roasted bone marrow
+ 32 lessons as i turn 32
I’m turning 32 tomorrow. Here are 32 lessons from my past year of life:
Half of knowing how to cook is becoming loyal to a specific salt and getting to know it really well.
If you think you’re eating enough fruits and vegetables, you probably aren’t.
Your future self will thank you for grilling a big batch of chicken to keep in the fridge all week.
Onions literally have guides on them for where to cut them! Cut at an angle as you go around the onion, with the blade aimed toward the center.
Pizza parties are amazing and can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle.
Walking to and from the gym is one of the biggest game-changers. More steps, built-in warm-up and cool-down, and time to get in the right mindset.
Learning to love the feeling when workouts get hard is a high in itself.
Actually listening to how your body feels is sometimes more informative than whatever your wearable says.
In the first pull of the snatch, elbows should be internally rotated. (I was today years old when I learned this!)
Signing up for races with friends is a really fun way to stay connected and bond over a positive thing. (This is my invitation to you to do the Chicago Triathlon and Diplo’s Run Club with me!)
Putting your phone to sleep helps you fall asleep faster, and the thought of tucking your lil phone in is also kind of cute.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is go to bed.
Spending a few days without cell service is one of the fastest ways to remember what actually matters.
Your day will go a lot better if you take five minutes to write down your top three priorities and actually do them.
Done is better than perfect.
Confidence comes from evidence, not affirmations.
When you don’t feel like doing something, set a 20-minute timer and see how much you can get done.
Invest in your own personal development. Put yourself in rooms with people who have already done what you want to do. You belong there!
The people who inspire you are proof of what’s possible, not competition.
Ask for the raise.
Getting mad is never worth it. Pause, breathe, and make yourself proud.
You don’t need permission to start calling yourself the thing you’re becoming.
Count the actual number of days you spent with your parents in the past year. If you want more, be proactive about it.
Talk about the hard thing before it becomes the bigger thing.
You and your partner don’t need to enjoy all the same things, but you should care about each other’s interests.
In a funk? Go on a walk and call a friend.
Having a wedding is less about the details and more about getting all your favorite people in one place.
Asking people what they like to do for fun before asking what they do for work usually leads to better conversations.
Most people are waiting for someone else to make the plan.
If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no.
You absolutely don’t need to buy anything today.
Wear your cute clothes! You don’t need to save them for later.
cozy
Went to my first outdoor concert of the summer! Live music is a huge part of why I love summertime Chi. We saw Turnpike Troubadours, and while I’m not much of a country girl, I do love watching Rob dance and sing every word.
gain
I’m spending my birthday weekend at the Burgener Weightlifting Course… literally eight hours of the snatch and eight hours of the clean & jerk. 🤓
Our friends Nicole and Oscar were visiting from Kauai, so we went out to an Argentinian steakhouse. We spotted bone marrow on the menu, and that’s when I realized: if bone marrow is on the menu, I’m almost always ordering it. As if “beefy butter” wasn’t enough, marrow is also rich in collagen, and it contains glucosamine, which supports healthy joints and connective tissues.
Tbh, I still have a hard time coming to terms with how expensive steakhouses are. (In case you forgot, I have already mastered steak frites at home.) Anyway, we ordered the bone marrow, happily paid $30 for it, and devoured it. On the drive home, I was already scheming how to recreate it. Turns out, marrow bones from my local butcher cost only $4.49/lb.
Every Thursday, I share a high-protein recipe for paid subscribers. This week’s recipe is a perfect quick lunch:
send someone a photo that reminded you of them
Why: It takes like 10 seconds to send, but it tells someone, “I saw this and thought of you!” Those moments of connection add up and help friendships stay strong between seeing each other and occasional catch-up calls.
Watching the Knicks! Writing this with 20 seconds left in Game 5. 😅
what’s one lesson you’ve learned this past year that you want to carry into the next?
Please respond to this email or comment below with your answer! I’d love to hear, especially this week!
Thank you for being here! Spending this time with you each week has been one of my favorite parts of the past year. It always makes my day to hear from you, too!
🫶🏽 Ratih
love no. 26 !!