TAKING A BREAK

Alright. That pretty much says it all. 

I'm going to take the next week off and see how that goes. I'm concerned I've gotten complacent, and have started mistaking consistency with quality. In short, I don't want to post crap. 

Should be back soon, and I hope life is treating you well.

VIDEO: DARING GREATLY TO UNLOCK YOUR CREATIVITY WITH BRENE BROWN

This is a very good talk by Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly. I think everyone should watch this - and if you are feeling a bit down - then you should watch it more than once.  

It's a little long, but not a moment of the time is wasted. There are a lot of really great quotes. A lot. If you create, sooner or later, you have to put yourself out there, and that will probably leave you vulnerable. If you want to learn how to deal with this, take a look, take a listen. Repeat.  

BLOGS I FOLLOW

The picture above has nothing to do with anything.

That said, on the right hand side, if you scroll down a bit, I've listed some blogs that you may find useful. They range on a variety of topics, not just writing, because there's already a whole bunch of writing blogs out there, and there's more to life. There's that whole other part that you may have been neglecting. To summarize, here's some sites I've found, along with a brief description:

Garance Dore

The blog that every other blog wants to be. Funny and warm, this blog always hits on topics that everyone wants to read. 

Eyla

Many useful articles on how to achieve wellness and wellbeing. 

No More Dirty Looks

A great resource for clean and natural beauty and skincare products. And some great discussions.

Brain Pickings

I don't know how, but somehow the author culls and distills information guaranteed to stimulate your brain. Don't know how she does it. It's a miracle.

Helena La Petite

A great resource for photographers, and wannabe photographers, such as myself. I need to start using manual mode on the SLR camera I don't have. Yet. 

Inanities

Firsthand knowledge of the situation in Egypt. She doesn't update often, but the content is worth it.

Koobug

This is where you can find a large community of independent authors, and their respective books. You should be able to find many independent books all in one place, along with listings, descriptions, and even blogs of the corresponding authors. I sometimes hang out there as well, but I like being able to include completely unrelated pics with my posts. Personal preference.  

STUDIO KMO

Etsy

Steady and methodical. That's what these maps make me think of. Sometimes, when you look at a piece of art, you can see the process laid out for you. What I see is a steady series of very precise movements. The effect is strangely calming. For me, at least. 

Karen O'Leary cuts each map by hand, and sells them on Etsy. They're beautifully done. Precise. Geometric wonders. 

IS BLOGGING NARCISSISTIC?

Via

You write about your life. Your daily adventures. What you eat. What you wear. Where you go. You document your thoughts and opinions. You take pictures - possibly of yourself - and you share. This assumes, of course, that whatever you're writing about is interesting and beneficial. It's also a practice known as blogging. 

So...is this narcissistic? Or is it just sharing?

I couldn't tell you. To be honest, I just like putting myself on a writing schedule, which to a certain extent keeps me on a creative schedule. I also keep track of how many times I use the word "I" in a post - only I'm not sure if that really solves the problem. I guess it's just something to have in mind, a pair of mental handcuffs, so that one day you don't up and think everything you say is golden. I think it's good to take stock every once in awhile, and see where things lie. 

Thoughts?

  

WEEKEND DIY: ART

Image via 79 Ideas

I really like the idea of this: to just take a regular image, any image - the more boring the better - and to put it through a filter to smear away any crispness, so that in the end, there is a kind of mystery there. One which only you can solve. 

OUT AND ABOUT: PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT

Sometimes, when you're out and about, up and down, does it ever just occur to you that - hey, this life - it's not too shabby. This sometimes occurs to me mid-sweat, when I've just plowed up some horrifically steep path, thighs burning, mouth filled with ashes, and then turned to take a look at the view. 

These pictures are from Pinnacles National Monument park. It has a nice retinue of anti-sloth activities: some nice views, clever scenery, a lake, some caves. Then you can go home and mentally congratulate yourself on a job well done.

FUN LINKS

Inspiration

This List Proves You're Never Too Old To Do Something Amazing

It's a fairly common excuse to say that you're too old to try something, to bring up that line about old dogs and new tricks. Well, think again!

Instagram

Design Crush

If you're on instagram and looking for daily bits of inspiration to follow instead of just fashion and food, here's a good one. She puts up a some interesting quotes that help kick the mind into gear. There are good quotes, and there are some really generic ones out there. She provides the first kind.

Mind

How to Never Forget Anything Ever Again: My Exploration of Spaced Repetition

An interesting read about how to keep your mind in top shape. 

Apps

Anki

Let's say you didn't read the previous link - the one about mental work outs? Well, here's the app he mentioned - it's basically virtual flashcards you can use on your phone. The more you use the flashcards, the more you remember. Let me know if this works. Seriously.  

Awareness

What is Net Neutrality and Why You Should Care About Net Neutrality

Right now, every website is treated the same by every internet provider (think Verizon), so each website should load up and open at the same rate no matter how popular the site (this blog or Hulu should run at the same rate). But this may not always be true. Soon, larger websites who can pay for the privilege may get priority over smaller sites, and someone else may decide whether or not websites you go to will load properly or be accessible. The FCC recently lost their case against broadband providers to enforce net neutrality principles against them, so there may be some rough going ahead. I'm just spreading the word.  

Perspectives

Why I Don't Wear Makeup

The Man Repeller is one of the most successful fashion blogs in existence...but she doesn't wear makeup. It's intriguing to a certain degree. What's more intriguing is her response when someone calls her "ugly as fuck."

Food

Deliciously Ella

Just found out about this site. This blogger found a way to heal her Postural Tachycardia Syndrome through eating a healthy plant-based diet, and now shares recipes. Speaking of making lemonade out of Tachycardia...there's also an app.

Culture
Anton Chekov on the 8 Qualities of Cultured People
Beautifully said.

ON PERFECTION

"I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion."
- Yohji Yamamoto

QUICKIE: JEWISH REGISTRATION IN EASTERN UKRAINE

via

This is happening. It's really happening. Registration of the Jewish people in the eastern part of Ukraine under Russian control. My God. Someone please stop this. 

Click on the link above for further details.