When we first stumbled upon "Instead of Doomscrolling," we had that almost uncanny feeling of spotting your doppelgänger. Maria Paula Colmenares describes her Substack publication as "a digital oasis away from endless algorithm-driven feeds and short-form mindless scrolling," which, if you're familiar with mymind at all, you know resonates with us. We've continued to be inspired by the publication since then, so of course we had to meet the mind behind it.
What’s the best compliment you received recently?
Someone recently commented under one of my posts that they love the way I think. Exposing my innermost thoughts to thousands of people around the globe is scary and often leaves me feeling quite vulnerable, but being seen and valued for it makes it all worth it.
What’s the last thing you read?
Bread of Angels by Patti Smith. It’s her latest book, where she takes us on this wonderful, multi-faceted journey of fantasy, grief, divinity, creation, and love, as she recounts moments of her life from childhood to the present day. I always gravitate toward Patti’s work when I’m feeling uninspired, because what better place to find creative sparks than within the words of an artist. This book is filled with such rich and nourishing prose, but funnily enough, one of the simplest statements was the one which stuck with me the most: “One must discern between a dream and a calling”.
What do you want to read next?
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut. I stumbled upon this book at my favorite independent bookstore while I was back home in Bogotá for the holidays, and it genuinely felt heaven-sent. This book is an examination into the lives of some of the most influential scientists and thinkers and the moral and psychological implications that stemmed from their work. I have been doing a lot of research about cosmology and physics—partly as a philosophical exploration—so this seems like the perfect read to go along with it.
What’s an image or piece of art you can’t get out of your head?
Dante and Virgil by William-Adolphe Bouguereau. This painting is equally as grotesque and hellish as it is erotic and beautiful. We can observe two souls fighting with each other in an almost bestial way. The depiction of their corporeality is so tantalizing to me; they are somehow simultaneously animals and humans, souls and bodies, perfect and flawed, and masculine and feminine. Depicting a scene from Dante’s Inferno as he passes through the 8th circle of hell, it is such a fervent exploration of morality, duality, and humanity.
A product of any kind you’ve been appreciating lately?
My Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones. I truly don’t know how to function without them; I take them everywhere I go. They have really great noise cancellation, so they've been life-savers on some long-haul flights I’ve had to take lately.
Best gift you’ve ever given or received?
My dad gifted me this incredible Paloma Wool chunky belt that I was dying to get, and it’s probably my favorite piece from my wardrobe. When he gifted it to me, I was working on this big final project based on the brand, as I was about to finish my first year of my fashion business undergrad, so it felt like a beautiful way to celebrate such a significant milestone.
What do you do in your alone time?
I just love getting lost in books, be that reading as soon as I wake up before a busy day, listening to an audiobook while I take a walk, going to the park to read poetry, or even losing track of time at my favorite bookstore.
What's a movie or TV series you tell everyone to watch?
A show called "The OA." Even though it got cancelled after two seasons—thank you so much, Netflix—it is one of the most mind-bending, expansive pieces of media that I’ve ever come across. If you’re interested in the metaphysical, life after death, coincidences, and theories of multiple dimensions, this show is a must-watch.
A quote that’s meaningful to you?
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.”
- Kurt Vonnegut
Any songs or albums on repeat?
I have been absolutely obsessed with Jeff Buckley lately. I've listened to his music for years, but after watching the latest documentary about his life called "It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley," I’ve had Grace on repeat. I’ve also been listening a lot to "69 Love Songs" by The Magnetic Fields; it’s such an exciting and dynamic musical exploration of love, it never gets old.
What super specific thing are you obsessing over lately?
Over the past few weeks, at least 80% of my brain capacity has been spent obsessing over "Heated Rivalry." This show has brought my inner fangirl to the surface, and it has honestly been so fun. I’ve watched the show three times, and I’m now on my fourth rewatch because I’m now watching it with my friends who hadn’t gotten to it yet. There’s something about it that is so refreshing and exciting, especially when most mainstream queer representations in media at the moment are either inaccurate or tragic.
Who do you really admire right now? (anyone we should interview next?)
I really admire Anna Howard; her podcast "Wild Geese" is one of my favorites. I feel like she has such a wonderful approach to so many things that I am very passionate about as well, so finding someone who is so aligned with my view of the world feels very special.
What are you working on right now and why?
I’m currently completely devoted to my Substack publication. My goal when I share my writing, guides and resources, and create spaces for connection, is always to empower others to gain a sense of agency and community, even when the current landscape makes us feel powerless and isolated.
I’ve managed to do this starting from mindful media consumption, which has cascaded into a complete shift in the way I live my life, and thankfully, sharing my experience has helped others do the same. I’ve been planning a few exciting projects that I’ll be sharing once I graduate later this year, as I’ll be working on writing and creating content full-time. ⚘
