Note: This letter was originally published in our weekly newsletter and is being republished here.
Hey guys,
Anyone else scratching their heads wondering where the year went?
I felt like I was nowhere near accomplishing any of the goals I set for myself, but then upon reflection, I realised these emotions were misguided. A LOT has happened in the last six months from a professional and personal front. Here’s just a snippet of my 2019 so far:
- travelled back to my birth country of the Philippines to check out mum’s province and visit local artisans
- got a tummy bug from trip and took ages to recover
- worked (working) on a new EWP product range
- hired an Asia-based writer
- panel moderated and spoke at the VAMFF Swap Style event
- spoke at the EKO Mindful Boss Ladies event
- attended several ethical fashion and sustainability events in Sydney and Melb
- Ben’s grandfather passed away (R.I.P. Pappy)
- gardening, designing and planning projects on the farm
- was featured in the latest Peppermint Mag
- recommenced EWP podcast and published a new episode
If you’re feeling a little out of sorts because it’s halfway through 2019 and you don’t feel like you’ve achieved a lot, I encourage you to take some time today or this weekend to reflect on the last six months. Rather than beat yourself up, consider all the little wins you’ve had in your personal life, business or career. You may have grown your first plant or started a compost pile at home. You may have developed a better relationship with family members or your work colleagues. You may have signed up your first client. Or it may be as simple as spending less time on your digital devices and more quality time with yourself.
Whatever these wins are, celebrate them, let the positive emotions connected with those memories wash over you.
And then, after these positive reflections and when you’re ready, start to visualise what you want to accomplish for the rest of the year and then take to paper or computer and jot down your thoughts, goals and strategies to achieve them. Doing this will help to set the wheels in motion as you move into the second half of the year.
I hope you find this exercise useful. It works for me 🙂
Anyway, here’s what I’ve been watching, reading and listening to this week:
Podcast Shows / Films:
Why No One Feels Rich, Hidden Brain. A show about the psychology of income inequality and how our perceptions of our own wealth compared with others shapes our minds, and our lives.
Books:
Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth
People / Accounts:
This week I’m doing a shout out to two remarkable women who have profound things to say about ethnic and racial diversity in fashion and the lack of inclusivity. I highly recommend following them if you want to open your eyes and ears and understand the issues so that we may find a way forward that is fair, equitable, inclusive – and way better than the fashion industry has performed on these subjects to date.
Dominique Drakeford, creative director, founder and editor of MelaninASS who advocates for ethnic and racial diversity in fashion
Aja Barber, writer and advocates for diversity and inclusivity in fashion
Articles /Posts:
Chennai water crisis: City’s reservoirs run dry, BBC
633 divers collect over 1,500 pounds of trash at a Florida beach — and set a world record, CNN
Biofuel, beeswax wraps and recyclable coffee cups: United debuts ‘eco-friendly flight’, USA Today
What the sustainable movement is missing about inclusivity, i-D VICE
And that’s a wrap. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Peace, love and all that jazz,
Jen xx (Editor-in-Chief)
Recommending reading:
- It’s Time to Stop the Glorification of Busy
- It’s Ok to Have Some Time Out
- Climate Activism: Beyond Rebellion to Political and Economic Action
- 9 Top Environmental Books to Learn About Climate Science and Sustainability
- Climate Change: A Climate Scientist Answers Questions From Teenagers
- 5 Inspiring Australian Female Politicians You Should Know
- 30 Things You Can Do If You’re Feeling Helpless About Climate Change
- Greta Thunberg, The 15-Year-Old ‘Radical’ Climate Activist Demanding Systemic Change
Feature image via Unsplash.