Perspectives: Katie Cole
Katie Cole is the Marketing Director for Molly Moons Ice Cream. She says she’s lucky enough to have a career that combines her talents with one of her favorite hobbies (food). We loved her insight into our questions below, but we also wanted to know that one obvious question: What’s her favorite ice cream? “I love our little Minimoons! They remind me of being a kid, eating one of those pre-packaged ice cream cups, but instead of the orange creamsicle flavor, ours are filled with MM's ice cream.” Keep reading for more perspectives with Katie…
What are you learning about yourself right now?
Whoa… this year has, to put it mildly: not been a good one! So what am I learning right now? I’m compelled to say “a lot” given the ruminations on mortality and an in-depth front row seat to this country’s deeply disturbing and septic racist roots. However, I’m reluctant to give an answer on exactly what I’ve learned because I get the sense that these lessons are still in session and the real takeaways are going to need some time to marinate and a little 20/20 hindsight.
What new learnings/habits will you carry forward?
I can tell you what I’m NOT carrying forward- that yeast starter a friend gave me five lifetimes ago back in May. There are too many incredibly delicious local, small businesses, baking exceptional breads and pastries that I’d rather support than trying to keep the yeast on my counter from getting too funky. Yeast starter, for me, was an unsustainable project. Support your local bakery!
How are you juggling business, family and personal time from home?
I sort of shudder to say this… but the best way for me to juggle these things is through a routine. Yes… that is the sound of my own eyes are rolling into the back of my head when I’m typing this, because the last thing anyone needs during this hot dumpster fire of a year is the illusion of control through something like a daily check lists, scheduling, or sticking to whatever looks like a routine to you. Life isn’t what it was at the beginning of this year, so I don’t think it’s a sound concept to try and live within the normal confines of the techniques we’d normally deploy to give ourselves some semblance of control.
Again, a routine is how I do things, but I really can’t recommend this technique for anyone else. I’d much prefer to be emulating something a little more flexible to what each unique day brings. Frankly, it’s probably better to take a lesson from the Bruce Lee and “Be water” (also the title of his great documentary released back a thousand years ago in June 2020), and forgo the rigidity.
Do you have a mantra you are living with?
I wouldn’t say it’s a “mantra” so much as it’s my slogan lately, but “Sad Mad 2020” is a website address that was available a few weeks back and something I seriously considered buying because I’m really feeling like those two words are often an accurate summary of my feels. That and “I’m fine” (my stock answer to “how are you??”).
Are they “mantras”? No. But I def have the terms on repeat in my brain when I read/see/hear/digest what’s happening in our communities, country and the world at large.
What has been your guilty pleasure during this time?
Guilt is not a space I’m hanging out in right now. The things I’m enjoying, I enjoy to the fullest with immense gratitude. Full stop. No shame. No guilt!
What creature comforts or elements of normal life do you miss the most?
I have missed a lot of little creature comforts, but I’ve mostly let missing those things go knowing that they have likely changed for the foreseeable future, if not forever (read: going to restaurants like in the olden days of earlier this year).
Like most people- I miss people! I miss hugging, in-person celebrations, people’s unmasked smiles, impromptu coffees and cocktails, the ignorance of what 6’ looks and feels like at all times, and all the other big and little human interactions that make wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and becoming a better community member and ally, worthwhile.