Angelica Catalano is a former YouBeauty.com staffer who shares a moniker with everyone's favorite fictional hunk (Jordan, obv) and can rock a retro '60s hair and makeup moment as if she really were frozen in the Valley of the Dolls era and just defrosted last week. She's a delight and is in the process of getting her own site, Itsaboutkind up and running, in which people report acts of kindess they see. She has much knowledge to drop, so I asked her to share her Five Rules For Life. Here they are, in Angelica's words.
1. Read something that hurts your head.
Hurt it in a good way, like you feel brain cells working. Anything from dense stream-of-consciousness to one-liners from Jenny Holzer. Getting lost in ideas bigger than you is humbling. You can feel yourself getting smarter. Sexy, and you’ll know it.
2. Be kind to strangers.
People carry around a crazy amount of baggage. Have patience with jerks, they need one less reason to be one. When you have an eye out for the good, you’ll notice random acts of kindness everywhere. Tweet what you see #itsaboutkind.
3. Be a hot mess... But clean up after yourself. -Billy Mann
Hot: Beachy hair, a bright lip and owning your eccentricity—you’re ready in 5! Guys, let your hair do its thing.
Mess: Speak up. Stay up. Avoid big decisions after 10 and blue drinks, at all times.
Clean up: Own up. Reexamine your ideas in the morning light. Have a soul wash at your place of worship, SoulCycle, a museum...whatever refreshes your body and mind for the week ahead.
4. Listen to...
Old people. Funny people. Funny, old people. Your body when it’s hungry (lest you risk crankiness/weird food choices later). Old records. Your fiery heart when it takes you obscure places. Your mom. @BeautyEditorNYC & @Glambr for twitter wisdom that’s as striking as it is in person. Nothing, quiet time is nice.
5. Your ocean will ebb and flow. Soak it up!
We aren't good at predicting how surges of good or bad events will affect our lives. Over time, we return to our “happiness set point.” (It's science! Sorry Dr. Ong if I’m butchering this.) So when something huge happens, breathe, and know those waves will take you where you’re supposed to be. Having faith that that’s true probably takes a lifetime...This poem puts it so, so sweetly.
The Guest House - Poem by Jelalludin Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks
Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
Thanks, Angelica!
Thanks, Angelica!