failure? One that you learnt a lot from, or one that you can look back and say ‘well I got through THAT, I’m unstoppable!’
I had a breakdown when I was leaving my first career in scientific research. I felt like I’d completely failed as a scientist – which was all I’d trained to do since school – so that made me a lot stronger and helped me figure out what my real gifts and strengths were.
Any hot tips for the old work-life-balance conundrum?
LOL. If you have any please let me know.
What are your hobbies/passions outside of work?
My bands are a hobby, and I get so much joy from writing and performing with them. I love knitting, cooking and baking too.
How do you make time for them? Where do they fit into your day/week?
They fit in where they have to. I find that I can make time for things that I really want to do. I’m also very lucky to have a lot of energy, and am very practised at wrangling my diary to fit in as much as possible.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to do what you do?Be arsed. So many people just can’t be arsed to put in the effort it takes to do a lot of this stuff. It’s certainly much easier to go to work, come home and put your feet up in front of the TV. When people ask me “How do you manage to do all these things?” I tend to ask them “How do you find time to watch all those box sets?” That’s literally weeks of your life, right there.
What’s the best piece of advice someone’s ever given you? (Or worst!)
Don’t give up your day-job until you’re absolutely sure you can earn enough to pay the rent. And never underestimate the importance of being nice – the world is a small town.
What’s your top tip for getting shit done?
Lists. All the lists.
Check out Kat's website, her Facebook page: @katarneywrites, and her book Herding Hemingway's Cats - Understanding How Our Genes Work!
You can read an extract here.
Follow her on Twitter: @harpistkat.
Some Music
The theme of this week's playlist is saying thank you!
You can listen to it on Spotify here.
A Poem
The Orange
by Wendy Cope
At lunchtime I bought a huge orange —
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave —
They got quarters and I got a half.And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.
The Orange is from the collection Serious Concerns, published by Faber & Faber, in 1992.
Wendy Cope is one of my all-time favourite poets, and I love this poem not only for its quietly radiant joyfulness, but also because it was sealed forever in my bank of happy memories when my Ma printed it on all the menus at my sister's wedding last Summer.
As always, my biggest Thanksgiving Thank You (TTY) goes to M & D Herman, in Wendy's perfect words:
‘I love you. I’m glad I exist.’
I know I should have just gone for the picture of my parents gazing adoringly at each other on their wedding day, but I couldn't resist the one on the left. It's my dad, on the train home from a wedding, having stolen that enormous baguette from the dinner, because 'It would have just gone to waste otherwise.' I'm sure he was right, but it will never not crack me up.
Links!
Jasmyn Wright teaches 3rd grade in Philadelphia, and I find her massively inspiring.
Ditto this husband who planted thousands of flowers for two years to make his blind wife smile again.
I was trying to choose between these photos of dogs trying to catch food, and these one of pouncing kittens, and then I remembered that I simply didn't have to. What a happy moment that was!
Rowan Williams, one of the wisest, kindest and sanest voices out there, on how we must look towards a political model of local civic activism.
Naught for our comfort; but at least an opportunity to ask how politics can be set free from the deadly polarity between empty theatrics and corrupt, complacent plutocracy. What will it take to reacquaint people with control over their communities, shared and realistic values, patience with difference and confidence in their capacity for intelligent negotiation?
Speaking of patience, community and shared, realistic values, don't you think that having a pre-school inside a nursing home is the most perfect idea?
Here are 24 reasons to be thankful, when all else is in doubt. 7, 8 & 16 are my favourites.
If you need a little more Schadenfreude to get you through this week, see also:
30 People Who Are Having a Much, Much Worse Day Than You.
Sure, 2016 Is Trash, But At Least You’re None Of These People. Or just listen to Schadenfreude from Avenue Q. That'll get the job done.
(And yes, I keep all of these in my bookmarks bar. Judge me if you must.)
I have a sneaking suspicion that Friday Katya might be grateful for this scientific hangover cure from the brilliant folks @asapSCIENCE.
No matter how many times I watch it, I will be forever grateful to John Travolta for his truly magnificent pronunciation of Idina Menzel.
I'm also very thankful for the the existence, kindness and wizardry/talent of Tamsin Baker, who made my header illustration.
And that's it! See you next week!
Love,
Katya
p.s.
If you'd ever like to share this newsletter, or send it to a friend, here's a link that'd make that easy as the pie of your choice: https://katya.substack.com/.
(Mine is apple, just FYI. With a slice of pecan on the side, just for comparison's sake.)
Thank you, thank you! And I'm not just saying that because it's Thanksgiving, promise.