Issue #57: the. ART of. NOTICING.
the importance of SPF, asking magical questions, how to wander, and celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices in food.
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A post shared by @healinganxietystory.
Noticing might be one of the most underrated forms of love. In our relationships—romantic, platonic, chosen family, community—it’s often the smallest things that make us feel truly seen. When someone picks up on your mood without you having to explain. When they remember how you take your coffee or send a song that feels like you. These aren’t grand gestures, but they land deeply. They say: I’m paying attention.
This kind of presence takes practice, especially in a world that’s always rushing us along. But when we slow down and start noticing each other—really noticing—it changes things. We become better listeners. We soften. We hold space for people to show up exactly as they are. During Pride Month, we’re reminded how essential that kind of care is—how radical it can be to see and honor the fullness of someone’s identity, their joy, their truth, their humanity.
So maybe this month, we let noticing be our practice. In our conversations, our partnerships, our communities. A way of offering love that doesn’t need to be loud—just real.
TASTE: The Queer Food Foundation is doing beautiful work to center and celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices in food and hospitality. Through their “Queer All Year” virtual panel series, created in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, they bring together queer leaders across the industry to share stories, spark dialogue, and advocate for visibility and equity. These conversations explore the intersections of identity, representation, and community in the food world—reminding us that food is never just about what’s on the plate. It’s about who’s at the table, who gets to tell their story, and how we make space for everyone to be fully seen and nourished.
BONUS TASTE: Mindful Eating Can Help You Be More Present and Relaxed at Mealtime. Noticing—especially at mealtime—can be a simple yet powerful shift. Taking even a few minutes to eat without distractions, tuning into taste and texture, helps move your body out of stress mode and into a state where digestion, nourishment, and presence are possible.
SEE: As the weather warms and we spend more time outside, it’s a good moment to reflect on how we’re protecting our skin—not just from sunburn, but from long-term damage. The recent piece from The Noteworthy Edit shares a powerful personal story about a skin cancer diagnosis and the emotional journey that followed. It’s a reminder that SPF isn’t just a summer accessory. If you’re looking to upgrade your skincare routine, especially for your face, tinted sunscreens are a smart and stylish option. They offer broad-spectrum protection along with light, blendable coverage that can easily replace foundation. Here are The 15 Best Tinted Sunscreens for Summer, According to Derms—a helpful roundup to help you find one that fits your needs and skin tone.
SMELL: The Air Quality Index Explained: What It Means and How to Stay Safe. Whew—has the air been heavy this week! All that haze and smoke hanging around the Midwest has made it tough to breathe easy, literally. The sky's been this strange foggy gray, and stepping outside kind of smells like someone left a bonfire smoldering overnight. It’s been one of those weeks where you can actually smell the air quality, and not in a good way. If you've been feeling a little off or skipping your usual walks, you're not alone—this article breaks down why it’s happening and what those air quality numbers actually mean.
HEAR: The Ultimate Guide to Women’s Hormones: Use Science to Reset Your Body, Balance Mood, & Feel Amazing. We’re always on the lookout for honest, insightful conversations about our bodies through every stage—and this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast hits the mark. Mel teams up with OB-GYN and hormone expert Dr. Jessica Shepherd for a refreshingly real hormone breakdown that spans PMS, painful periods, perimenopause, and everything in between—proof that we don’t have to just “deal with it” when something feels off.
What really resonated with us is how Dr. Shepherd frames hormone balance as a mind-body equation: stress levels, sleep, and even the stories we tell ourselves all shape our biology. In noticing and pausing to observe the subtle signals (energy dips, mood swings, cravings) we can meet them with curiosity instead of judgment. If you haven’t grabbed our hormone and cycle-aligned wellness guides, created to help you notice, nudge, and nourish your body at every turn, download them here!
TOUCH: Five Summer Traditions for a Magical Childhood. We stumbled across this sweet Instagram post and loved the idea that summer magic doesn’t have to come from big plans or perfectly curated moments. There’s often a pressure to make summer “count” with camps, vacations, and overflowing bucket lists—but it’s the small, simple rituals that often leave the deepest imprint. The post reads, “Whether it’s Friday night ice cream runs, library picnics, or glow stick walks, these summer rituals are the heartbeat of our kids’ childhoods. Not Pinterest perfect. Not even all that organized. Just consistent. And maybe that’s the magic.” It was such a refreshing reminder that the best memories often come from the ordinary moments we choose to repeat with love.
What is appealing to your senses right now? What are you reading? watching? cooking? wearing? loving? obsessed with? We would love to share some of your picks in future newsletters!
speaking of MAGIC…
Want to cut through small talk? Try asking a "magical question."
“A magical question is a question posed to a group that everybody in that group would be interested in answering, and everyone is interested in hearing each other's answers,” says Priya Parker, a conflict resolution facilitator.
For example, What's the weirdest thing you've ever found in your pocket? What topic could you give a 20-minute talk on with no preparation? What's a path you almost took but didn't?"
Magical questions are designed to spark curiosity and elicit a response. And not only are they highly engaging, they also have the power to cut through small talk, says @priyaparker, who hosts a video series on the topic on her Instagram page.
Parker, author of the 2020 book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, (which we shared in a previous 5 Senses Friday;) explains how to develop your own magical questions.
And we leave you with…
how to WANDER and why you should…
“Wandering can help us find more creative inspiration, strengthen skills like navigation and decision-making, and break out of old routines that no longer serve us.“
written by Emily McGowan
Have a great weekend!
