Regulating
Lemon Gelato, Neurotransmitters, Ibiza, Strawberry Ice Cream, more Maine and Systems.
It is 1:44pm on Thursday June 26th and I’m writing this from my sister’s childhood bed in Maine. I originally had a round trip bus ticket leaving from New York on Friday June 20th and returning on Monday June 23rd. On Sunday I changed my return to Tuesday, on Monday I changed my return to Thursday and on Wednesday I finally changed my return bus to Tuesday July 1st.
Since being in Maine I’ve felt my nervous system shift gears. I take long walks instead of runs, go in the ocean instead of cold showers, and I get coffee and pastries with my parents instead of quick coffee and eggs before jumping on my computer. I get in bed by 9pm to read my dragon book. I journal on the deck in the morning and make simple meals for myself and my parents.
I’d highly recommend finding a place that regulates your nervous system this summer - and stay a bit longer than you’d expect - or think you’re allowed to. After the first few days of lolling around I got incredibly productive. I don’t say this to counter the intention of slowing down but to state the obvious which is that creativity seems to come not from pushing but from letting go.
I finally drafted Spilt Milk’s pricing structure which I’d previously deemed an impossible task. I also began Spilt Milk’s 2025 services deck (6 months overdue).
I love New York but there’s something so special about places like Maine, where when it’s strawberry season the neighborhood soft serve spot has local strawberry soft serve for just two weeks.
It’s 11:44 AM CEST on July 15th, I’m on a flight from Paris to Ibiza. The sweat is still drying on my neck as I await coffee service on the short flight. I arrived to my gate 7 minutes before take off to closed gates and no one in site. My plane, however, fully in sight through the locked glass door. Long story short an angel rescued me and I’m more grateful than ever to be on the flight to Ibiza. My friend Kelly will pick me up from the airport in her stick shift and we’ll grab lunch before heading to the beach.
This past week I’ve spent time slowing down and accidentally investigating the origin of Spilt Milk. I’m redoing our 2025 deck to begin some outreach for the season which I do about every 1.5-2 years but admittedly should be making a seasonal practice. This past year has been a year of building systems, investigating and strengthening the foundation of Spilt Milk. As much as I intended for Spilt Milk to grow I never threw much strategy behind it. In October, we had our biggest month yet, raking in $80k profit - but not not at a cost. I didn’t have a day off that month, much less 6 hours off. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and those who helped me make it happen but it wasn’t sustainable. The following couple of months didn’t come close to matching half - or event a quarter - of that, some months raking in, well $0. It’s the nature of the business and I know to trust that by now but I can’t help but think that the universe took a peek at my chaotic but abundant month and thought “yikes,” let’s give her a sec.
Now, in our slower summer months, I’m fine-tuning our processes and creating new menus. I’m going to the market and trying things, remaining slow and curious. I’m creating new dishes at home, recording the process for events and the internet. Learning from mistakes, playing really.
It’s now 13:51 CEST in Madrid. I’m in the airport lounge on my way back to JFK from Ibiza where I spent 5 days swimming, eating, supervising spearfishing, floating, cooking, and barely working (specifically only nightly from 2-3am).
I stayed with a friend’s family - I feel strongly that this summer I wanted two things out of my trips - minimal movement and family. This past year of movement has left me slightly overstimulated which has recently been confirmed via a neurotransmitter panel. While my bloodwork was great, my neuro results were low dopamine, low serotonin and low GABA - what my doc classifies as “wired & tired”.
It’s now 1:49pm on July 23 and seeing as this has been sitting in my drafts for nearly a month it’s time to let it go and send. Not much has been said because not much has been done and isn’t that the point of summer?
Bye!
Z
you look regulated & that stripped sweater is a dallop of perfection !