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“If you can only chase one thing, chase your own self-respect.”

Plus a farewell to the burlesque dancer who gave us a window into ’70s New York

Author

Leonie Mercedes
October 23, 2025

Good morning, darlings. Here’s your three-part nudge for the day:

a prompt

Write on the following for 5–10 minutes:

What did you want to be as a child? What would life be like if you actually became that thing?

a thought

“If you can only chase one thing, chase your own self-respect.” – Campbell Walker

farewell

Stephanie “Tanqueray” Johnson, burlesque dancer turned social media star (1944–2025)

“‘My stripper name was Tanqueray,’ Ms Johnson said in the first of three Instagram posts for Humans of New York. ‘Back in the ’70s, I was the only black girl making white girl money. I danced in so many mob clubs that I learned Italian.’”

Thanks for coming, dear makers and shakers. See you tomorrow ☕