Hello gumdrops (still my favorite term of endearment that I stole from my friend Brent):

Let’s put our thinky-thinky faces on. You know, the one where you’re staring into the sun, or thinking so hard about what you’re watching, or just plain shocked, that your brow gets a little tight, you squint a little, and basically look in pain?

Yep, just like this. And yes, I did choose a pic where I am miraculously not bothered by the sun but apparently everyone else was intensely bothered? Sorry sisters and Nate.

Why do such a thing, you ask? Well, because it’s an intense feeling that requires deep concentration. Or perhaps the chicken came first, and it is only the result of deep concentration. When you are staring into the sun, or watching something shocking, it’s like nothing else in the world exists.

And really, how often do we get to be in this place of deep focus? I’m not talking about the scary zoned out face I get when I’ve been scrolling TikTok for too long. This deep focus seems to be happening less and less, the more distracted and the more technology we can use. We don’t even drive home without Waze anymore, at least I don’t.

Now, don’t worry, this is not a Ferris Huberman Bro style lecture. No cold showers at 6 am for me, no siree. I’m currently drinking tea and eating chocolate and gasp typing hunched over my phone. I’m a work in progress.

But why does it take shock to bring us into deep focus these days? I have to be either chasing the adrenaline from an imminent deadline, or I need to literally stare into the sun in order to only focus on one thing at a time. It’s a weird byproduct of this world.

I am finding little moments though. This one, for example, to talk to you. There are opportunities if I choose to take them. And not just when I forget my sunglasses.

So tell me about your focus. Your one-thing-at-a-time-ism. Maybe we can together?

Literally laughing out loud over here, because your girl forgot that one of the topics I planned to mention in this newsletter is my second fake name. Yep! The opposite of focused. Let’s have 3 names!!

You know XIMXIA, but do you know Daisy La Fontaine? She’s jazzy, she loves the 1920s and Great Gatsby, and she sings this weird little genre called Electroswing. And today, my dear readers, Daisy is launching her first song - a fun little ditty called bijoux bisous, about uptown and downtown people and soirées and shutting it down. If you’re so inclined, do the tomato a favor and take the record for a spin (available on all streaming services) and let me know what you think? More like this coming soon, and even more if you like it!!

Love always, 

Lauren

THANKS FOR READING!