Review – A Gentleman in Moscow

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, yet Amor Towles has managed to master both. After each (rather small) progression through “A Gentleman in Moscow”, I am shocked at his ability to both capture my imagination and cut me to my core. 

This eloquent writing is not overly dense, as one would expect from the enigmatic pages of “Infinite Jest”, or more verbose works of C.S. Lewis, and tackling a chapter or two does not render the reader with a furrowed brow and finger buried in their mess of hair (or lack thereof). He can somehow string together phrases with more ease than a yellow-coated lobsterman can serve you the meat of that beloved red crustacean. 

So, without further ado, it is my delight to recommend you pick up any of the works of Amor Towles. I think you’ll find yourself grinning, let alone smiling, after each read.

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On Love

I’ve recently begun the perilous, rewarding, nerve-wracking, riveting journey of seriously dating someone. She’s wonderful.

We’re compatible in so many ways.

We’re different in so many ways.

Sometimes I marvel at her ability to say exactly what I’m thinking, and yet, sometimes my thoughts resemble apples and hers oranges. Like stepping out of your car to an ocean when you thought you were going to be greeted with a vast mountainous expanse. But here’s the thing. There are places where the mountain meets the ocean and spectacular beauty lies there.

Every day is a journey in these uncharted waters, and I can’t wait to see what’s around the next bend.

Stay tuned.

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Why we need the outdoors

You can feel the crunch of rock and dirt beneath your feet. The subtle whoosh of wind through trees as the sun bounces between nebulous clouds. You close your eyes and listen.

There’s something about the outdoors that seems to bring peace. And simply being out there is so good for you. Bratman et al., (2015) found that an experience outdoors in a natural environment compared to an urban environment had a greater impact on decreasing anxiety and increasing verbal cognitive memory. Another study indicates that time spent outside increases a child’s attention span and decreases stress, which, in lieu of COVID-19 and the shift to virtual learning, is very much needed (McCurdy et al., 2010). The spectrum of benefits is not restricted to the young alone, as research also shows that spending time in a garden slows cognitive decline and reduces falls in elderly patients with dementia (Whear et al., 2014).

So, I know you want to plop down on that comfy couch and throw on the Mandalorian, The Whitcher, The Last of Us, Stranger Things, Ted Lasso, Love is Blind, Arnol…. I could go on, but try going for a walk in the park instead. Your body and mind will give you a standing ovation in the long run.

(Can you guess where the photo was taken?)

  1. Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., & Gross, J. J. (2015). The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landscape and Urban Planning, 138, 41-50.
  2. McCurdy, L. E., Winterbottom, K. E., Mehta, S. S., & Roberts, J. R. (2010). Using nature and outdoor activity to improve children’s health. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care, 40(5), 102-117.
  3. Whear, R., Coon, J. T., Bethel, A., Abbott, R., Stein, K., & Garside, R. (2014). What is the impact of using outdoor spaces such as gardens on the physical and mental well-being of those with dementia? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 15(10), 697-705.

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A different energy

A legion of plastic cleats digs into turf. Pivoting. Planting. Stopping. Touching down for a moment, and then off, like a heated game of hot potato. All with one purpose. Come in contact with that elusive airborne sphere.

Moving up from the ground one can see the labored breathing of two teams vying for one shot at the goal on either side of their field of battle. Pennies vs. shirts. Every Saturday at 9 am. Here players leave their cultural and political differences at the gate and come together to share in what one can simply say as a heightened state of energy. There’s something to be said about the excitement surrounding the game.

Many of the members of the soccer club are Nigerian. They joke, laugh, and bring an emotion to the field that’s unlike any other (and man, most of them can wipe the floor with me). I just love being around those dudes.

When was the last time you felt wrapped up in a heightened state of energy?

*Thanks to Ben Smucker for help with descriptions!

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Grease the groove

Lately, I’ve started to do morning stretches and cold showers. Just because.

I’ll wake up, follow the 5-minute stretch routine below, and pop into an ice cold shower (after a few deep breaths accompanied by a quick mental note asking myself why I’m doing this).

It’s honestly been healing. I feel more energized throughout the day, and subjecting myself to extreme temperatures in the morning gives a much needed shot of adrenaline so I can get to work or play feeling sharp and ready to go.

Have you challenged yourself to add some new flavors to your morning routine lately? If not, hop on the bandwagon and make it a New Year’s resolution. Some have even called it “greasing the groove”. So, I challenge you to switch it up and grease the groove. Sucks in the moment sometimes, but you’ll thank yourself in the end.

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