People: Danielle Gay
Name: Danielle Gay
Occupation / Business / Creative Outlet: Editor-in-Chief, Gritty Pretty Magazine and founder of the newsletter Reservations.
Location: Potts Point, Sydney
What was the first thing you did this morning? Tongue scraping. This is a traditional Ayurvedic ritual that removes any toxicity from the mouth. I do this, then oil pulling, and I sit down to meditate for 20 minutes.
What does 'well-being' mean to you? Waking up each morning and asking myself, ‘what do I need today?’
Currently reading? The Power Of Now, Eckhart Tolle
Currently browsing (.com)? My best friend gifted me a subscription to The New York Times for Christmas. I have loved exploring the word games!
A resource / piece of writing you'd like to share with us? My thoughts on love, via Reservations.
An album/mix that calms your nervous system? I love searching ‘Reading’ playlists in Apple Music. It’s what it sounds like: music you can read to.
An album/mix that hypes you up? I have my own little playlist called Cozy, where I rotate in and out songs that make me want to dance in my lounge room.
Three items in your wallet / bag? LESSE Lip Balm, Apple AirPods Pro, a book.
Most commonly used apps on your phone? Insight Timer (this is how I time my 2 x 20 minute meditations a day), Instagram (of course), and Messages.
Products found in your shower / by your bath? Rationale #4 The Cleanser, Ikkari body wash, Lui reusable razor, and SansCeuticals body oil (I love putting a splash of this in the bath or massaging into wet skin post-shower).
Three things that can always be found in your kitchen cupboard? Walnuts, coffee, and a good extra virgin olive oil.
Favourite kitchen utensil? Cooking is my new year’s resolution! Making time to cook homemade meals, loving the ritual, understanding the basics... so ask me again in another 12 months…
Favourite travel destination? New York.
Favourite form of movement / exercise? Pilates. I love going to Fluidform Pilates here in Sydney.
Nighttime rituals & practices? I meditate for 20 mins in the late afternoon. I love an evening rinse in the shower or a long bath. My skincare ritual is simple but effective: I love Augustinus Bader creams, Dr Barbara Sturm serums and a natural facial oil (this SansCeuticals one is for face, hair and body). I don’t sleep with my phone in my bedroom, so I put it on charge in the living room and then read for an hour before bed. The last thing I do is apply CHANEL hand cream and then it’s lights off.
One thing you'd like to incorporate into your day / week that you're currently yet to? Last year, I made a commitment to going to Pilates every week. It totally changed my body. With my schedule, I usually make it to 1-2 classes a week but this year, I’d like to make it to three classes every single week.
A secret? You are your own soulmate.
Someone you look up to? Sally Rooney. She is my favourite author and writes the exact kinds of stories I like to write.
Something you're proud of? Coming back from a life-shattering experience. A little over 12 months ago, I experienced a breakup that ruptured my life. It put me onto a path of doing the work and since then I have discovered the truth of who I am. There were dark days and I’m so proud of the woman who moved through them. Learning to accept the various iterations of myself along the way (not all of them pride-inducing..) was also an important lesson.
I feel most creatively fulfilled when… I’m writing.
I'm currently working on… Expanding my newsletter, Reservations. I launched this weekly newsletter as a Substack after a particularly difficult breakup. It was a way to make sense of love again. It’s kind of a living memoir because it evolves with me. I didn’t mean to launch my own brand but I accidentally did and now I’m learning to accept that and allow it to grow and expand.
This time last year, I wish I knew… If I tried to tell my past self, she wouldn’t even believe it…
I'm grateful for… Having made contact with the truth of who I am.
Connect with Danielle