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| A Cloudy Light // One for the Cloud Appreciation Society - personal photo |
While I ponder about upcoming blog content, here are the latest Food For Thought links. Put together over one month ago, the post has been pushed back by the 2013 round-up and analysis posts. I am still considering which of my 2013 regular posts to continue, but Food for Thought is definitely a keeper, for as long as I have interesting reads to share.
On Shanna Trenholm Blog - Intentionalist, not Minimalist
I have been giving a lot of thought on the whole concept of minimalism lately. So has this blogger, who decided to call herself an "intentionalist" rather than minimalist. As in, deciding to live intentionally, being mindful of each moment of life. Maybe I am an "intentionalist" as well.
On The UnStudent Blog - How I Dealt With the Identity Crisis of My Twenties
In this article, Mikhail explains how he writes 100 goals for himself around his birthday to keep track of his life accomplishments and growth and fight the birthday gloom of those who reach the end of their twenties. Beware, awesome TED talk about the identity crisis of the 20-something inside! By the way, there is a list of the goals on his blogs, and I have to confess this will be inspiration for my 2014 New Year Resolutions.
On Raptitude - Accept it whether you can change it or not
Acceptance is a recurring subject when talking about happiness and serenity, but I like how David turns it in this article. Separating acceptance from resignation and defining it as "the intention to agree with reality". Accepting a fact doesn't mean being in line with it, or letting it be without doing anything. It is just coming to peace with facts, to make them easier to change, if it is possible to.
On Allison Vesterfelt's blog - Finding Gratitude Beyond My Circumstances
I have been thinking about gratitude these past two years, and this post from Allison Vesterfelt summarizes very clearly all the benefits of practicing daily gratitude, in all circumstances. I like how she says that it is a "muscle" that needs training, or that you have to say it before actually starting to feel it. A wise reminder during happy and challenging moments alike.
On Medium (I.M.H.O) - Eight Things You Can Live Without
This article is a nice summary of item types we tend to hold on to and clutter our homes. From the emotional link to the typical "but I could use it one day", I found it to be a nice starting point if you are trying to simplify your home. As all lists and recommendations, it is to be adapted to your own personal situation and preferences, of course.
Kali's Featured TED talk: David Steindl-Rast: Want to be Happy? Be Grateful.
I think the title of this talk says it all. I have been convinced of the importance of gratitude for a while, but David Steindl explains its benefits in a very simple and efficient way. Definitely one of my favourite TED talks.
Photo: An attempt at capturing the beauty of the setting sun behind December clouds. In Cournols, Auvergne (France). I am seriously considering applying for membership to the Cloud Appreciation Society.
Hey, Mr. Steindl-Rast is from my home town! Funny how he didn't loose his accent in 60 years. This accent was very irritating at first because I haven't expected it. A bit like this TED talk about entity your shared some time ago.
ReplyDeleteThat other TED talk about the importance of our twenties made me think a lot (I'm 26). Somehow stressing, somehow very motivating!
How fun! I would be startled to hear an accent from my home town as well. I suspect Matthieu Ricard to be French, given his accent, though.
DeleteIt's true that this "defining decade" thing is a bit unsettling at first. I'm 27 myself and this talk had a huge impact on me when I first saw it. The only thing I'd have to object on this talk, is that she sounds like once you're 30, you're done for. And I don't agree with that, I think we can decide to change at any point in life, although it's probably easier in our twenties than later on.
Yes, now that you mention it: totally agree! I instead was a bit annoyed about the assumption that everyone wants marriage and children (and a house, a dog, a pool, a car, you get it). But I tried to free the message from this annoying assumption and read it that whatever I want to do with my life, I should have a good idea about it in my 20ies (and do something about it!). I already have that idea, but my problem is that I'm writing on my master thesis / diploma thesis for nearly 2 years by now and I really need a kick in my butt to get it done and gone - which this TED talk managed to do!
DeleteI absolutely love those Food for Thought posts, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that! I have a few more queued already ;)
DeleteI liked the Unstudent blog post and some of his goals (and the fact I'm in the last year of my twenties!). He put "learn to code", with a link to a website with free lessons apparently. I'm not a "scientific" girl at all but always had long term relationship with programmers for some reason! As a result I began to get interested in the "being the scene" aspect of websites and so on. I think that coding is a lot like learning a new language. I think it would be outside my comfort zone to try it!
ReplyDeleteI agree about gratitude. It's a very important "muscle" and needs training. I find it hard to train it. In his book Ben-Shahar says it helps your happiness to keep a gratitude journal.
Thanks for your posts.
I like learning about code a lot too, we use the internet so often, I find it mesmerizing to discover how all this really works. Good luck on learning to code, as you say, it's mostly a "language" to learn the rules of.
DeleteAbout gratitude, what I liked about this particular piece is that it reminds it is not natural, but it can be acquired. I think it give hope about the fact that anyone can be more grateful over time, it is not a fatality of personality (as if being pessimistic prevented one from being grateful).
Really wonderful stuff! Your Food for Thought posts are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm glad to hear you like the concept ;)
DeleteThank you, Kali, for sharing my Intentionalist, not Minimalist post. And yes, I do believe you are an intentionalist, too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing about this concept of "Intentionalist". I really find it interesting, and it feels more in tune with my values indeed. I enjoy reading your blog a lot since :)
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