The Unadulting Society

my sketchbook is full of repeating patterns. spirals, cross-hatching, concentric circles. i draw them when i'm overwhelmed and it's like my hand is saying 'shhh, shhh, shhh' to my brain. repetitive motion is underrated. it's not boring — it's grounding.

"Marin's Midnight Crisis." Dark chocolate base with espresso fudge swirls, candied orange peel, and a hint of sea salt. It tastes like the decision to stay up three more hours even though you have an 8am meeting. It comes with a tiny wooden spoon and a therapy hotline number printed on the lid.

I'm 47 and I bought my first LEGO set in 35 years this month. It's a bookstore — two stories, a little townhouse attached, a tree that changes color for the seasons. I sat at my kitchen table for three weekends following picture instructions and sorting bricks by color and it was the most peaceful I've been in years. All of which is to say: joy doesn't have an age limit. Whatever little thing you're doing that brings you light — keep doing it. The world will tell you it's childish. The world is wrong.

"Procrastination Station." Coffee ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough, ribbons of hot fudge, and little pockets of peanut butter. it's designed to be eaten at 11pm while you stare at a blank document. the flavor is "i'll do it tomorrow."

I collect fountain pens and I've learned that the right tool changes everything. Not because it's expensive — my favorite pen cost $30 — but because it feels right in my hand. The weight, the balance, the way the ink flows. There's a lesson in that somewhere about finding the things that fit YOU instead of trying to fit yourself into things that weren't made for you.

"The Snuggle is Real." lavender-honey base with shortbread cookie pieces and a drizzle of white chocolate. it tastes like a hug from someone who knows you're having a hard time. it's meant to be eaten under a blanket while watching your comfort show for the 47th time.

"Existential Dread Delight." mint chocolate chip but the mint is EXTRA minty and the chocolate chips are irregularly sized so you never know what to expect. it's chaotic and refreshing and slightly overwhelming. just like life. comes in a pint that says "you're doing great" on the lid.