Inspiration – Page 57 – Life In Limbo

Inspiration | January 16

January 16, 2015

I absolutely loved this article about one woman’s experience using a questionnaire to fall in love. The questions themselves are here and they sparked some great conversations at dinner with friends this week. Spoiler: the questions are really hard to answer!

I read two of Rainbow Rowell’s books this week, Landline and Fangirl, and was obsessed with both of them. They made me feel a whole bunch of (happy, romantic) feelings.

Jess Lively had an awesome podcast this week about being intentional in 2015. The really great shownotes for the episode are here and I especially liked this older post she linked to of the top 10 books to accompany the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions.

A blog reader sent me this infographic about banh mi that breaks down all the different kinds and what to expect. I’m planning on being in Vietnam in May so this is very helpful.

A really, really beautiful studio makeover.

On Guinea Pigging Green (the podcast I co-host) this week we are talking about our own intentions and goals for 2015! Lots of good stuff in this episode. The shownotes are here.

I updated my photography portfolio this week! Reminiscing and looking back through my photos makes me so happy.

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My inspirations were short but sweet this week. It’s been another hectic week and one where I didn’t feel overly inspired: mostly I had my head in a book and tried not to worry too much about the fact that I’m only in Korea for another 2 1/2 months with a ton to figure out before I leave. I have a good friend from home (!!!) coming to stay with me this weekend (she just moved to Korea a few weeks ago) and I think it’ll be a wonderful weekend. Have a good one!

Inspiration | January 9

January 9, 2015

Some awesome ideas about how to create a great 2015.

7 strange questions to help you find your purpose: I thought this was an excellent read. Really on point.

This sandwich from Shutterbean literally made my mouth water. Unfortunately it’s full of ingredients that are a bit hard to come by in Korea.

I heard this song this week and I adore it.

Actually I loved it so much I used it as the background for a video I made about our time in Boracay! I’ll be posting more about my trip in coming weeks but for now, here’s a glimpse of my time on that island paradise. #takemeback

I plan to start using these lists of common words to practice my Spanish! Yay 80/20 rule.

I love the idea of this 5 year Q&A a day journal. The Five Minute journal looks awesome too.

I needed the reminder this week that engaging with the moment is what it’s all about.

More on this in a future blog post but I’m using printed-out versions of Elise’s daily goal tracker PDF for some of my daily goals and I love them.

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I came back from vacation and hit the ground running with a new (early morning) schedule for the month of January, extra classes, an empty fridge and a head full of ideas about 2015. I still feel like I’m slowly sifting through everything and waiting for things to shake out in my brain (and life). But! I booked my flight out of Korea for April 1st, so I have a feeling things are going to start falling into place one by one. At least I hope so! Looking forward to a calm, quiet, relaxing weekend at home. Have a good one.

Inspiration | December 19

December 19, 2014

Currently going through Chris Guillebeau’s annual review + goal-setting process to set goals for 2015.

I love these 33 thoughts on reading and am embracing all of them wholeheartedly.

There were some awesome recommendations on this list of 25 apps to make your life easier via TED staff.

I loved these 100 ideas of things to do every day in 2015. I’ll definitely be buying the PDF download of the tracking calendar when it comes out on the 22nd.

I finally watched Boyhood this week and it was absolutely amazing. Worth every single bit of praise it’s gotten.

It’s that time of year again! Pop Danthology’s mashup of the year in pop music came out this week. I always love these.

Some totally gorgeous photos in this round-up.

I got interested in minimalism again this week and this “Start Here” page is dangerously close to increasing my currently open browser tabs by a factor of 3.

Last night I finished reading book 73 of 75 for 2014! Thanks to two children’s books I had to read for my job I’m actually ahead of schedule. I am actually surprised I managed to pull it off, but so thrilled. I’ve also been adding books to my to-read list like crazy lately. I’m so excited for reading in 2015.

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I’ve had a wicked cold this whole week, so I think the weekend is going to be pretty relaxed for me. Christmas totally crept up on me and it’s starting to feel strange that I’m not home for the holidays. I think the 24th and 25th will be hard, especially being in a different time zone from my loved ones, but on the 27th I fly out for my vacation so that will make things a little easier! I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends. xo.

Inspiration | December 12

December 12, 2014

I am always very inspired by creative Austin Kleon. This week it was his (older) posts on keeping a logbook and getting a calendar to stay motivated. I reappropriated the logbook idea and am now keeping a tiny daily gratitude journal which I love. Also, his post about how all questions can be boiled down to just two is brilliant.

This holiday season let’s practice JOMO, not FOMO. “It is about giving yourself the space to think and experience things without freaking out about what you ‘should’ be doing instead. You’re enjoying what you’re doing in the here and now and not on social media broadcasting or seeing what everybody else is doing.” Yes!

This week I had more than one battle with future-tripping, or worrying about things that haven’t happened yet (and may never happen!). Things that helped a lot: this video from Marie Forleo and this article from Jess Lively.

Last week I decided I might move to Spain next year (my plans shift all the time) which spurred a re-opening of my Spanish programs! I use Duolingo and I’m taking this course on Memrise which I like a lot.

I re-read Steven Pressfield’s amazing book The War of Art for the third? fourth? time this week because I needed to hear it. It never ceases to both comfort and inspire me. I really believe everyone could benefit from reading these ideas about creativity and resistance.

Some ideas for my Southeast Asia Bucket List!

I loved this perspective on travel. “If you want to travel in a way that is good and fast, then it won’t be cheap. If you want it cheap and fast, then it won’t be good. Or you can have it good and cheap, but you sacrifice speed.”

A few great ideas for simplifying your life.

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It’s the weekend! And life is very, very good. I’m looking forward to so many things: Christmas, my vacation in the Philippines, my travels after my contract is finished, my yoga teacher training. I feel really blessed. What are you thankful for today? I hope you have a truly excellent and inspiring weekend.