Volume 2, Issue 18: Should You, Though?
Hi friends! Today I want to talk about something I have been working on that I am by no means great at. Or even good at. It is a constant struggle for me and...
Volume 2, Resources 17: On Bearing Witness, Help for Haiti, and Help for Afghanistan
Hi friends. I don’t know about you, but I am feeling overwhelmed. There are always terrible things happening in the world but this week it has been feeling,...
Volume 2, Issue 17: On "Perfect"
Hi friends! In a startling turn of events, I did some yoga this week. This may come as no surprise to many of you, but I’ve historically been very anti-yoga,...
Volume 2, Resources 16: Indigenous Land and Inclusive Calendars
Hi friends! Last weekend we were able to squeeze in some outdoor summer fun and we went tubing on the Russian River. Because of the drought it was… not...
Volume 2, Issue 16: On Doing Hard Things
Hi friends and welcome to the new subscribers! Since quite a few of you are new, I recommend checking out this post to learn what you’re getting into. Also,...
Volume 2, Resources 15: Wheelchair Etiquette, Radical Copyediting, Pandemic Roundup, and Stop Shoulding Yourself
Hi friends! My week has been filled with joy in the form of a fruit, specifically, a pluot (plum-apricot hybrid) that goes by the moniker “Flavor Grenades.”...
Volume 2, Issue 15: A Life Tip from Pre-Teen Patricia
Hi friends! It’s Friday and Fridays mean that I think about this comic from Tiny Snek Comics which is an accurate reflection of my every Friday: Add “readin”...
Volume 2, Resources 14: Joy Generator and a Book on Anti-Fatness
Hi friends! I had another 3-day weekend last weekend and it was great. I got caught up on my huge backlog of snail mail. I did some reading and writing and...
Volume 2, Issue 14: We Are Enough
Hi friends! I had a three-day weekend last weekend and I have one this weekend as well. Nothing brings my being burned-out to light more than having an extra...
Volume 2, Resources 13: Find Your Words and Access Guide
Hi friends! I don’t know about you, but I feel like this week has gone by very quickly. I’m settling into my weekly therapy sessions and it feels good to...
Volume 2, Issue 13: On Healing
Hi friends! My therapist gave me homework this week: write down my wins. This will not surprise most of you, but I constantly have the feeling of “I should...
Volume 2, Resources 12: Re-Entry Anxiety, the Tulsa Massacre, and Allyship
Hi friends! I don’t know about you, but the past couple of months I have had dozens and dozens of things I WANT to do and absolutely no motivation whatsoever...
Volume 2, Issue 12: Is it Imposter Syndrome or is it White Supremacy?
Hi friends! Today’s newsletter is something that has been heavily on my mind for at least half a decade, maybe even almost exactly a decade. I started...
Volume 2, Resources 11: Open Access Black Liberation Library & Free Guided Meditations
Hi friends! Last weekend we went cherry picking. Yes, I did something for fun! Yes, I did most of the planning but it was totally worth it. Nicole and I...
Volume 2, Issue 11: On Doing Things for Fun
Hi friends! I’ve done “daily check-ins” on one social media platform or another since November 2016. Within the past couple of years, I’ve done them only on...
Volume 2, Resources 10: Diverse Bookshop Search and Unexpected Public Health Book Recommendation
Hi friends! The therapist search was a bit rocky to start with (I noped out of one option before we even met) but I found someone that I’m looking forward to...
Volume 2, Issue 10: Our Anniversary & Relationship Rules
Hi friends! This past Wednesday was mine and my wife’s wedding anniversary. Neither of us are super into cake (and wedding cakes are expensive and never...
Volume 2, Resources 9: Aid for India, What We Know About Covid-19, and Languishing
Hi friends! I am happy to report that after navigating the labyrinth of our health insurance, I have been able to set up my first therapy appointment. I also...
Volume 2, Issue 9: Adventures in Mental Health
Hi friends! Before we leap into this week’s newsletter, I wanted to share some snail mail I received recently from one of you (hi Yang!) that left me...
Volume 2, Resources 8: What to Say in Difficult Conversations Around Police Violence and a Vicarious Trauma Toolkit
Hi friends. It has been a rough week+. More Black people have been victims of police violence, including but not only being murdered by police. I cannot...
Volume 2, Issue 8: Boundary Checks Around Covid-19 Socializing
Hi friends! Thank you so much for the birthday love! I received a beautiful loaf pan from a loved one (Thanks, Pam!) and I used it to make a pound cake on...
Volume 2, Resources 7: Video Captions, Tree.fm, and Fighting Misinformation
Hi friends! On Wednesday I got rear-ended (boo! I’m fine, though!) and yesterday was my birthday. Did any of this stop me from writing today’s newsletter...
Volume 2, Issue 7: Celebrate My Birthday!
Hi friends! My birthday is coming up on April 1st. Yes, my birthday is April Fool’s Day. People have told me that they would hate that but personally, I love...
Volume 2, Resources 6: Resource Round-up Against Anti-Asian Violence
Hi friends. I hope that you’re all taking care of yourselves. It is an exceptionally difficult time for my Filipino American and extended Asian community...
Volume 2, Issue 6: 10 Things I Have Learned During the Pandemmy
Hi friends! This is quite a week. First of all, for many folks in the United States, Daylight Saving Time starts this weekend so turn your clocks forward and...
Volume 2, Resources 5: The Library Post You've Been Waiting For
Hi friends! I am happy to report that I got my first Fauci Ouchie (Covid-19 vaccine) last week. It went smoothly and I look forward to getting my next shot...
Volume 2, Issue 5: Remembering What New is Like
Hi friends! I’m happy to report that I have a Covid-19 vaccine appointment scheduled for a couple hours after this newsletter drops. Of course, after both...
Volume 2, Resources 4: Texas Aid Resources, Buy It For Life, & Radio Garden
Hi friends! This past weekend we had a pink pineapple: Whole pineapple with the top cut off standing on a cutting board next to a pineapple cutting gadget....
Volume 2, Issue 4: Anyone Can Change If They Actually Want To
Content warning: death Hi friends. Today’s content has been in the queue for a while and I’ve bumped it up due to recent news. Tuesday morning, my wife,...
Volume 2, Resources 3: Boundaries Genius & Anti-Racism for All, Including Non-readers
Hi friends! Happy Black History month! It’s as great a time as any to pay Black creators for the content we make and to shop Black-owned businesses! I want...
Volume 2, Issue 3: On Asking For What We Want
Hi friends! Today’s newsletter marks the one-year anniversary of Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice! I can’t believe I’ve been doing this newsletter...
Volume 2, Resources 2: Covid-19 Vaccine, My Bookshop, and Accessibility
Hi friends! This week is a resource week but I have a little housekeeping to take care of first, which is to tell you about my Bookshop storefront! You can...
Volume 2, Issue 2: I'm Allergic to Our Current Reality
Hi friends! I have been incredibly itchy the past week or so, from my scalp to my toes. It got to the point where I would have my camera off during work...
Volume 2, Resources 1: Series Finale of America & Setting Your Phone Down
Hi friends! As I said recently on Twitter: Tart of Darkness @theinfophileJust thinkin' 'bout all the people who were acting like the year 2020 was the...
Volume 2, Issue 1: You Can Do the Thing
Hi friends! New year, same me! Time is arbitrary! That being said, it’s nice to have some kind of marker of when I am starting working on a project, goal, or...
Volume 1, Special Issue: Goal Setting for 2021 and New Year's Traditions
Hi friends! In an effort to respect your boundaries, I have some advice and tips on setting goals for 2021 in this separate special issue. I will also talk...
Volume 1, Issue 23: You Are Enough
Hi friends! If you celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! Otherwise, Happy Friday! I know that today can be especially hard for some of us so I’m going to...
Volume 1: The Infophile's Must-Read Books of 2020
Edit on 2/5/21: I have removed Amazon links and all links are now Bookshop affiliate links. Hi friends! This is the penultimate 2020 issue of Enthusiastic...
Volume 1, Resources 22: 2020 Book Concierge & Ways to Do Some Good
Hi friends! First of all, Happy Hanukkah! I have it in my head that I’m going to try to make latkes from scratch for the first time using the recipe I...
Volume 1, Issue 22: On Inclusion
Hi friends! My red prayer plant was sitting on top of a bookcase, as happy as can be, but then got too heavy and snapped herself in multiple places. So, one...
Volume 1, Special Issue: Make Black Friday Black
Hi friends! Today was supposed to be a post that digs deep, as is the every-other-week pattern; however, I am going to change things up a bit. This year...
Volume 1, Resources 21: Zoom with Abandon & Mail with Braille
Hi friends! First of all: HOLY SHIT, A COUPLE OF YOU SENT ME MAIL TO MY P.O. BOX!!! I checked it the other day and I was expecting disappointment and a...
Volume 1, Issue 21: So Many Thoughts, So Little Me
Hi friends! How’s everyone doing? It feels like an entire lifetime worth of news cycles has happened since my last newsletter. It’s Friday the 13th which is...
Volume 1, Resources 20: This Week Has Been The Longest Year
Hi friends! This week. Wow. gif of elderly Rose from the film “Titanic.” She is saying, “It’s been eighty-four years” So I had a pretty great plan for self-...
Volume 1, Issue 20 1/2: Special Issue for Election Day Prep
Hi friends! There are a couple of things that just can’t wait until Friday’s newsletter. First of all, I wanted to stress the importance of making a self-...
Volume 1, Issue 20: Let's Help Future Us
Hi friends! First a quick note: this newsletter has a fancy new url and can be found at www.theinfophile.com. Happy Halloween! My favorite holiday though...
Volume 1, Resources 19: Feminist Book Rec & Self-Compassion
Hi friends! At the time of writing this newsletter, I am still riding the high of my last weekend at FIYAHCON, the first convention put on by Fiyah Literary...
Volume 1, Issue 19: On Breathing
When I was a child, one of my aunties would have strategically placed post-it notes throughout her flat. They’d be on walls, cabinets, bookcases, and mirrors...
Volume 1, Resources 18: Covid-19 White House Data Viz, iChill, & Stopping a Coup
Hi friends! I’m writing this the night of the VP debate here in the U.S. Today at work, my manager asked if I was going to watch the debate. My response was,...
Volume 1, Issue 18: I Do Not Have a Dream Job
Hi friends! I don’t know about you but I am finding it increasingly difficult to be motivated to do anything right now. Work. Get out of bed. Reply to texts...