I hope everyone is having a restful or wild weekend (whichever you need right now). This week, we have another guest letter to share, and I'll return as usual next week.
Jetaime is a 20-something, UAE-based, proud Capricorn, matcha-obsessed, empath and creative with a wanderlust spirit. Plus, she's just all-round babe. Thank you to Jetaime for dedicating time to writing this letter and being part of Out of Hours 💋
Happy February, everyone! I’m Jetaime, your resident silly goose, and this week I’m taking over Out of Hours while Iman lives life on DND in Sri Lanka and becomes a full-blown tropical queen 🥥
This newsletter aims to: fuel your delusions, make you question life as you or I may know it, and remind you that aging is simply a consequence of the Earth's rotation. Nevertheless, you’re doing amazing sweetie!
Thoughts from my Notes App
When they said adulting is hard, they weren’t kidding! It’s sadly not something that the phases of the moon, a crystal, or a mental breakdown every so often can fully solve.
I used to think I was a pretty decisive person, but when I’m required to make a decision every hour, it’s not exactly ideal - from what I’m having for lunch, to whether I should walk or take a cab, whether I should prioritise my career or keep live, laugh, lovin’, or finding the balance between rest and dancing at the club.
All I know is time is so important and should be spent doing what you love, so having multiple passions to pursue, food options to choose from, and places to explore is simply a symptom of wanting to keep living the good life. Or maybe we all have unresolved trauma and just need therapy.
Excerpt from The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Have you ever been excited about a grand idea you truly believe in, only for life to slap you in the face once you try to execute it? I’ve been reading this new book, and it details how our belief system actually creates those limits and filters out any prior excitement we had (and not your grumpy, pessimistic auntie).
Apparently, we have to take in new ideas, meet new people, or discover new places which could then lead to the “Aha!” moment that makes our seemingly impossible idea finally possible. They said the key is to detach and observe in order to express yourself freely.
Do your New Year resolutions truly change the trajectory of your life or just your January?
Should everyone really have one? And do you know anyone who's stuck to it? I know it’s February now, but I’ve been going back and forth on what mine is because I've convinced myself that it’s a crucial question to ask as I move into my mid-twenties (or as I ruminate on the fact that I’m not as much of an “adult” as I should be, oops).
In fact, I have asked every single person I’ve bumped into recently what theirs is, and most of them want to be less of who they were in 2023; it’s the cliche of pursuing something scary or new, being more social or less social, or going to the gym more often… It had me thinking that resolutions seem like self-criticism in the most narcissistic yet inspiring way and how as humans we seem to crave more of what’s scarce rather than appreciating what we already have. But as a self-proclaimed walking contradiction, I loosely decided that 2024 is the year of becoming more of who I’m meant to be at this time of my life, whatever that entails. I just hope this one sticks.
How to keep low-maintenance friendships
I’ve been so fortunate to be rewarded with the quality of friends I have, but growing up as a third-culture kid in Dubai has a catch: Everyone moves out at some point.
I live in a transitional city, and it’s not easy keeping up with those you love… but I think I finally cracked the code to low-maintenance friendships without having to jump on FaceTime (or for us in DXB - Zoom).
Send them reels and memes that remind you of them.
Tag them in a giveaway you really want to win because nothing says “I trust you with my life” more than that.
And lastly, cry over a song that reminds you of them (like Ed Sheeran’s "Supermarket Flowers") and truly believe that your brains are wired so that they’ll truly feel how much you miss them.
ICYMI
The Brunei Royal Wedding Sets a New Standard
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia, recently got married to his childhood friend, and the internet CANNOT stop talking about it. The 10-day ceremony had me gushing over how beautiful they are as a couple and over the fact that the bride was gifted the most insane jewelry and luxury collection upon being married to him, decked out in the biggest diamonds you’ll ever see during the ceremonies, and wore a blindingly sparkly gown. Not to mention their 5-course menu which included wagyu, caviar, truffle, and my tears.
We must record THIS audio for luck at the start of every month
The placebo effect has pulled humanity through some dark times, so it’s not surprising that most people are jumping on this trend. And let me tell you something, record that video and save it in your TikTok drafts because we could use all the luck in 2024.
Things you should have on your radar
Gen Z Slang Definitions so You No Longer Use “Swag,” “Dope,” or Worse…”Swagger.”
As a Gen Zer in the wild, I am in charge of the vibes while being surrounded by millennials on a day-to-day basis. However, it’s come to my attention that they are in dire need of keeping up with our vocabulary, so I’m using this opportunity to do the Lord’s work.
“Rizz” - Charisma. This one applies to both red and green flag individuals, before we could categorise them. This is often felt on first impressions and lasts a week max.
Example: Tom Blyth had so much rizz in that forest scene of the new Hunger Games movie.
“It’s giving..” or “Ate and left no crumbs” - Let me define this in the wise words of Lady Gaga, “Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been before.”
“Being delulu is the solulu” - Being delusional is the only solution to live, laugh, love. It’s used in both the romantic context or just adulthood in general. Sometimes a side effect of manifestation…
“Tea” or “Spill the tea” - The juuuuuicy gossip of the week or hour.
“Sleeping on” - When you’re missing out on something good, i.e., Stop sleeping on matcha and book that flight to Japan.
Wishlist (is this supporting capitalism?)
My favourite “hobby” at the moment, as a chronically online Gen Z AND a Capricorn, is to add on to my wishlist - whether that’s a hotel stay, bag, or a house I simply cannot afford… so here are the top things I would love to spend my money on if I were a Kardashian/Jenner sister.
Alila Villas, Uluwatu - There’s something so special about a beachside property with the most golden sunset views, modern pool villas (not the teeny tiny 20sqm rooms with moist sheets), Balinese breakfast, and endless sunshine. Bliss! As you can tell, I’ve been dreaming about a stay at this property since I stumbled upon it in 2019.
Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag in light green (travertine) and pink (ribbon) - You see, ever since that one fateful TikTok from Kylie Jenner, I CANNOT stop thinking about this bag. I love the colorways, how soft it looks, and how I could probably fit my whole life in it… seeing as it costs as much as rent does, I should be able to.
Splendido Mare, Portofino - It’s giving old money, I “summer” in Italy, espresso shots, and taking the yacht out on a lovely afternoon - with bottles of champagne and caviar, of course. Imagine waking up in the softest robe, the turquoise waters glistening, birds chirping… no thoughts, just purely enjoying the moment. Aaaaand that’s 3,700 AED a night, please.
Etihad First Class Residence - I’ve never flown first class, business class, or even premium economy, to be honest, so having extra legroom and a window seat is more than enough for me. However, the Etihad Residence is MORE than everything I mentioned; you get escorted to your private lounge with a shower pre-flight, onboard you get a private living room with lush amenities and all the buttons that will keep you guessing, a private toilet and bath, AND a full-size bed (that comes with a fluffy bathrobe and PJs)... You’ll have to pay me to get off this plane.
What to watch this week
I looooveeee a good reality or a feel-good show, so here are my recommendations…
NANA Tour by SEVENTEEN (aka the OG men in my life) gets me through my week with a cup of shin ramen and matcha. It’s a variety/reality show about 13 singers who were “kidnapped” from Japan for a trip to Rome and Tuscany.
A romantic docu-series on Netflix focusing on people on the spectrum; it’s lighthearted and fun. Three words: Better than "Undateables."
I devote a good chunk of my free time to YouTube vlogs, here are my favourites atm.
Ryan Crouse living alone in Japan series just hits, from how fast he talks to the places he travels to - every vlog feels like you’re FaceTiming a friend who lives halfway across the world and does fun sh*. I’ve been bingeing all his vlogs for the past 2 weeks and I hope it inspires you to enjoy your own company.
Whether you need help setting intentions, reassurance that it will all be okay, recently had a falling out with a friend, or just need a long video to silence your thoughts, I highly recommend the most recent conversation between Matt and Thomas from Yes Theory.
I love anything related to Sol Travel so this vlog by Sol Life makes me want to pack my bags and hop on a plane ASAP. If you’re looking for a new travel destination or simply a chill vlog I highly recommend this one.
FYI, you can read last week’s newsletter here.
If you enjoyed reading this letter please share it with a friend, neighbour, lover, stranger 💋