"To learn one must be humble. But life is the great teacher."

Behold! An entirely thrifted outfit! blazer-Loft, silk shirt-Hinge, jeans-Erin, leather booties-Aldo

Sometimes, we need to act for ourselves. Beyond what our classes demand, parents desire, friends suggest. But in the collegiate world of hectic days and homeworking nights, finding time to cultivate the self is sometimes a stressful task in and of itself. (Sound familiar?)

So, I'm pleased to say that I've been sticking to the goals I shared with you, sisters, in my last post. I'm actively and deliberately choosing how and with whom I spend my time. And this seemingly simple lifestyle decision is reaping great emotional and intellectual benefits.

My favorite soul-enriching activity thus far? Being a participant in the beyond fabulous Ulysses reading group at the Rosenbach Museum and Library. Joyce's prose--a sample of which can be found in this post's title--is both irritatingly complex and also scrumptiously full of allusions, puzzles, and layers of meaning (sometimes profound, sometimes hilarious). But participation brings more than just the pleasure of reading one of the greatest literary works of all time. It also allows me some always needed sister time with Leahnidas, the excuse to don a cute ensemble, and a peek into the world of post-college madness. The other students in the reading group consist primarily of retired women and men who simply love to read. Their comments, insights, and experiences enrich our meetings beyond anything I've experienced in the undergraduate classroom and bring such a unique dimension of scholarship to our discussions of Joyce's masterpiece. After our first meeting, I returned to Penn feeling more blissful and content than I've felt in a long, long time. And all because I chose a quirky activity to do just for myself.

Sisters, we dare. Let us weave our own wind. And see where it takes us.

xo