Every week, I curate a list of the best links and articles to make you think and keep you informed. Enjoy!
Thoughts on this week: So, the last week has been a busy one for sure! Gary was sick on Thursday, so we ended up at the vet. I've joined Rover, a dog walking and care app (for $20 off your first booking, use the code GARYTHECUTEONE). I've been reading and writing a lot this week, and am still not caught up with my reading list. But all in all, it's been great. My friend, Heidi, is back from Mexico. Dayna and I spent a lot of time working before she went out of town, so now I have double pup snuggles with Berk here. Life is good.
What I’m Reading in real life: Mostly stuff for comps. My favorite text from last week was With His Pistol In His Hand.
What I’m watching: I just finished my new favorite series, Dear White People (Netflix Original Series), and am happy to be binging the newest season of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt between reading and writing. I'm also watching a lot of youtube videos on bullet journaling and the series from The Financial Diet.
What I’m listening to: I'm really digging old fashioned hymns right now. Check out my youtube playlist with different versions of my all-time faves!
What else I’m digging: My latest obsession is bullet journaling. I'm absolutely addicted. My journal is almost full and I only started it mid-may! You can definitely expect a blog coming this week on bullet journaling and how I use it, along with photos from my journal and even a special edition bullet journal Link Love.
My Writing
Three years ago:
- Retreat, A Rule of Life, and Letting Go (Spiritual Uprising Magazine)
Twelve Apostolic Women by Joanne Turpin (Popery, Pens, and Paperbacks): Book Review of a great book from my Providence Circle.
Five years ago:
100 Book Challenge—Books #19-26 (Popery, Pens, and Paperbacks): Wow, I was reading a lot then. I wish I could get that much done now!
Prayers I love (Popery, Pens, and Paperbacks): Still love them.
What I read this week:
Popery (Catholicism/Spirituality/Religion):
Material Koinonia (Experimental Theology): I think this is a good start at a really interesting and important core part of Christianity. If only we thought of koinonia in the same way that our early church fathers and mothers did!
The Politics of Faithful Waiting—Acts 1:6-14 (Fritz Wendt) (Political Theology Today): A great reflection on waiting and the Ascension.
Suffering to Give Birth to a New World (Experimental Theology): A comforting, yet challenging reflection on what it means to believe Christ is the Messiah.
Holy Disobedience (Anna Floerke Scheid) (Political Theology Today): A great reminder about the importance and inherent Christian identity in protesting.
Social Justice:
Martin Luther King's Daughter Weighs In On Ways To Make A Difference While Trump Is In Office (a plus): This is an older article, but a good read. It's good to remind ourselves that the problematic decisions are not of a man, but of a regime.
Pens/Pencils/Stationery:
Lamy Extra-Fine Nib Availability & Z28 Converters (Goulet Pen Co Blog): This is one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard in my life. Extra Fine nibs are their best seller, but they can't keep up with demand, so they're just going to not sell them. Where did they get their business degrees? For heaven's sake!
14 Stunning Journals That Will Make You Say, "Why Is Everyone Better Than I Am At Everything?" (Buzzfeed): So, as I said above, I'm totes obsessed with bullet journaling right now and this article GETS ME on a very basic level. I adore all the beautiful bujo instagram posts, but come on--who has time/energy/money/talent for that?
Paperbacks (Reading, Books, and Writing):
The Doom and Glory of Knowing Who You Are: James Baldwin on the Empathic Rewards of Reading and What It Means to Be an Artist (Brain Pickings): It was fun to read up on one of the authors I've been studying!
True Love: or, Assimilating Your Wife’s Library (Dappled Things): This is a lovely read. I can also imagine what it would be like should I ever actually successfully enter into a life partnership. Good Lord, so many books!
Using Dostoyevsky to Understand Vladimir Putin’s Aggression (Harvard Politics): An interesting read.
Movies and TV:
- 'Hidden Figures' beats 'Star Wars' at the box office. Here's why that matters. (Mic): I saw both movies, but LOVED Hidden Figures. Even still, I think it's important that we remember that the writers changed some of the historical facts which could have made the characters even more bad ass.
Snow White Is A LOTR Sequel: A Mind-Blowing Theory (Cracked): This is fun.
Life in General:
My Best Advice for Graduates: 12 Tips for A Happy Life (Gretchen Rubin): I think these apply to everyone!
How to Do What You Love (Paul Graham): So, this is a SUPER LONG read, but I loved it. I think it's important to think about these things. I especially appreciate the comments on not living a life chosen by a high schooler. All too often we act apologetic for changing fields or jobs or interests, but that's how it's supposed to be. Who wants to be their hs self's dream?
Five Better Ways to Measure Your Life (Becoming Minimalist): These are so good. I'm trying to measure my life like this.
4 Things People Say to Me About Being An Introvert That I'm Sick of Hearing (Introvert, Dear): Dudes, unless Dax Shepherd becomes magically and suddenly single and is at your party, I would rather just stay with Gary at home and snuggle.
12 Simple, Daily Habits That Turn My Bad Days Into Good Ones (The Financial Diet): These are great. I especially love the reminders of 3-6. Which do you connect with?
5 Easy Steps To Fake Being A Morning Person (The Financial Diet): I am working SO HARD at getting better with mornings. What do you do to be good at mornings? Any of these?
20 Essential Truths That Women Over 50 Want To Share With Younger Women (Huffington Post): Great points here. #6 is what I'm working on with my psychologist right now.
Tough and Awkward Topics, Illness, and Depression:
The Best Revenge Is No Revenge At All (Thought Catalogue): After what happened with the sociopath, I have been struggling with an intense desire for revenge. I am a pacifist, entirely devoted to non-violence, yet I find myself hoping that the universe will conspire to punish her for what she did to me. As a Christian, I know that's wrong. Interestingly enough, this young woman's experience with the spiritual practices of yoga go right along with what my Spiritual Counselor has been saying to me.
Anxiety Attacks and Panic Attacks: How They're Different (Grok Nation): Important information here.
The Common Eating Disorder No One Is Talking About (The Mighty): This is important.
19 Problems Only Happy People With Depression Understand (The Mighty): I identify with several of these.
Doctors Once Thought Bananas Cured Celiac Disease. They Saved Kids' Lives — At A Cost (NPR): Yeah, and most people don't even believe in Celiac's! But I do love bananas.
If you Listen to this One Song, Science Says Your Anxiety will be Reduced by 65% (Earthables): An interesting idea. I do like the song. I'm not sure it really reduces my anxiety.
Stop using the word 'trolling' when you mean harassment and abuse (Mashable): Good points made.
What I Learned From The Worst Year Of My Life (Thought Catalogue): I can relate to this.
I Have Questions (Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church): While it's obviously not possible to attend the lecture, I appreciate these remarks on Between the World and Me by Coates.
How Facebook (And Donald Trump) Became Bad For My Health (Role Reboot): SAME, SISTER. SAME.
To Make You Laugh/Smile:
A Museum Devoted Entirely to Cats – Museum of the House Cat (Little Blue Boo): Because of Course there is.
Tiny Turtle Arrives for ‘World Turtle Day’ (Zoo Borns): My mom and I are obsessed with turtles. This is so exciting!
Cat Rescued From Terrible Conditions Now Sleeps In Her Tiny Doll Bed Each And Every Night (Bored Panda): OMG. BRB. Must buy doll bed for Gary.
Survey Shows Dog People Love Dogs More Than People (I Heart Dogs): No joke. People are awful. Dogs are the best!
Academia, Education, and Teaching:
- How Peer Pressure Undermines Success (Edutopia): This is so real, and not just in high school. Sometimes my really intelligent students will do worse if their friends are around. It's insane to me.
A Brown professor compiled 30 essential tips for succeeding in graduate school (Quartz): These are REALLY good tips.
What Trump’s Proposed 2018 Budget Would Mean for Higher Ed (Chronicle of Higher Ed): Why is it that Trump wants everyone to be uneducated?
Trump Budget Would Slash Student Aid and Research (Inside Higher Ed): Same as above.
Simplicity and Minimalism:
The Joy of Living Within Your Means (Becoming Minimalist): So true.
Money, Budgeting, and Finance:
- 8 Dumb Quotes You Should Never Listen To (The Financial Diet, Video): YASSSSSSSSSSSS. Oh my gosh. If I never hear another person tell me to spend on experiences, not things again, it will be too soon!
Five Frugal Things | Schoolbooks already? (The Frugal Girl): ALWAYS buy schoolbooks early!
6 Things My Side Project Is Teaching Me About My Long-Term Career (The Financial Diet): I enjoyed this and I hope that my side projects and side hustles can help me in my career as well!