unsuppressing emotions
a very helpful exercise to try (I did it this week!)
Floor Time
/flôr tīm/
noun
the 15-60 minute time period spent laying on the floor in the middle of the work day, typically as a relief from the soul-sucking reality of corporate America.
By now you’ve had ample time to watch Inside Out 2, an absolute PTSD-ridden anxiety ride of a movie that had me wondering, Who would voice the emotions in MY head? After weeks of contemplation, I have it: My dream casting. And friends, I believe this is one of the best Floor Time exercises I have ever done. During a week when I very much needed to be distracted, I found this to be extremely grounding. I encourage you to use your union-mandated dissociation time to also think through your 9 lead emotions.
Joy - Florence Pugh
This is the woman who did Cooking with Flo, who rocked up to Cannes Film Festival after an absolute trainwreck of a film shoot in head to toe Valentino with giant Aperol Spritz in hand. She’s the one who ate Christmas brussel sprouts off the floor within the 5 second rule. Her little wheezing puberty cackle lives rent free in my mind. This woman radiates joy and thus she takes top spot at the console of Clarice’s Mind™.
Sadness - Lola Tung
Lola Tung has one of the most calming speaking voices—I knew I’d have to find a place for her in my head. In thinking about her sad voice in both The Summer I Turned Pretty and Hadestown, I realized it’s the perfect timbre for what sadness feels like for me—a balance of sorrow, calm, and a little indifference. When I’m letting sadness wash over me this is exactly the voice I want telling me how to feel.
Anger - Jodie Comer (as Villanelle)
I have to specify this because Jodie Comer can do a million voices, but none of them rival her Russian accent used in Killing Eve. To me, this is THE anger voice. When things don’t go her way and she blows up, I can almost see the fire rise up over her head.
Fear - Rupert Grint (in HP 1&2)
I think this speaks for itself. Baby Ron voice?! With the little voice cracks when he’s scared?! This voice could win an Oscar.
Disgust - Michelle Yeoh
There were so many other celebs vying for the Disgust spot. Issa Rae could slay here. So could Ncuti Gatwa. I debated Bowen Yang for a bit. But ultimately, only one woman could take this spot and it’s the legend herself, Michelle Yeoh. This woman sounds like every disappointed Asian aunt debating your outfit choices. They judge your financial decisions and they make sure you know they’re doing so. Michelle ran so that Eleanor Young could walk.
Anxiety - Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Perhaps it’s because all my favorite PWB content revolves around very anxious characters on the brink of a psychotic break. Or because this woman can get out a string of lines very quickly and always elegantly—even if it’s a nervous breakdown (and if there’s one time I don’t stutter it’s when I’m having anxiety word vomit 🙃).
Ennui - Danny Pudi
Danny Pudi is unbothered. Danny Pudi doesn’t give a f*ck what you think. Danny Pudi is chillin’ in a chair, doing whatever the hell he wants, and saying what he thinks sans filter. He’s unbothered by your criticisms and frankly, he’s bored by your tales of woe.
Embarrassment - Alexis Bledel
For me, Alexis Bledel will forever be Rory Gilmore and her voice radiates embarrassment. What’s more embarrassing than whining over tacos? Skipping her mother’s graduation to emotionally cheat on her boyfriend? Paying someone off because they were sitting against “her tree”? Her car getting hit by a deer? Need 👏🏽 I 👏🏽 say 👏🏽 more 👏🏽
Envy - Zendaya
I mean there’s not much to extrapolate here. She drips Envy.
Something I Thought of in the Shower
Should I have continued to be a competitive swimmer so that I could’ve had a shot at staying in the Olympic Village?
Something Pretty
Hibiscuses are my favorite flower, and they are a-BLOOM in Brooklyn. I spotted this giant beauty in Brooklyn Heights last weekend—man hand for scale.
Something To Laugh About
Most of my fyp content is Olympic related (just how I want it!!) but I mixed in some other fun ones for you. Here are this week’s gems:
Because last week’s Floor Time was about underconsumption, the total opposite of the fever dream that this is.
Oop this is me. The Canadian team anorak is to die for.
Finally found someone to match my freak with this idea.
Not just parents but some of ya’ll (my peers) need to check yourself with how much you do this.
Something for Clarice
Hey! This newsletter is free and I intend to keep it that way. That said, if you love it and want to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee :)
By the way…I’m reading this.
I’m so behind on all my reading but hoping to make up for it in the next two weeks! In the meantime, finishing up Martina Flor’s book, Make It, that I told you about last week. Definitely needing some creative inspiration like this in my life so it’s the perfect read at the moment.
And I’m watching this.
Like everyone in America, I went to see Twisters last week in theatres (you’re lookin’ at a card carrying member of Regal Crown Club since ‘23). This movie had everything: unreasonable physics, bad accents, wet T-shirts, a cheater1, and great CGI. It’s everything you want in a summer film and more. The one thing it lacked2 it really lacked and if I ever run into Lee Isaac Chung we’ll have words.
Happy weekending! I’m heading back to the west coast to help a friend get married and then spending some time housing all the burritos and boba I can. California!!!
‘Til next time, emotions. Your friend,
Clarice
to fumble in the way this man hath fumbled—we will NEVER forget
rhymes with “piss”