Katie’s Notebook: April 9, 2024
Greetings!
Hello, April. It’s my birthday month 🎉 which obviously means I’ll be having an existential crisis at some point. Some people make resolutions on January 1; I take stock of my life when I complete another rotation around the sun. If you have any suggestions for how to make this a productive exercise and not a spiral of asking myself if I am doing “enough” in all aspects of life, I welcome them. I mentioned to my husband last night that I was having birthday anxiety, and his response was, “Why? Age is just a number.” Maybe instead of an introspective deep dive I should just approach his *floating on a pool mat* approach to getting older.
Without further adieu, here are my five for the issue:
I’ve been on a huge reading kick in 2024: A few of my favorites include Ilium, Tom Lake, The Last Devil to Die (the last book in the series), and Fourth Wing. Here’s my hot tip for voracious reading — I get the same book on audio book and in print from the library so I can always be reading — whether I am folding laundry or cozy on the couch with a mug of me.
New ways to think about work culture: Many articles about work culture are bland and full of platitudes. I found this one fascinating. A favorite takeaway:
“Cultures of growth want smart people, but they want them to be highly motivated and excited about further developing their abilities by learning, trying new strategies, and seeking help when they're stuck. A culture of growth centers the belief that talent and ability can be honed and enhanced through good strategies, mentoring, and organizational support.”
Excuse me, what?: “Hospitals will now need written informed consent from patients before medical professionals and students practice pelvic exams on unconscious female patients, according to updated guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).” (source) According to the article, it’s been legal in 30 states for medical studies to perform a 2 finger vaginal exam while women are under anesthesia even FOR UNRELATED CASES as a learning activity. WOW. I can’t believe it has taken this long for that be part of informed consent, but also, I think we all need an increased vigilance when it comes to medical consents for procedures.
All the goods in one place: I typically include one link to clothing I’ve purchased and loved as part of this newsletter. There is so much out there in the way of fast fashion that I try to find pieces I feel great in that wash well and then scoop up multiples to make getting dressed easier in the morning. (Ex: my summer wardrobe shorts.)I just set up an account on a new platform to streamline all my recommendations in one place. (Some may contain affiliate links.) Find items from the archives and my favorite products here.
For my dear founder friends: 62 Ventures, a $100 million venture fund was announced this week. Led by Glen Tullman, 62 Ventures is cutting checks between $1-10 million dollar bucks (niche joke for the Bluey families out there.) I’ll add it to my Resources for Female Founders page.
See you in your inbox in a few weeks.
Be Well,
Katie
