Hi friends!
How was your week? Did you cross everything off of your to-do list? Yea, me either, but that's okay! Sometimes the things that happen outside of the to-do list are just as important. I snuck away to a secluded beach spot this week for a quick commune with nature and I've taken a deliberate break from my usual Self-Help/spirituality/philosophy books to enjoy fiction and memoirs that inspire me and make me think in different ways about words and stories. It's been a delightful change.
Let's jump in to this week's wrap up!
What science tells us to do in difficult times: None of this is new or rocket science but they're great reminders nonetheless. I'm especially interested in the exercise discussed under #1.
Mustard Seeds: A touching short story about hearts after heartbreak. "Pain begets life, my dear, and life begets pain.” You've got to go through it to come out the other side.
21 or 22 tips to be a writer: #2, #7, #8, #9, #14, #21.
Before the Internet: "You made your own fun... It was a heady time!"
BRB, I need to go make a fake FBI card.
The career advice no one will give you: "Moderate your ego. Do your best. Seek out new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Some days you will feel good about your work, some days you will feel bad, but all days you are fundamentally the same. Ground yourself so you don’t crave constant validation, so that every accomplishment or positive reinforcement, every negative comment or rejection, doesn’t redefine who you are. Call your grandma. Do something kind."
Why self-improvement makes you neurotic: This article is one of the reasons I'm taking a break from my aforementioned reading material. Laporte says "Self improvement infers there’s something wrong with you, so you’re already starting off with a disadvantage." I don't want to walk through life feeling like I'm something that needs mending; I bet you don't either. We can always change, we can always grow but let's make those decisions because we want to be constantly challenged and moved, not because we feel broken and need to be patched back together.
Team Galette: I'll be making these this weekend to kick off what I consider REAL summer in Portland (July 5th). We have heat waves before the 5th, don't get me wrong, but it gets warm and stays consistently warm after the 5th, I swear. I'm not sure where this came from, I think it may be a Lefler Family Truth. Wherever it came from, it's held true for as long as I can remember.
What are you getting into this weekend? Any writing or baking or adventuring planned? Whatever you end up doing, may your coffee be just the way you like it, and may your days be long and filled with fun.
That's all for now, friends.
Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.
Alix