Entertainment
Is a Journaling Club a Brilliant Way to Make Friends?
Last week, I co-hosted an afternoon gathering to celebrate Suleika Jaouad’s new book and came away with budding friendships and the best conversation starter…
First off, did you ever read Suleika’s 2021 memoir Between Two Kingdoms? At age 22, Suleika was diagnosed with leukemia with a 35% chance of long-term survival. She spent much of the next four years in a hospital bed. But when the doctors finally pronounced her “cancer free,” she faced her next challenge: learning how to live.
Now Suleika has written another beautiful publication: The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life. “Journaling saved my life during difficult times,” she told us, so she created a journaling guide with thought-provoking prompts and essays from fellow creatives like her husband Jon Batiste, Ann Patchett, Jia Tolentino, George Saunders, and many others.
In my living room, Suleika read an essay from her book, then asked us to each spend 10 minutes writing something — anything — about our hands. The topic was so specific that everyone immediately had ideas and began scribbling away; and when a few people chose to share what they’d written, their stories were about so much more than just a body part. It’s incredible how even a one-word prompt can lead people into profound observations about culture, identity, race, religion, the list goes on.
Me, writing about biting my nails and anxiety
Before journaling, Suleika told us, she sometimes writes a question to herself. “Elizabeth Gilbert wrote an essay for the book,” she explains. “She has a longstanding practice, where she opens her journal entries with ‘Dear Love, what will you have me know today?’ I have followed her lead and also taken my own liberties. So, when I’m awash in uncertainty, I write ‘What will you have me know today?’ at the top of the page; then I try to write from some deep knowing place of intuition.”
Another more lighthearted prompt was to close our eyes and draw a giraffe. (The hardest part was the spots.)
Clare de Boer and Deb Perelman
We laughed at our terrible results, but the exercise helped break the ice and remind us that journaling isn’t about being perfect.
Amber Tamblyn and Suleika
Finally, Suleika asked us to go around the room and — instead of talking about our jobs — to share something we would put on our “unofficial resume.” For example, she has three dogs, and since her husband thinks three is plenty, Suleika now helps friends find their own ideal dogs.
Nell Diamond, Priya Parker, and Brit Bennett
Priya Parker, above, told us that she’s a good matchmaker for people who want to get back into reading: “I ask a bunch of questions and then prescribe three books to begin with.” As for Deb Perelman from Smitten Kitchen? “I was in synchronized swimming in high school. It’s a really hard sport.”
Peyton Dix, Hrishikesh Hirway, and Nell Diamond
Musician Hrishikesh Hirway explained that he is a chocolate chip cookie enthusiast and can name the best chocolate chip cookies in any city he has visited. (His New York winner? Jacques Torres.)
Hitha Palepu, Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix
“My secret talent is being a great wedding guest,” added Hunter Harris. “I will dress for the occasion, I will take great social media pics of the bride and groom, I always have an extra hair tie/tampon/Listerine strip/mirror, and I love making small talk with your random family member or co-worker.”
The entire afternoon felt so magical, in huge part because Suleika and her book were so magical. Journaling helps you connect so quickly that many guests left with ideas for how to work together in the future, personally, professionally and politically. I also feel inspired to start a journaling club — you could come together to write about a shared prompt and then discuss whatever comes up for you. Would you ever do that? I’d highly recommend Suleika’s wonderful book for yourself, a gift, anyone who enjoys writing, therapy, staring out windows, the meaning of life, all of it!
Thank you so much, Suleika. xoxo
P.S. “Nine life lessons I learned after my cancer diagnosis,” five ways to be a better listener, and what are your core values?
(Photos by Ana Murphy.)
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
