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The Ephemeral Beauty of the First Flickers of Friendship

Mariah Loves Earth, Life under the Sky , 2019 I’m sitting outside on this beautiful sunny day contemplating the ephemeral beauty of new friendships. This life-giving essence does not occur with all friendships— it is a rarity —but when it does arise it’s a magical experience; you feel as though your brain's neurons have lit up like a Las Vegas slot machine that has just landed on three red cherries. Occasionally, this feeling may arise when you are captivated by a life-changing book, have watched an enthralling film, entered a flow state during physical activity, or engaged in something deeply creative. The whirlwind of emotions, excitement, glee, and awe are reminiscent of one’s first time on an extraordinarily dizzying amusement park ride; its briefness mimics that of this period of friendship as well.  Maybe it’s because Spring is in the air? Or maybe I am inspired by the nostalgic music of my youth? Whatever the cause, thoughts of this blissfully fleeting stage of friendship h...
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The Unexpected Results of One Year of Books in Data

Every year, when I get started on my reading goal, I never know what books I will end up choosing to read. Sure, I can have a general sense of my interests at the time and maybe there are a select few books that I have a strong intention of reading, but every year I end up being surprised by my choices. As a result, I decided to collect data about the 31 books that I completed in 2024. Let's see what patterns we can find! 


After creating this infographic, I have more insight into what books I tend to reach for off of my shelf. For 2025, I plan on being more intentional when selecting books to make sure that I have a wide diversity when it comes to authors and perspectives. Maybe I will read a book written by a Gen Z. 😜 But in all seriousness, the media that we consume shapes our worldview and influences our values. It's important to reflect upon whose biases and ideas may be shaping your own. 

My Top 10 Recommended Reads of 2024

  1. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (2016) by Trevor Noah
  2. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1964) by Philip K. Dick
  3. Convenience Store Woman (2018) by Sayaka Murata
  4. War and Peace (1867) by Leo Tolstoy 
  5. JPod (2007) by Douglas Coupland
  6. How to Make a Spaceship: A Band of Renegades, an Epic Race, and the Birth of Private Spaceflight (2016) by Julian Guthrie
  7. Bright Lights, Big City (1984) by Jay McInerney
  8. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (2004) by Robert M. Sapolsky 
  9. No Price for Freedom (1955) by Sir Philip Gibbs 
  10. How to Murder Your Life (2017) by Cat Marnell



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