favorite things ~ jan '25
it’s so good to make a list of the things you’ve been loving every once in a while.
for me, it inspires me to reflect more on the media i consume, so i can do it even more thoughtfully and critically going forward, until consuming things thoughtfully becomes the standard, the bare minimum, the instinctive response.
everyone is trying to quit their phone in 2026; going analog has been “the thing” of the moment, but frankly i don’t think that’s the point, nor is it realistic for most people.
the point, instead, is to really digest what you’re consuming. to give your attention intentionally, so that you’re in control of your thoughts, rather than being controlled by whatever media algorithms feed you. to develop taste, and to spend the rest of your life refining it, so that you can feel confident about what you like and why.
another reason i love documenting things i’m loving is because it tells me a lot about myself. if something strikes a chord or resonates with me, that means it is relevant to my life in this point in time, and that is precious. i learn a lot about my favorite authors on substack based on their favorite media, and so i hope to convey who i am to the world through my favorites as well. i can look back on what resonated with me at different points of my life in the future, and remember who i was in any particular moment in time. listening to songs that got me through middle and high school, or rewatching my favorite shows, or movies, or re-reading old favorite books has the power to instantly transport me to the time i experienced those things for the first time and that is why i want to document my media consumption even more going forward.
books i couldn’t stop thinking about in 2025:
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion - a memoir accounting of the year following the death of her husband John Gregory Dunne in 2003.
Normal People by Sally Rooney - Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - deep underground, forty women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before.
How Should A Person Be? by Sheila Heti - a novel of many identities: an autobiography of the mind, a postmodern self-help book, and a fictionalized portrait of the artist as a young woman — of two such artists, in fact.
movies & TV I watched and loved in 2025:
Train to Busan (2016) - while a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.
Sinners (2025) - trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Frankenstein (2025) - dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Challengers (2024) - Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, transformed her husband into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he'll need to face off against his former best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend.
Heated Rivalry (2025- ) - two rival hockey stars at the top of their game face an unexpected challenge when they develop feelings for each other, complicating their careers and the sport's expectations.
Three Body Problem (2024 - ) - a fateful decision made in 1960s China reverberates in the present, where a group of scientists partner with a detective to confront an existential planetary threat.
The Queen’s Gambit (2020) - orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. But child stardom comes at a price.
my favorite substacks right now:
Noted by Jillian Hess
Personal Canon by Celine Nguyen
Ad Hoc by Arden Yum
Mwendwa by Paris Mwendwa
best podcasts i’ve watched/listened to lately:
favorite music lately:
SWAG & SWAG II by Justin Bieber
Guilty Conscience and Escapism. by 070 Shake
So Easy (To Fall In Love) & Man I Need by Olivia Dean
The Hand by Annabelle Dinda
WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! by RAYE
life things:
seeing Maybe Happy Ending in Belasco Theater - my first ever Broadway musical !
seeing Laufey at Madison Square Garden on the A Matter of Time tour
truffle fried rice and mapo tofu at LUNAR in Midtown with Isabelle
taking up pottery hand building and wheel throwing as a hobby (finally!)
my new hobonichi techo journal
one of my goals for 2026 has been to post twice a month on substack. january is in the bag, let’s hope i can keep this up for the rest of the year as well!
thank you so much for reading. share your thoughts on any/all of these if you also like (or passionately hate) them!
tread carefully remains free for everyone and i only paywall posts older than 6 months for now :))
until next time, xoxo
- sab.
Heard So Easy (To Fall In Love) by Olivia Dean after hearing it a lot of social media made me instantly fall in love with the song! 😍😍 it's also one of my fave tracks this month 🩷
I love Mickey Galvin’s videos! Also, I totally agree. The question should be how we participate rather than if we will participate or not.