So allyuh... when we liming?
Welcome to November. We’re excited to talk lime (more on that soon).
Buckle up for the penultimate newsletter of the year. Unlike an HBO show, we promise to match - if not exceed - your expectations in the finale come December.
(Visualization of the number of 'things' needed for a lime sesh. Background photo by Birgith Roosipuu on Unsplash.
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Activity Rec:
When was the last time you texted a bro or girly to hang out, planning to sit and do nothing?
If any of y’all are like me, we’re due.
This viral video of Trevor Noah describing Liming came across my feed almost one year ago, and it’s stuck with me. Noah credits Trinidad with creating the term. He shares the idea of how people (especially males) in Western culture constantly have to engage a third thing to spend time with each other. See below:
‘Hey, you (thing 1) and me (thing 2) should go to the park and toss the frisbee (thing 3).’
We’re allergic to the idea of sitting on a couch together with nothing to do and passing the time with conversation or silence - the idea of taking time to enjoy the presence of one another and check in. We believe we need the frisbee (thing 3).
Noah argues we should find time to lime, literally anywhere, and simply enjoy each other's company without ‘thing 3’ staring us down the barrel. I battle this always, believing there is a need for an activity to spend time with a friend.
Liming is an activity I plan to adopt as we wrap up 2025 and carry into the future. The more I’ve introduced the liming concept to friends, the more I’m inspired by their reactions. ‘Hanging out’ has started to be replaced by ‘let’s lime’ in weekly conversations.
Add bussing ah lime to your 2025 goals list as a potentially scary but easy one to check off. Toss a reply to this email or shoot me a message to share your experience. Noah’s full podcast interview can be found here.
Podcast Rec:
Empire - William Dalrymple & Anita Anand
Between the British accents and non-fiction storytelling of human history, I'm fully invested in this pod. It sounds like a book on tape, sharing facts and stories of humans' time on this planet.
They release multiple episodes to cover each historical event chosen. Topics range from the Great Fire of London to the creation of the Panama Canal. Episodes #273-277 are a great place to start, as they tell the costly and tragic story of the dream and creation of the Panama Canal - an achievement that forever changed global trade.
They’ve drawn inspiration for topics this year from DJT’s fascination with the idea of claiming foreign lands (hi, greenland).
P.S. - Textiles and fish have an astounding effect on our history.
Song Rec:
Instant Crush - Daft Punk
It’s taken me too long to appreciate the sounds Daft Punk introduced to the electronic music scene. I recently heard this tune after purchasing a burrito, and it placed me in a calming trance. It’s best listened to with surround sound, so try it out in your car or with some headphones.
Stay patient - they’re old school and won’t be dropping a beat or chorus in the first 30 seconds.
Book Rec:
North Woods - Daniel Mason
The Amazon summary says it best: ‘A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries’.
This was a fun daily read. A creative idea to place the reader in the perspective of a house observing the various humans that pass through it. It provided a perspective on the finite nature of life and the tangible results of the decisions we make.
Quote to consider:
“Western laziness.” It consists of “cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so that there is no time at all to confront the real issues….If we look into our lives, we will see clearly how many unimportant tasks, so-called ‘responsibilities’ accumulate to fill them up….Going on as we do, obsessively trying to improve our conditions, can become an end in itself and a pointless distraction.” - Michael Easter, The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self
(Josiah McFadden and I bussing a bench lime in Kauai)