The Daily Check-In 5.29
Use your arms like spears.
Wipe your mushrooms
“Unfortunately, mushrooms are quite literally sponges,” says Michael Scelfo, chef-owner at Alden & Harlow and Waypoint in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The antioxidant-rich fungus has high water content, so once it soaks up more H2O it’s nearly impossible to cook out the unwanted extra moisture.
Instead, gently wipe off dirt using a damp paper towel. Then, cook on high heat.
Put anxiety on ice.
Next time anxiety creeps in, do a “state changer,” recommends Brooklyn-based therapist, Rachel Bloom, Psy.D. Hold ice cubes and take in the sensation of the coldness on your hands, she says.
Fostering the connection of body to mind will disable your focus on the panic, and force you to calm down and remain present. You could also take a hot or cold shower and perform a body scan, paying attention to how the temperature is affecting different areas.
Go on a book tour.
In lieu of traveling this summer, Harvard professor and literary historian David Damrosch, Ph.D., created a reading project, Around the World in 80 Books.
Each week from May 11 to August 31, Damrosch will explore 5 texts thematically linked to a city or region. Catch up with the full itinerary here and follow along on a literary journey to Kolkata, London, The Congo, and beyond.
Equinox photography auction
The Sopranos fans, take note. Today’s auction item is a portrait of James Gandolfini in character as iconic Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, captured by Timothy White on the set of the HBO hit’s final season. All proceeds will benefit the WhyHunger COVID-19 Rapid Relief Fund.