Hello Friends,
Greetings from Brooklyn!
Last week, my partner released her latest album. It’s the soundtrack for a BBC documentary about the French government’s sinking of a Greenpeace ship back in the 1980s. Give it a listen!
In other news, I put together a list of my favorite places in Paris. And if you just got here and missed the New York edition, I've got you.
Until next time,
Florian
On Fasting
I remember the cows in the French Alps where I used to spend the summer as a child. Nothing seemed to be able to distract them from their endless grazing. I remember thinking how void of agency they seemed.
And yet every day, at around the same time, together with colleagues, family and millions of other fortunate enough people, I eat. It doesn’t really matter whether or not I’m hungry. It’s time, I eat.
Maybe I had been too quick to judge those bovines. Wasn’t my daily pilgrimage to whatever location would dispense sustenance not a human version of grazing? The question prompted me to give prolonged fasting a try.
With nothing but water and coffee going through my system for twenty three hours, I expected to be hit by sloth-like energy levels. But instead, I felt like a meerkat on Adderall. I’d be lying if I said the temptation of munching one of those protein bars didn’t cross my mind. But far from being a distraction, the thought acted as some sort of stimulant. I felt focused and ruthlessly productive.
Then came time to have “dinner”, a word that felt suddenly inappropriate to describe the only meal of the day. I went for something simple: pumpkin soup. The first spoonful took my taste buds by storm. The taste was so vivid I caught myself chuckling. I’m guilty of scarfing my food down like a starved hyena. This time, I felt like dancing around it in appreciation.
Ultimately, the beauty of fasting doesn’t lie in the benefits, whether it’s increased focus or regaining a sense of appreciation for the food we are too quick to take for granted. It’s an exercise in regaining control over the things we do without thinking twice about why we do them. Eating is just one of them.
Weekly Wisdom
📚 The Mezzanine: This book published back in 1988 is one of the weirdest and yet most delightful explorations of the mundane aspects of our lives. From the significance of shoe-tying to the texture of milk cartons no trivial stone is left unturned.
📸 New York Wander: If you’re into photography and New York City, then you’ll absolutely love receiving Leo Mascaro’s newsletter in your inbox. Even if you’re a die-hard New Yorker, you’ll find yourself rediscovering the city through his shots.
Lateral Thought
“Philosophy is the art of living a good life, and living a good life is the art of asking good questions.”
Agnes Callard
Look forward to using some of those Paris recommendations! Booked flights yesterday!
Fasted once for seven days quite a few years ago. That I would die, but I survived and felt alive. Should try it again. Love the photo of the bridge supports.