I hope you’re having a wonderful week! My mom and I are busy planning my son’s first birthday party. Hard to believe it’s already been a year (359 days, to be precise) since we welcomed Pace into the world. Currently his favorite activities are, in no particular order: playing with the hose, knocking over or “destroying” (his brother’s word…) whatever his siblings have built, exploring cupboards and drawers, being pushed in his orange bucket swing, and eating cheese. My mom’s also discovered he enjoys a lively game of Quadrupedal Chase (no description necessary).
RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN
“You can train your mind to notice the good. Most of us are wired to scan for problems, which keeps us anxious.
“Today, practice the opposite. Notice the warm sun on your skin, a deep breath that settles your body, a kind text, birds in the morning, kids laughing, food in the pantry, a safe bed at night.
“Say them out loud. Thank God for them. Let these set the tone for your day, not the one thing that went wrong. Do it again tomorrow.” – Dr. Josh Axe
PREACHING TO THE BIBILIOPHILIC CHOIR, BUT…
“Reading consistently regulates the nervous system, lowers inflammation, calms stress hormones, strengthens the brain, improves focus and supports longevity.
“And by reading, I don’t mean doomscrolling social media.” – Dr. Will Cole
EMBODYING > EXPLAINING
“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” – Epictetus
HOW TO GET GOOD IDEAS
“The trick to having good ideas is not to sit around in glorious isolation and try to think big thoughts. The trick is to get more parts on the table.” – Steven Johnson