Captivations v72: Another One

Captivations is a monthly feature with links, stories, and news that captivated me.

Hello!
I feel like the old lady from Titanic. “It’s been 84 years…” March, when life started shutting down, was only four months ago yet it feels like a lifetime. In the beginning, there was a lot of positivity with at-home workout challenges and setting up home offices. Then there were a few crisis moments like wondering “do I even have a hobby?” and celebrating holidays and birthdays on Zoom. Now? Uncertainty is the keyword as we try to create new routines and habits. I hope you’re hanging in there!

Growth or Comfort?
The lesson of growth or comfort is one I’m constantly remembering. Being uncomfortable is not my ideal place. In fact, I hate it. But that’s where the growth is. This blog post will give you some encouragement.

The Future of Restaurants
What will our restaurants look like in the future? Chefs weighed in and shared their insights for this article. I feel a growing appreciation for restaurants already. I miss the dining experience and it has nothing to do with the food. It’s about interacting with the staff, being in a different environment, and the memories you make with your dining companions.

Best New Restaurants
Speaking of restaurants, the beginning of this Food & Wine article honoring the best new restaurants puts it well. The pandemic doesn’t cancel what these restaurants and chefs have accomplished up until the pandemic and they are learning to adapt. Here are 10 restaurants in the U.S. to keep an eye on, including a taco restaurant in Austin.

Frustration
If you’ve been seeing everything going on in the U.S. the past few months and need help understanding it, this interview with Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson can help clarify. I think many people are defensive about Black Lives Matter because it’s hard to reckon with being racist, especially if you’re a nice person. It’s hard to look at our own histories and see that ugliness.

Learning
The call to become anti-racist asks us to stop being lazy and learn. Learning what life is like in someone else’s shoes makes us more cognizant of how we could think and respond. It makes us less selfish. Here are some resources:

Interview with Anjali Pinto
I started following Anjali because I heard about her husband’s unexpected death. You’ve probably seen me mention her story before. She was navigating grief in a raw and honest way and as someone who has thankfully been mostly unfamiliar with this, though curious, I was drawn to her writing and how she was processing. Anjali recently did an interview for Cup of Jo, and it is a beautiful illustration of who she is and who she has become.

Chocolate
If you love chocolate and/or beautiful photography, you should take a look at My Chocolate Diary on Instagram – my new obsession! Hilda is a chocolate connoisseur in Hong Kong and her photos are beautiful. You’ll also be able to read her insights on the chocolate bars and companies.

Being a Mom
My friend Yulia is a food blogger and new mom. She wrote this post to commemorate her son’s six months. It’s a good read!

Check Your Privilege
What is racial privilege? This video can help you check yours.

Sea Lions
I loved this piece about and photos of playful sea lions that live off the Mexican coast. I have a friend that raved about diving with sea lions near San Diego so I’m hoping to experience this one day!

Reading
What have you been reading lately? Here’s what I’ve finished recently and recommend:

The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett – This novel is an intriguing story about a set of twins who end up leading separate lives.
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come – Jessica Pan – This memoir is for all my introvert friends. I felt like Jessica was telling my story.
Finding Chika – Mitch Albom – This nonfiction/memoir made me cry from the beginning to the end. It details the author’s lessons learned on his journey of trying to save a girl from his orphanage in Haiti.

Let’s Run!
It’s happening again! I’m signed up for the Austin Half-Marathon on February 14, 2021. I thought about running another marathon, but I figured with all the added stress of this year, training for the half-marathon would be a more fun goal. If you want to join me or run the 5K or marathon, you can use the code AnitaAustin2021 for a discount. Let me know if you’re running!

What’s got you captivated lately?

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