Captivations is a monthly feature with links, stories, and news that captivated me. Take a look at all the things captivating me lately.
So many good reads and light bulb moments this month! I’m continuously curious about how to improve my life and this month was a jackpot. I learned more about depression, owning my feelings, empathy, and my rules of living. Here are the stories that captivated me this month.
11 Habits of Healthy Couples
My curiosity in what makes a successful romantic relationship continues, and this article gives some great insight on 11 things that will help.
Better Ways to Measure Your Life
How do you measure your life? The amount in your bank account? The number of friends you have? The number of vacations you’ve taken? Your definition of success will look different from the next person’s. Here are five “better” and ongoing ways you can measure your life that won’t leave you deflated.
Lola’s Story – A Family’s Slave
This story in The Atlantic is heart-wrenching and riveting. It’s about a Filipino family who brought a woman when they immigrated to the U.S. that was essentially their slave. Give this story a read!
How Much is in Your Savings Account?
Studies show 69% of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings account and 34% don’t have a savings account. Whaaaaaat? Those percentages are about the same for millennials 18-34. Financial experts recommend having three to six months of living expenses in an emergency fund.
Watched: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2
Who watched the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie this month? It definitely lived up to my expectations. Baby Groot was my favorite!
Women and Health Services
What happens to Planned Parenthood health centers affects millions of women nationwide. This eye-opening video gives a glimpse of how.
Watched: Master of None
Aloooora, I finished the new second season of Master of None on Netflix! Now all I want is pasta! I loved seeing the beautiful parts of Italy and getting another inside look of the lauded restaurant in Modena. (It was featured in season one of Chef’s Table.) I’m not sure how I feel about the finale but I’m ready for season three!
Differences of Italian and American Dating
Speaking of Master of None, I enjoyed this article (that contains spoilers!) referencing the new season and showing the differences of dating in Italy and the U.S. Even after reading the article, I don’t believe this kind of dating actually exists in Italy. If it does, Americans are missing out or being very efficient. What do you think?
Depression
Unexpectedly, I read a book about depression and another mentioning depression this month. Both books gave eye-opening insight into what depression feels like and how people can help people who are depressed. Mental health needs to be taken seriously on all levels, from friend-to-friend to government policies to scientific research. It starts with learning and understanding what depression is. Every person should read Reasons to Stay Alive. The other book, Hyperbole and a Half, is not specifically about depression but has a great description in the book. You can see part of it here. Also, here’s a good post from Momastery encouraging others to help.
More is Not Better
I found this article and it was a relieving light bulb moment. My whole life has been a ladder of improvements, goals, and “the next level.” The article is a reminder that daily gratitude might change your life and maybe “self-improvement is a glorified hobby.” Give it a read and let me know what you think! (This article definitely ties in with the “Better Ways to Measure Your Life” article linked above.
Rising Strong
I finally read Brene Brown’s book Rising Strong this month. Just as her previous book Daring Greatly challenged my thoughts, so did this one. It talks about the rise after falling, something we don’t like talking about because who likes to talk about the hard and dark places where they can’t see light and hope. We talk about the success when we get to the mountaintop, but the journey there is what makes us better people. It’s a great read! Along the same lines, I enjoyed this short post by Glennon Doyle Melton about hitting rock bottom.
“Look for the Helpers”
Love this quote from Mister Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.“ See the video here:
What’s captivating you lately?
I always enjoy reading your opinions about any of the ideas and links I post. Tell me your thoughts in a comment below!
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