Numbah One: November 8th Hike 🍁

Numbah Two: Love Thy Self 🫶🏾

Numbah Three: Master Your Sleep 🌙

Like the title says, DTE Hiking Club is venturing out once more into the Autumn wonderland of the Hudson Valley on November 8th at 9:30am.

We’re meeting up at Grand Central Terminal and taking the 9:40 train up to Beacon, New York to tackle the historic Fire Tower Hike.

It’ll be challenging, so come prepared to work!

Instagram 📸 

I know a lot of y’all get your DTE hike updates through the newsletter, but now we’ve got everything in one place: The DTE Hiking Instagram!

This is the central hub for news, updates, content and all things DTE hiking.

See you on the mountain on November 8th! 🌎

Love Thy Self ❤️‍🔥

I love this song.

It’s wholesome, positive, and strikes the perfect balance between self-esteem and triumph.

It’s not common you encounter blissful songwriting these days.

Yet in India Arie’s Video, we can feel a strong example of self-assuredness through her words.

Not self-righteousness, or self-absorbment, but self-love.

There’s a big difference.

  What is “Self-Love", Really? 🤔

In 2025, you hear a lot about self-love.

For different people, that can mean different things.

To me, self-love is an act or mindset that nourishes as much as it feels good.

That can be a calming bath, or a long walk.

It can be a movie night, or a warm mug of coffee or tea.

A session of self-love shouldn’t be confused with a night of binges — drinking, eating, media, sex, or other consumptive behaviors.

I get it. The world is stressful, so there’s a temptation to give yourself soothing rewards and routes of escape.

But these one-offs can compound.

They snowball into habits, and soon enough, your entire lifestyle is one of idle, passive consumption and diminishing returns.

  How To Show Yourself Love 🙂

When it comes to self-love, I go for simplicity.

Some of my self-love practices include: positive self-talk, optimism about my life, and engaging in activities that bring me peace and stillness.

Self-love requires appreciation of the here and now.

Here and now = what’s available to you in the present.

They are people, things or emotions that you have right now — not things that you desire or want more of.

Enjoying the here and now calls for a feast of the fruits of your labor, or just giving yourself props for being you.

Gratitude.

An example of here-and-now self-love could even be something like, I don’t know, an outfit.

If I put on something that I know looks good, even if I’m just chilling at the crib, I will probably feel good about myself too.

I’m not putting it on for anyone, and I won’t be seen.

There’s nothing to gain outside of my own appreciation.

Plus, the creative act of coordinating an outfit is enough stimulation in the present moment to bring me contentment – acceptance of the here and now.

That choice makes a tremendous difference, because it was done with intentional care.

Self-love should look like self-care in most cases.

I think to some people, love looks like indulgence. Bombardment.

I’ve noticed this with food and drinks. You ever been over at someones place for dinner, and they overwhelm you with offerings?

“Have another slice … Did you try the chicken salad yet? … Come on, have another drink with us!“

That can feel like love, or politeness, but there’s a fine line around there.

Past a certain point, love overwhelms care, and cascades into mania and destruction.

  How To Practice Self-Care 💝

Imagine that your cousin is out of town for a week, and you’re responsible for taking care of her young child.

How would you go about taking care of this little person?

You would likely be observant, modest, gentle, and understanding with this child.

During each step of your life, it’s wise to approach your self with this kind of grace.

I like to use that caretaker mindset to govern myself, and to learn who I am.

So that’s the discipline side.

When you’re in the mood to treat yourself, though, the technique of moderation still applies.

Would you let a little kid gorge themselves with junk food and let them stay up all night doomscrolling?

Would you let them have just one more drink?

I hope not, but there shouldn’t be any exceptions made for you, either.

I’m not a drill sergeant, though, and I do like to have fun.

It’s important to keep joy alive without breaching into excess, especially when it comes to caretaking.

If you’ve ever been responsible for a child, you know this — never give too much, but remember that All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy.

To achieve balance, I aim to be flexible and open-minded when my inner child desires something, and rigid when I feel that desire is becoming unhinged.

Balance is key.

  Live Your Life in Third Person 🧿

Back to the song by India Arie — at the very core of this masterpiece is a clever use of narrative technique:

India chooses to refer to herself in the third person.

“I’m not the average girl from your video … My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes … No matter what I'm wearing I will always be … India Arie”

This isn't a random stylistic choice.

It's a tool she’s employing that allows her to look inward — an exploration of identity.

It begs the question, if I am to love myself, who am I?

What am I about? What heals me? What sort of things do I enjoy?

Once you have these answers, it’s simple to reward yourself in a constructive, balanced manner.

  “i love myself”

Observing ourselves in the third person serves as a deep dive into the habits, pleasures, and unique quirks that constitute our individuality.

It's a method that is both intimate and expansive, allowing us to reflect inward on our own selves with a gentle, accepting gaze.

Nothing to do but be present.

“This is how it’s supposed to be.”

Third-person observation forces a suspension of the ego — if you can see yourself as you are with no bias, you can observe, critique, and love with purity.

That’s an incredible feeling, and it’s good practice for caring for others.

That’s what life is all about, anyway.

Give love a try, and be care-full when doing it.