Food for Thought – May 2025
Work, Love, and Letting Go: Reflections on how we strive, how we connect, and how we make space for what’s next.
Hi Friends,
Today is Mother’s Day, a day that holds so much. For some, it’s joy and celebration. For others, it’s more layered. However this day finds you, I hope there’s space for softness, reflection, and presence.
We’re also halfway through spring. The days are longer, the light is warmer, and everything around me feels like it’s reaching forward. This month, I’ve been thinking about the systems that shape us: the way we work, the way we love, and the ways we learn to release what no longer fits.
This edition offers a few ideas, questions, and stories that helped me pause and pay closer attention. I hope they meet you wherever you are.
Let’s dive in.
📖 What I’ve Been Reading
Girls’ Poker Night by Jill A. Davis
This novel is part wit, part vulnerability, and all about the messiness of starting over. Ruby Capote is a sarcastic, sharp writer who trades her column and stale relationship for a new job in New York. She finds community in a regular poker night with a crew of women navigating love, loss, and identity with equal parts humor and heartbreak.
It’s breezy but layered. Funny but honest. And beneath all the banter is a story about finding your voice, learning when to bluff, and figuring out how to show up fully for others and for yourself.
If you’re in the mood for something smart, a little chaotic, and emotionally real, this one hits.
🎧 What I’ve Been Listening To
I Can’t Love You the Way You Want Me To
In this episode of Where Should We Begin?, Esther Perel sits with a couple stuck in a painful loop of blame, defensiveness, and emotional disconnection. Through her guidance, they begin to see the deeper fears and unmet needs driving their conflict.
What struck me most was how clearly she reveals the space between love and emotional safety. It’s a reminder that without awareness, we can end up protecting ourselves from the very intimacy we’re craving.
A valuable listen if you’ve ever felt caught in repeating patterns, with someone you care about or even with yourself.
🎥 What I’ve Been Watching
The History of Work, and What We Get Wrong About Success
This Big Think video reframed how I think about ambition and productivity. It traces the shift from present-focused hunter-gatherers to our modern, achievement-driven culture and explores how that leap shaped the way we work today.
Experts like James Suzman, Tyler Cowen, and Cal Newport break down why intelligence alone doesn’t predict success. What matters more is focus, emotional awareness, and a willingness to grow through uncertainty.
If you’re questioning the hustle or looking to redefine what meaningful work looks like, this one’s worth a watch.
🧠 What I’ve Been Pondering
Gratitude, Attention, and What Expands
This quote from Oprah has been echoing for me:
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. When you concentrate on what you have, you’ll always end up having more.”
— Oprah Winfrey, What I Know For Sure
It’s a reminder that what we focus on expands. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring what’s hard — it’s about anchoring ourselves in what is steady, beautiful, and already here.
📸 Photo Highlight
This photo is of Liza and my pup Khormaloo on a quiet morning walk.
Liza is a longtime friend I’ve recently reconnected with, someone I’ve always considered a spiritual companion. She’s the kind of person who holds space without judgment, who listens deeply, and who helps me see things from a more expansive place.
This walk reminded me how healing it can be to move slowly, speak honestly, and simply share presence with someone who brings out your calm and clarity. Some friendships return just when you need them most.
Thank you for reading and for being part of this space. I’m so glad you’re here.
Until next time,
Dena 👋🏽
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