A good read on nostalgia for work

Image description: a few people are working on their laptops and phones, seated on different chairs in an open plan office space. They have glass walls across them that show a beautiful city view with sky scrapers and buildings. We Photo by Ant Rozetsky

Hi there,

Welcome to the first issue of Some Good Reads. My promise is simple - I’m going to send you a good read every few days. I like having rituals and routines, so I often schedule out time and enjoy a good cup of coffee and sunshine with my favorite articles and newsletters. Over time, I’ve realized I specifically carve out time for my favorite writers and their recommendations. So, now I’m starting this journey with you - where I’ll share my recommendations. I’m going to heavily rely on your feedback for preferences and taste. So, any time you like a read I share, let me know. It’ll help me feel like I’m on the right track. I likely won’t stick to one genre, because I do like a diversified reading list. But, I do have a certain style of writing I enjoy, so you may notice patterns over time.

I’m really excited about this project, and I hope the fun element stays because it’s been a while since I’ve had this much fun planning and curating pieces. I hope you stick with me as I learn and grow, and read.

For my first good read, I’m sharing What I Miss About Working at Stripe Nostalgia for another way of working by Brie Wolfson, on Every.

I love writers who make me feel, especially when it’s nostalgia. This one made me reminisce my days at The Tempest, and made me fondly think of all the amazing folks and the dream we were building together. It was a rare place where I found my people - who shared my values, and had the same passion, for making the world a better place. It also made me think of balance, boundaries, and where we go from here. I’ve added an excerpt that really had me thinking.

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But I do think work can be a source of real meaning in  life. But, we’ll only ever get out what we put in. And in the case of work life, it is kind of a collective decision. Once your neighbor starts signing off Slack at 3:30 consistently, it’s hard not to do the same. If your closest collaborators don’t turn stuff around quickly, why would you? If there’s no one in the room agitating for doing that extra copy pass to punch up that blog post, why not just ship the meh version and use the extra time for a jog or a drink with friends? The path of least resistance is right in front of us, and we are taking it. 

I’m all for creating healthy boundaries that keep us satisfied and emotionally healthy—inside and outside of work. And of course I believe you can love something without it having to hurt. But I’ve never truly loved anything that didn’t move me to my core. I can’t help but wonder if all this effort we’re putting into keeping work at arm’s length is actually holding us back from being our best selves. 

Because what I’ve learned from having the privilege of working in a place that asks for my best and helps me get there is how much it can unlock in a life. The benefits extend far beyond the skills required to get great work done. The really, really good stuff comes from looking back on something you created and thinking, “I had no idea I could do that.” It comes from looking around and thinking “wow these people helped me, really helped me, get there.” It comes from looking inside and seeing how deep and enduring those feelings of pride, satisfaction, and gratitude really are. And what happens when you have so much it gets to spill over to the other aspects of and people in your life.

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If you liked this read, share it with a friend. We’re a friendly community here :)

And as always, I’d love your good read recs too.

With peace, love, and weekend vibes,

Mashal