Inspiration

I usually try to keep things really positive around here, but this week my brain has been unfortunately consumed by reading about the first few days of Trump’s presidency. Like millions of people, I feel baffled, panicky and upset. If you’re curious, here are just a few reasons why I feel that way.

However, Liz Gilbert made a promise today that I admire: “I promise that I will never again post any political commentary or reaction on social media unless — at the same time — I offer all of us a CONCRETE ACTION that we can take in response to that political issue. In other words, I won’t use social media as a place to “bitch and moan”. So in honour of her resolution, I’ll share her full post and list of resources with you – they inspired me, even if only slightly.

I also want to say that the friends of mine who are sharing news, images, links and resources inspire me greatly. As hard as it is to take this stuff in, it’s important we pay attention. Okay! On to the more light-hearted stuff.

I literally laughed out loud at this quiz. I have no idea how one’s food choices predict your level of introversion, but apparently they do.

I mentioned this in another post this week, but I’m taking Sarah Von Bargen’s More Money, More Happy mini course this week and it’s awesome. The Facebook group is full of awesome people, and Sarah herself is sharing a ton of awesome content all for free. Very impressive and helpful.

This might easily be my new favourite website, naturally.

I listened to all of Making Oprah (it’s only 3 episodes) this week and found it really inspiring. I used to watch Oprah every day after school for years, and this show made me want to start watching reruns again! What an amazing woman.

I’ve really been enjoying listening to episodes of the Longform Podcast – I’ll admit I’m cherrypicking the episodes with people I already really like, but so far I’ve enjoyed Heather Havrilesky, Cheryl Strayed and Anna Sale’s episodes.

On the off chance I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m a fan of The What List – it’s one of the few newsletters I subscribe to on my personal email and I always find at least one interesting thing to click on inside.

I subscribed to the Break the Twitch Youtube channel this week. I like his blog too, but I like to listen to or watch interesting things while getting ready, so I’m always looking for new well-made, thoughtful Youtube channels to follow. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

---

If you couldn’t tell, it’s been a bit of a weird week. Things feel strange and scary, and I haven’t been as balanced this week – lots of sitting, not a lot of walking, and a few too many canceled social plans means I’m not at my best this week. That’s okay! I’m not a robot and these things come in waves. I am looking forward to the weekend, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

 

This post really cut through the noise for me this week. In a lot of ways it’s the opposite of the message we’re fed by so many bloggers and Instagrammers, but it feels like what I needed to hear. “I am a firm believer in only sharing content when it feels authentic, helpful or brings joy. Plain and simple.”

I didn’t really agree with that viral video about millennials everyone was sharing recently, and this post elucidates a lot of my thinking as to why.

Guys I’m not kidding, I’ve been wishing this was a thing FOR LIKE EVER: a Google Chrome extension that shows you whether a book you’re looking at on Goodreads or Amazon has copies available at your local library. This is technology at its finest! This is the best!

A flow chart for us all: write the books you want to read. Also create the podcasts, songs, whatevers that you want to hear or experience.

A web-based app that makes your writing clearer and more professional.

Oooohhhh this is a good one: my inconvenience may be someone else’s miracle. Very “This is Water”.

I like this handy little tool for checking what WordPress theme someone is using.

The Google Calendar goals video makes me very happy.

---

Another week that flew by, full of inspiration. I feel more settled in Toronto with each passing week, am making new friends, and am feeling energized by the conversations I’m having and the projects I’m exploring. I’m excited that it feels like new opportunities are popping up all over the place: anything is possible! I hope you had an inspiring week too.

 

The biggest hit of inspiration this week was hands down my first Tuesdays Together meetup with Rising Tide Society here in Toronto. I was meant to go with a friend who had to cancel at the last minute and I almost didn’t go because I was really scared. But I went alone anyways and it ended up being a bit of a breakthrough for me personally. I had been feeling stuck, wanting more connection and energy and inspiring people around me but was trying to think my way to all those things. Instead by going I got not only a night full of inspiration, but also two days later a strategy session and an invitation for a coffee date with an amazing entrepreneur. Long story short, if you have a local chapter: go. It’s so cool.

Pro tip: if you want to send Facebook messages but don’t want to be sucked into the abyss that is scrolling through Facebook, go to Messenger.com. It’s actually that simple!

On a recommendation from one of the aforementioned entrepreneurs, I started using Trello this week and can feel myself falling for it, so to speak. Its capabilities are seemingly endless and so I was warned not to get overwhelmed at first, but I’ve been starting small by just keeping to-do lists and idea lists inside for now. We’ll see how it goes but so far, very good.

What to carry for self-care in your purse: heart-eyes emoji to this whole post.

I particularly liked the Happier podcast this week for its discussions of personality quizzes and book clubs (these are a few of my favourite things!).

I started knitting this blanket this week – isn’t it pretty!? I’m doing it in a dusty rose and cream.

Jess Lively is getting into the topics of energy, flow, and vibration on the show lately and I’m really enjoying it. Yet another perspective to fold into the mishmash of stuff I find inspiring on a daily basis.

---

I’m feeling really energized and inspired just from spending time around like-minded people who are doing it: running amazing, creative, not-so-small businesses while still being healthy and authentic and mindful. It makes me want to take my game up a hundred levels in all the areas of my life. I have a lot to digest this weekend! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too. xo.

 

This article (and especially the visuals) are pretty jarring – it’s all about how much time we really have left to do the things we love and spend time with the people we care about. Scary but strangely helpful.

Books that make you less of a horrible person! The two books on this list that I’ve read were incredible, so I’ll definitely be reading his other suggestions.

I love the idea of asking yourself “Is this a good time?”, especially in this context of checking your phone (or email).

How great is the idea of writing a list of 100 things that made your year? I’m going to have to try this, it seems so fun and a great way of memory-keeping as well.

New Year’s Resolutions that don’t suck and actually seem kind of fun and lovely.

Love the idea of Think Days.

I made a video of my family’s Christmas season this week and it makes me really happy to watch it.

Books I’ve been reading this week: Year of Yes and The Invisible Bridge.

---

The first week of 2017 is already almost over! Only 51 weeks to go. Since reading that Wait But Why piece (linked above), I feel way more conscious of the passage of time, which is both terrifying and empowering. How has the first week been for you? For me it’s been both busy and quiet, I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things at work and start up my healthy routines again! This weekend I am excited to have the first meeting of my book club (we read Homegoing) and try to do my first unplugging day of the year. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! xo.