January News:
Happy New Year, Gigi!
Our next speaker is Cecily Mak, a mother, author, founder, investor, and podcast host. She will be joining us in conversation on Wednesday, February 11 from 6-8pm about Undimmed, her new book that invites readers to “choose freedom from the habits that dim our lives and to embrace the full spectrum of experiences that life has to offer.”
I find this topic to be an interesting one—I hope you do too. It reminds me of something one of my favorite thinkers, Glennon Doyle, once said. She assesses that we are a society of “easy-button” pushers, who opt to distract ourselves from our feelings by numbing out with behaviors that threaten our wellness. She listed the more well-known harmful practices like alcohol abuse, gambling, and risky sex, but also included others that seem more benign like excessive shopping, overeating, and even scrolling endlessly on our phones. Gulp. This latter list hits close to home. I see it in myself and in people I love.
According to Cecily, many of us are taught to believe that escapist and addictive behaviors are fine as long as they are not “problems” or wholesale addictions. She argues that this binary mindset robs us of a more present life and our ability to make changes before the behavior becomes an unshakeable habit. What we use to dim our lives may not be a substance—it might even be something healthy, like exercise, food, or work. And every dimmer exists on a spectrum, from use to heavy use, to potential abuse, or worse. It’s not about what we do, but how and why we do it.
While leaving her unwanted habits behind, Mak developed the Eight Awarenesses—a set of principles we can use for inspiration and guidance on the path to embodying a clear life. Each one serves as an invitation to explore a deeper understanding of ourselves and our choices, and the empowerment that comes with choosing to live a life undimmed.
As you can see, this promises to be an interesting conversation! I hope you will join us for it. For those who wish to purchase Cecily’s book, they will be available for sale that night, with thanks to our local independent bookstore, Beyond Text. The owner, Tanya Sedneva, will be there to facilitate our purchases and speak to us about her shop.
The week before this event, there’s another opportunity to come out and connect at the Clubhouse by enjoying live readings on the topic of LOVE with me and the rest of the women of the House of Writers. This will be our second event at the Clubhouse. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefitting We and Our Neighbors. Light refreshments will be provided.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
If you are new to The Gigis, please join us. All are welcome!
Love, Shana
