#39: Lu Rey
"Remember something that makes you feel joy and let that feeling linger."
#39: Lu Rey
Welcome to Health Gossip. Today’s guest is Lu Rey, a Toronto-based writer and stylist who you might know from Tumblr or her Substack, Curious Wishes. There’s a gentleness to her prose that I find both comforting and activating. The same can be said of these responses…
Location: Toronto
Astrology: Cancer/Taurus/Pisces
What does health, or being healthy, mean to you?
Ease of movement. Willingness to be active. Motivation. Good mood.
A positive mental state usually reflects my overall health. Irritability, lethargy, and sadness usually point me to some deeper happening — be it mental or physical.
How would you describe your current lifestyle?
Pretty slow-paced, which I appreciate. I am very lucky to work from home, so a lot of my time is spent in my space. As I don’t have to commute anywhere, I’ve been able to create and stick to my routines. I invest a lot of my free time resting and doing things that make me feel calm.
One of my best friends also works remotely, so we like to visit different coffee shops together 1-2 times a week. I spend a lot of time at the movies. I like to sit in the park when the weather is nice. During the weekends, I enjoy going for dinner or drinks with friends. I don’t party often, but sometimes I really crave a night out dancing and so I do that.
How do you start and end your days?
I start my day by journaling in bed. It’s a good way to clear brain clutter before getting up. Afterward, I usually go for a walk and grab a coffee or matcha at my favorite coffee shop. With Toronto’s cold and wet winter, I sometimes swap the walk for a yoga flow. When I can venture out, I spend as much time as possible on the trail before heading back home. Once I’m back, I make breakfast, take my supplements, and prepare to start my workday.
When it’s time to wind down, I take things slow. I’ll do some yin yoga, light incense, take a shower or bath, and do my skincare. When I get in bed, I like to read, watch a movie, and/or write in my journal. Sometimes, I listen to Miracle Tones or sleep meditations when I remember to, or something is making me feel scared…
Was there a specific moment in life that made you change your approach to health, or become more conscious generally?
In my early 20s, from around 19 to 23, I struggled with anxiety and depression. Despite all the research I did, living a happy and healthy lifestyle felt completely out of reach at the time. I was very hopeless. After the pandemic, I began seeing a psychoanalyst weekly, which helped me put my mental health at the center of everything. This consistent focus allowed me to better understand myself and the connection between my mind and body—something I’m still working on. There are times I feel disconnected or disembodied, and recognizing this imbalance has been an important part of my healing journey.
This mental shift has impacted other physical conditions. For example, I used to struggle with persistent gut and skin issues, but working on reducing stress and anxiety has been able to keep those under control.
The other day, my therapist mentioned that talking to my current self vs me from a little while ago feels like talking to two completely different people. That made me feel really good about my progress.
What's your relationship to self-healing?
I am very grateful for my good health. The issue I’ve dealt with the most over the years has been my skin, which I’ve experimented a lot with. I think I’ve tried every acne treatment under the sun. Although I’m still learning and trying new things, the condition of my skin has improved a lot by doing less to it.
I trust my intuition a lot, but when something feels off or doesn’t improve on its own, I’ll see a doctor just to be safe.
Where do you look to for information or advice?
I ask my mom or any friend whose response I trust. I admittedly also Google my way through answers.
On a spiritual level, I often find many of my answers in movies, through writing, and during my nature walks.
Do you have any guiding principles?
Routine isn’t about strict repetition for me. I have a general idea of what serves me, but I switch things around based on how I feel. This laid-back approach helps me stick to the tools that work instead of abandoning them if I miss a step. Discipline is about creating a space where I can do something for myself.
What are some interventions that you’ve made that have changed your health, for better or for worse?
Lately, I’ve been incorporating kefir and bone broth into my life, and they’ve made a noticeable difference in my digestion.
I’ve also started going to the gym, something I used to avoid because I found the space so unappealing. Surprisingly, I’ve come to look forward to it. Breaking a good sweat has seriously improved my relationship with my body during the winter.
I light a lot of candles because my eyes are sensitive to bright lights. Candle-lit showers are the best form of meditation IMO.
Committing to a wardrobe of only colors and textures I enjoy has made me feel more comfortable and happy. I didn’t realize how much clothing impacted my mood, but it truly does make a big difference.
Yoga has become a daily practice I really enjoy, along with meditation, which helps me a lot when I'm in a difficult mood.
For supplements, I take:
Ashwagandha which really helps my mood.
Turmeric for inflammation.
L-theanine for relaxation.
Vitamin D3 because I live in Canada and everyone seems to need it.
Moringa leaf (antioxidant powerhouse).
What are your go-to meals?
I would love to be more experimental with my cooking, but I’m very practical. For breakfast, I usually have coffee, eggs, avocado, kefir, toast, or Venezuelan arepas. For lunch, I eat a lot of steak or chicken with vegetables. For dinner, I go for something lighter, like yogurt or tuna.
A typical grocery haul consists of whatever I'm missing for these essential meals or anything else I feel like indulging in at the moment (usually ice cream, red wine, or hot chocolate).
What advice would you give to your past self?
Listen to your intuition.
If you’re feeling panicky get up and move around.
Deep, intentional breaths can change your day.
Remember something that makes you feel joy and let that feeling linger.
What advice would you give to the person reading this?
Have at least one conversation a day that makes you smile. Even if it’s just with yourself.
What would you like to see or create more of in the world?
More compassion, patience, kindness, empathy, love. And probably a bit more dancing, too.
What Lu’s reading: A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
“The book explores the idea that women need their own space (both physically and metaphorically) to thrive as writers (and this definitely extends to any practice). I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it. This year, I want to prioritize creating a stable environment where I can freely be and create.”
What Lu’s listening to (“These are the songs I've had on repeat when I'm exercising or looking to lift my mood,” she says):
From the archive:
loved this