Captivations is a monthly feature with links, stories, and news that captivated me. It’s also a monthly update/recap of what’s going on in my world. Here’s a summary for August 2023.
The End of Summer
Somehow summer flew by quicker than expected. Some of the best things in August were celebrating friends’ birthdays and lots of food adventures!
Wise Mind
I recently learned about the wise mind – where your rational and emotional minds intersect. A lot of people think with either their rational mind – logic, facts, research – or their emotional mind. The sweet spot – the wise mind – means you can think about a situation from multiple perspectives. It’s like thinking with your head and your heart. Read more here.
Happier
What’s the secret to a happier life? These 5 things can help. When it comes down to it, it’s about prioritizing your needs, being more carefree, and taking action.
Restoring Indonesia
I found out about Sungai Watch and think what they’re doing is incredible. They’ve designed barriers to stop the flow of pollution and clean up their rivers. They’ve collected over 1 million kg of plastic. Check out their website to see it in action. Indonesia is the second-largest plastic polluter in the world, so every bit helps prevent waste from ending up in the ocean.
Money is Affecting Mental Health
Surveys say 52% of US adults are negatively impacted by money. Inflation is a big factor but social media is another. In general, I think people spend more than necessary and have a hard time with budgets. Money is one of the top stressors in my life, from wishing I had more discretionary income to wanting to retire earlier, which are thankfully not serious stresses when looking at the overall population. This article gives a lot of statistics.
Romanticizing Your Life
Why romanticize your life? Adding bits of romance to your every day and recognizing it is a bit of self-love and making space for who you’re becoming. Here’s an article with 50 ways to romanticize your life.
Giant Whales
Last November, I traveled to Dominica to dive. This month, I saw this 60 Minutes segment highlighting one of the many conservation efforts happening on the island and the beauty of these giant sperm whales that hopefully I’ll see in person one day. The segment featured shots of Nature Island Dive, which I dived with, interviews shot at Jungle Bay Dominica, where we stayed, and plenty of shots of the beautiful island. Give it a watch!
Honey Oak Kitchens
We have a honey oak kitchen and I’ve never really liked it. This post from Style by Emily Henderson gives some design expert tips on how to update a kitchen without changing the honey oak cabinets.
5 Things I Love Lately
- Learning how to make wintermelon soup
- Cold bottled/canned drinks as treats – did you see this post on Instagram?
- New boba tea place in town that has excellent tea
- Fried avocado
- New greek restaurant Yamas is pictured in the top photo and the food is just as good as the design
You might also like
