KWICK 6: Long Winter, Seasonal Depression, & Basketball

Thought of the Week:

It's been a while. The last few months have been some of the toughest for me. Mentally, I was down. I didn't have the energy for extra things, even things I was passionate about. It was rough. Some reasons took me away from writing, reading, and watching content. The first reason is this has been the longest winter of my life. We had snow in late April. That is unnatural if you ask me. Even though the days have been getting longer, it has still been cloudy. My mood started shifting in January, to be honest. Those short days got to me. To be honest, I was depressed. However, my February trip to North Carolina and Georgia did wonders for my mental health. Visiting family and friends in warmer weather allowed me to regroup and recharge. The second reason is work has been crazy busy for me. I had a lot going on in March; honestly, it is still hectic at work. Plenty of days, I ended up skipping lunch because I was too busy to eat. I came home, ate, and got ready for bed on multiple days. Some days I would play Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or watch basketball games, but most days, I didn't have the mental capacity to read or write. The ability to vent to my best friend and vent to my journal helped me a lot during this winter. I also took a week off when I felt myself getting to the point of being overwhelmed. That week allowed me to refocus and mentally rest. While my methods worked for me this year, I plan to get a therapist next year.

I'm back now. Mentally, I am in a much better place. Work is getting back to normal. I've been reading again on the regular and consuming some interesting content. I am excited about getting back into the habit of posting weekly. So I hope you continue on this journey with me as I continue to learn and grow.

What I've Consumed:

Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo

I buddy-read thI'veith my best friend, and I think she liked it more than I did. Overall, I liked the book. I liked the insight into a different culture. It showed how different cultures are but how we are alike as well. The central conflict is the main character, Azere, feeling like she lives between two worlds. I think most minorities can relate to that sentiment. Azere is a Nigerian woman trying to keep her promise to her dying father as a child and balance her ambitions in the present. The book does an excellent job of exploring intergenerational relationships, cultural identity, and imposter syndrome. The romance seemed an afterthought because I didn't think the characters had much chemistry. Also, a character was added to create drama but I think he stayed in the story too long. Overall, I would recommend this book. I don't count it as a true romance, but I enjoyed it for the cultural and family dynamics it explored.

The Dead Djinn Universe series by P. Djeli Clark

The series includes novellas and a full-length novel, including "A Dead Djinn in Cairo," "The Angel of Khan el-Khalili," "The Haunting of Tram Car 015," and "A Master of Djinn." I enjoyed them all. You can read the full novel, A Master of Djinn, without reading the 3threenovellas but reading those first opens up the world. The stories occur in 1900s Cairo, with an alternate history where science and magic intertwine. The stories mainly center around agents of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, an organization based in Cairo that investigates and controls magical phenomena. The stories are fast-paced mysteries that took me on a ride. I had a lot of fun reading them. I recommend the whole series. I wish there were more books in this world, but I truly enjoyed the journey. Fatma was a great character to follow in the novel, and I enjoyed the growth from her introduction in the first novella to the end of the story.

Robert E. Lee and Me by Ty Seidule

This is a powerful memoir written by Ty Seidule, a retired general in the US Army and former head of the history department at West Point. Seidule recounts his personal and professional relationship with the legacy of Robert E. Lee. He traces how Lee impacted him from his childhood to confronting how Americans can revere a traitor. Seidule details his research into the man and the myth, placing both in context. He traces how the lost cause myth made Lee and others legends when they didn't deserve that. He reflects on his journey and challenges confronting his biases and assumptions. This book was thought-provoking and should be read by everyone, especially during our current climate. I was not too fond of the book's repetitiveness, but I understand why he did it. It displayed how often Lee showed up and shaped his worldview.

Basketball Never Stops

I've been watching a lot of basketball. March Madness leads into the end of the NBA season. March Madness was great this year. I think the women's tournament was better than the men's this year. The storylines and the drama were great. I also think it highlighted the differences in how people view men and women and black and white women. That took away from the greatness of the tourney a bit, but I had a good time even if my brackets were busted early. One complaint I still have is the lack of coverage overall for women's basketball. It's so much analysis on the guy's side, but it's hard to come by for the women. I think how the NBA made themselves relevant year-round, the WNBA should do the same. That will help continue to grow the game. Also, I can't wait to see where the expansion team will be located.

📚 Currently Reading:

Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction

• 26% completed. This is an anthology of novellas and short stories written by authors from Africa and the Diaspora. There has been a variety of stories I've read so far that range from thought-provoking to a whole lot of fun. Of course, some stories are better than others, but I haven't had one I haven't liked so far.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by SA Chakraborty

• 14% completed. This has been a super fun read so far. I have been reading and listening to the story and think the audiobook gives it more life. We follow Amina, w retired pirate, as she sets out on a new adventure. I am excited to see where the story goes.

Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution by Elie Mystal

• Completed. This is a very accessible book, and he makes some excellent points. Not only does he weave history, context, and law, but he does so with humor. I have enjoyed it, even if I don't agree with all of his points. Check back next week for a complete discussion of the book.

If you need some recommendations, check out my Goodreads or StoryGraph. And then follow me on Instagram and Twitter. One of my favorite newsletters to read for current events is Morning Brew. Check it out.