October 2024

Oct 31, 2024

Happy Halloween!

Welcome to Sending Smiles, a publication devoted to spreading joy. I am delighted you are taking time out of your day to be here.

Over the summer, I took a break from consistent running. After my long runs, I felt nauseous and depleted of energy. Recently, I learned that I was consuming a fraction of the amount of carbs that I needed. In other words, I discovered that I needed to eat more carbs, which is an activity I enjoy, to continue running. An opportunity to combine two of my hobbies! I realized how much I missed lacing up my Hokas, shuffling my favorite songs, and starting my day with a sunrise run. I am trying different running fuels to see what works best for my body. So far, I like the Clif Blocks and Honey Stinger gels. My nausea is gone and I feel more vibrant. Endurance athletes, what workout fuel do you like?

Binge Listens

Binge Watches

TV shows and movies I've rated 4-5 stars.

Black Swan

Streaming Service: Max

Genre: Psychological thriller, drama

“Perfection is not just about control. It’s also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience. Transcendence! Very few have it in them.”

Black Swan follows Nina, a dedicated ballet dancer who strives for perfection in her role as Swan Queen in Swan Lake. Her inevitable psychological unraveling blurs the line between reality and distortion.

I picked this film because I was in the mood for a psychological thriller to get into the Halloween spirit. What drew me in was how it delves into themes of mental health, obsession, and the drive for perfection. Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Nina’s unraveling is just incredible—she brings such a mix of vulnerability and fierce determination that it makes her breakdown feel so real. The storytelling was gripping too; the tension, plot twists, and surreal atmosphere kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

The Bucket List

Streaming Service: Prime Video (from $2.99)

Genre: Comedy

“It was a Sunday afternoon and there wasn’t a cloud on the sky. It’s different to understand the sum of a person’s life. Some people will tell you it is measured by the ones left behind. Some believe it can be measured in faith. Some say by love. Other folks say life has no meaning at all. I believe that you can measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you. What I can tell you for sure is that by any measure Edward Cole lived most of his days on earth than most people managed to wring out of a lifetime. I know that when he died his eyes were closed but his heart was open.”

The Bucket List follows two terminally ill men who embark on a road trip to fulfill their last wishes and experience life’s adventures before they die.

I'm usually pretty squeamish, so I wasn’t sure about watching a movie with two terminally ill characters. But I pushed myself to get through the tough parts, seeing them in pain, and it ended up being so worth it for the movie’s message: choose joy. I even teared up during Morgan Freeman’s final monologue. I also loved how we get to know each character in a subtle way—just through the bucket list activities they choose, you start to understand who they are.

Joy Journal

Everyday moments that made me smile.

Singing along to I Love You Forever while browsing the grocery aisles.
Enjoying the smooth sounds of a jazz trio at Serafina coffee.
Remembering there’s a new episode of Tell Me Lies waiting for me.
Waking up, stretching, and feeling Apollo2 rush over to cuddle the second he knows I’m awake.
Watching Leena and Rade3 celebrate their engagement with a sweet dance.
Painting pottery at As You Wish with Mom and Susanna.
Sharing a birthday coffee and pastry with Susanna.
Savoring a peaceful, uninterrupted reading time.
Smiling because I knew what the caterpillar pose was before the yoga instructor explained it.
Petting Marcello4 and enjoying those little moments of warmth.
Sharing in Maddy’s5 excitement as she shares stories about her wedding and honeymoon.