HOT – Strawberry shortcake. The Ultimatum: Queer Love. The “eclectic grandpa” microtrend. Large, plush rugs. Zoë Kravitz roasting her dad. A thank you card. Butterfly season. Head scratches.
NOT – A swarm of ants. The first three weeks after getting a haircut. Chapped lips. Blisters from your fav shoes. Mimes. Debris stuck in your sock. Evian! Self-doubt.
Recently, I had a shift in my career and income and am currently applying for jobs. I created a period tracking app with my sister, Orchyd, which I am pretty proud of, but due to family issues, we are placing it on the side—not to be forgotten or frozen but just strategically placed as we strengthen the foundation. This transition, although complicated, is long-awaited and brings with it so much emotional baggage. In honor of thinking and talking about menstruation for the last four years, below is a list of some of the things I learned or identified for myself.
One of my favorite things I learned about ovulation and fertility is how the body tries to look very symmetrical and pretty to attract a mate. Gotta reproduce!! Gotta make more ppl!! So whenever my partner says I look pretty, I reply with, “Oh, I must be ovulating.” If he looks particularly glowy, I like to say, “You look so nice today; you must be ovulating!”
Your vagina is basically like a one-way mouth. You need to make sure that what you are putting in it is legit! Be that tampons, pads, cups, discs, or whatever. So many symptoms of PMS can be helped by using better-quality products. My cramps improved when I stopped using shitty tampons and improved once again when I switched over to a cup.
I still love free bleeding and basically mass-ruining underwear for a week!
Discharge is actually very interesting to pay attention to and is one of the best ways to figure out how you’re doing. But honestly, depending on where you are at in life, all you need to do is notice when it seems off. If it’s clear and gooey, you're good!!
Your instincts are right! I mean that all the time, but with vagina stuff, even more so. Your individual experience, feelings, reaction, etc., is all that matters.
Sadly, period poops and constipation are real. It’s the hormones!! Either prep leading into PMS or wait it out. But! It’s normal, and I kinda wish it was talked about more, even though I don’t really like talking about poop that much.
Before buying a PMS product, these are some questions I ask: Did a menstruator create it? Have any of my friends tried it? Are there clinical trials or something similar that showcase the efficacy and legitimacy of the product? Is it easy to incorporate into my life as a habit? Is this product a bandaid, or does it work more deeply?
I used to really dislike the color red, but by using a menstrual cup, I have actually learned to love and appreciate it once again.
Here is a collection of recs I can’t really weave a theme through. However, all of them made me feel soft and bright.
This YouTube video of Waxahatchee talking about her process for when she knows a song is done.
Haley Nahman’s recent Maybe Baby newsletter, #173: My birth story.
The audio commentary about Ed Ruscha’s Chocolate Room (1970/2023).
This Studio Ghibli Sleep Spotify playlist. Note: It is way too long.
“I can learn to be easy as I move in close to you.” - Waxahatchee, Saint Cloud (2020), Fire.
My friend Jamie joined me for an episode of the Friend Zone where we talked about openness, Jolene, the believability of tinctures, the casualties of puzzling, mental health, and other things from the January 1st newsletter. If you want to listen, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
