I’m sorry I missed last week’s newsletter. In full transparency, I’m depressed, anxious and downtrodden and it’s been hard to rise to the occasion. I’ve been dealing with a slew of unforeseen health issues since January, and as a result, I now have financial problems because of our “healthcare system.” It feels built to fail, make you broke or make you go crazy, I’m not sure which will happen first.
Actually, when did the conversation about the right to healthcare stop being a conversation? It seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle. Although, a recent Gallup poll shows that the rising cost of healthcare has become a high priority concern for Americans this year already, only being edged out by the economy by a percentage point. They also note that “Healthcare has not ranked at the top of the list (of concerns) since 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.” And therefore, my anger on the topic has been reawakened. I have some big feelings and no where to put them right now, so here we are.
Writing this newsletter brings me a lot of joy and about 8-10% of my patchwork income. I work a number of other jobs to keep things afloat, which makes me feel very vulnerable, especially right now. Working in food media (unless you are very lucky or are at the very top) is not a financially sustainable career without wearing many other hats. Please check my coat closet. I am a recipe developer, a writer, a cookbook author, an editor, a PR person, a producer, a “personality,” and that’s just over here.
In my other life, I do these things for other brands (THANK YOU BRANDS!!!) that I love and admire. I’m as scrappy as they come. And, it’s still a grind! And, lately, although I don’t have many options, I wonder what the point of the grind is if I can’t sustain myself grinding? I also realize I am emotional right now, but somehow putting it all out here to you is offering me some relief, which I haven’t been able to access in awhile within this space, so thank you for letting me share where I’m at.
Needless to say, I don’t have a new recipe this week, but here is a link to one of my favorite pastas that nourishes me when I need it most.
I’ll be back very soon and I hope you will too. The next recipe will be worth the wait.
With love,
Colu
Sending you big love, Colu. Vulnerability is the way forward. And in the meantime, that Lamb Ragu is calling me. Thank God for pasta.
Proud of your honesty and vulnerability. Creativity is not an endless fountain and it’s so good to acknowledge that sometimes we just need to say it’s hard and take a break.