The 411: 008
Letter to Self
It’s my birthday month and for the last three years on June 20th, I’ve opened a letter that I wrote to myself, penned the previous year.
I find the process to be an emotional affair, even more so when reading the words aloud - there’s a wavering in my voice when I speak them into the world as it connects me very clearly to my past and present self.
Ultimately, I think it’s an incredibly kind act, taking the time to go inward for deep reflection and project forward to your life one year from now. This is a strong signal to yourself that you’re important - worthy of the time and energy to do such a thing - something that is of concern to nobody else but you.
Sometimes I remember sentences that I’ve written in my letter down to every detail and they live somewhere within me for the year. Other times I’m shocked or surprised by the things I wrote and why I felt those particular sentiments needed to be retained and shared with a future version of me. I always trust that I had a reason to do so and make sure to pore over the letter multiple times, allowing it to all sink in sufficiently.
I don’t write next year’s letter immediately, I carve out time and think about the setting that feels most appropriate to start a time travelling conversation with myself. Usually I’m close to a body of water, where my mind can wander freely and dream big.
Another Dimension
I went to Paris at the start of the month and took a trip to see ‘At One’ by James Turrell at Gagosian.
I considered not writing about the one particular installation (All Clear) that was truly transformative as my words won’t in any way touch on the experience of the art itself.
You enter a rounded, all-white room bathed in various coloured lights, where the lack of perceivable corners or edges means that orientation and depth recognition is lost.
It felt like being suspended in time, horizonless and hypnotised; we outstayed our welcome in the space as it’s limited to 10 minutes per visitor. The supervisor was moments away from coming in to ask us to leave as we were in there for around three times the recommended allowance.
There were no photos allowed throughout the exhibition which added to the presence felt for the afternoon. I’m still in a daze as I write this, recalling something truly magical, somehow it feels that with Turrell’s work, you don’t experience the art, the art experiences you.
Unsurprisingly, Turrell puts it better than I can:
“We eat light, drink it through our skins. With a little more exposure to light, you feel part of things physically. I like the power of light and space physically because then you can order it materially. Seeing is a very sensuous act - there’s a sweet deliciousness to feeling yourself see something.”
Hands On
This month I finished making the Euro 2025 mini collage zine that I’ll be giving out at next month’s MANON meet-up in Basel.
Despite the fact that folding and cutting in straight lines are my Kryptonite, I’m happy with my first attempt at a zine and even more content with the creative journey.
Image gathering, cutting, sticking, printing and playing around with compositions for a few afternoons was a real pleasure - a welcome ‘hands on’ escape from the digital world and a way to lose myself in colour, precision (or lack thereof), trial and error.
If you won’t be making it to Switzerland and want a copy of the zine, get in touch and I’ll make sure to get one to you.
Here’s a teaser of the cover which features an image I took of a staircase to signify the uphill battle the women’s game has faced and that step by step progress is being made.
Ear Me Now
I opted out of getting my ears pierced and wearing jewellery in general when I was younger, mainly due to its inconvenience when playing football every day (covering ears with tape and seeing girls clumsily taking off their necklaces and rings moments before kick-off seemed like too much of a distraction when I was getting in the zone).
Once playing football every day was no longer my reality I guess I hadn’t given it too much additional thought. This time last year I pierced my ears for the first time and while its a rite of passage in many cultures and in others simply not a big deal, I just think it’s cute that I did something like that almost four decades into my existence.
I’ve lost three earrings already.
Song Of The Month
We don’t care for what they say, that’s my superpower.
I’m Jenny Simmons, Founder of MANON, a Mindset Coaching & Independent Consultancy focused on developing Black and Brown women working in the football industry. My aim is to positively impact client’s everyday lives, as well as their experiences in the workplace. Book a free discovery call with me to chat about how I could help you, your brand or your business.
Excellent song choice and read 🦁🔂 I won’t make it to 🇨🇭but would love a zine copy if possible 🙏🏾