10 Offline Things I Did This Week

Indecent exposure, immunity cocktails, neck scarves.

What a wild week. This week, truly, wild. Firstly, I saw my biggest spike in paid subscribers in my three years of writing this newsletter after publishing this week’s essay, The Illusion of Him. It’s an essay on how I let myself feast on the smallest gestures (three dates over three months, him traveling in between), convinced that they meant more than they did. He gave me so little, and yet I built a world around him. It’s about fantasy—but also the exhilaration of real connection, the pull of desire, and what it means to navigate dating in 2025.

I spent three full days on the essay and was absolutely terrified of publishing it. I told myself that I was writing it “just for me”. Shoutout to reader

Emily A

who casually asked about limerence last week after I subtly hinted at my own spiral in last week’s 10 Offline Things.

If you’re new here, welcome! I write personal essays exploring self-reflection, growth, and the ever-evolving relationship between our inner and outer worlds. Here are some other premium essays on money, wanting to marry a man even though most women my age are jaded, choosing fame, wealth, or privacy, and freezing my eggs.

The Sunday Offline Things list you are reading right now is always free, but my Tuesday/Thursday deep-dive essays are paid only.

I’m 34, single, and live in a quiet neighborhood near the Brooklyn waterfront with my 80-pound dog. I love to run, make jokes, cook, and hang out with my friends. I don’t party (really). I used to be a hardcore wellness influencer and now I try to handle the internet with more nuance and balance. My memoir comes out later this summer with Simon & Schuster. (more news on that very soon!!!!!!!!). Stick around, there is a lot of exciting stuff down the pipeline. And if you ever have a topic you'd want me to write about, drop me a message!

10 Offline Things I Did This Week

1. Was indecently exposed to this weekend on the D train. I’m sorry to report such a disgusting “thing”, but I’ve got to be honest. And it was disturbing. As soon as I noticed the vile man’s junk out for me to see, (he was just standing super close to me with this flaccid p-nis out), I moved away swiftly and tried to tell another girl, who responded that she did not speak English. I felt so disheartened at my attempt to find an ally. I felt terrified, violated, traumatized. Thankfully the train rolled into the station soon after. I knew I would make a scene as soon as it was safe. As I got off, I yelled, ‘THIS MAN HAS HIS DICK OUT!” when nobody did anything, I yelled again, this time on a busy platform, pointing, “THAT MAN HAS HIS PENIS OUT!” I found a conductor. I told NYPD. I will file a police report. We don’t know what other crimes this ugly man is committing. Stay safe out there.

2. Weird follow up to that but…but I hosted my niece, nephew, sister and brother in law for brunch at my apartment. I didn’t get any photos from the brunch I threw my family, but that’s the sign of a Sunday well spent. Think chocolate banana bread crêpes, coffee, and a trip to the candy store. I’m the cool Brooklyn aunt!

3. Concocted a delicious “immunity” spritz cocktail from honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon, sumo citrus + sparkling spring water. I love love LOVE a mocktail hour in my home and I always crave something punchy, tangy, sweet, and spritzy. Here’s the general recipe: 1 tbsp raw honey, 1 tbsp ACV, juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/4 sumo orange, mix well, then top with ice and sparkling water, voila!!!! This one hit the spot! It tasted so much like a bottled Bragg drink I used to buy when I lived in LA. YUM!!

   

   The makings of my spritz.

4. Watched He’s Just Not That Into You. After this week’s essay on dating, I loved watching this rom-com from 2008. It has all the hits! Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, and Jennifer Anniston, the latter of which always plays a smart, efficient, level-headed, all-around sweet woman. I genuinely want to be friends with her in real life. I bet she’s awesome. You should watch it too if you need a comfort watch, it’s available on MAX.

5. Fell in love with a neck scarf look: I wore this scarf with assorted sweaters all week.

   

   

6. Experimented with cabbage. Cabbage is such

   a humble winter vegetable. First, I tried to recreate the addictive cabbage from Dr. Clark’s restaurant in Manhattan, but I still gotta perfect my DIY recipe. Second, I made Golubtsi, an Eastern European comfort food made from rice and meat wrapped in steamed cabbage and cooked down in tomato sauce. I topped my cabbage rolls with parsley and sour cream. Creamy, simple, and wholesome.

7. Ate Dim Sum and got reflexology in the city with a friend. $30 dim sum + $30 foot massage = perfect day in the city! Well, this all before the unfortunate event of Mr. Can-I-Show-You-My-Hog on the subway.

8. Bought quince. Quince, a member of the rose family, is all over the bodega florists for the Lunar New Year. I now associate this plant and flower with my birthday, as its tight little buds and blooming flowers hold the promise of something bright that is to come (spring!). It’s splindy and bare, but I know that mother nature is working overtime to bring us a bright and fresh spring in just a few months.

   

9. Gave Samson a bath. It poured on Friday, and after a longgggg walk, he came back absolutely filthy—covered in dirt, practically black. He’s not exactly a fan of baths (or showers), but the moment he sees me grab the towel, he resigns himself to it, head down, and steps in on his own. I ran out of dog shampoo, so I improvised—mixed warm water, ¼ cup ACV, and a tablespoon of unscented gentle soap. Worked like a charm.

10. Deleted TikTok from my phone like an idiot. Like I mentioned, Thursday was a lot. The essay garnered a lot of attention and I was getting messages from all sides, which was magical, and so incredibly validating. I’ve been writing online for DECADES, and there is truly no feeling like writing/publishing/posting a part of yourself that resonates with people and is shared widely. HOWEVER. The way I handle it meant that I also spent that entire day glued to my phone and computer. There is a bit of a “come down” whenever I publish an essay that hits hard. It’s inevitable, and part of the online creating world. I don’t know a creator who doesn’t experience that after an essay/post lands deeply and reaches far. But I knew my nervous system needed a break so I mindfully mindlessly deleted TikTok and Instagram from my phone, only to realize that TikTok is UNAVAILABLE IN THE APP STORE, AND NOW I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING BACK ON IT. Cue the panic, since I will be promoting my book this year and oh my god what if I can’t use TikTok? I’m crying!!!! I need to figure something out. Let me know if you have tips!!!!!

Anyway. That’s all for now. Stay safe if you’re going on the subway ladies. I’ll see you next week for another in-depth essay on selling out. We all do it.

Tata,

Lee