Here’s a recap of my April 2024. 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.
April Highlights!
I’ve been trying to be more on time with my monthly recaps (on the blog and on Instagram), but gosh darn, life moves fast. This month had some busy weekends with family in town for one and being out of town for two.
- Total solar eclipse! + a weekend of visiting family: Eclipse day ended up being cloudy, but we still got to experience the effects of a darkening sky and see the transition between cloud movement. We saw the total eclipse for a few seconds. All-in-all, really cool!
- Wedding + fun in Nashville, TN: Got to see my bestie get married! It was a weekend packed with friends, food, and fun. (Nashville restaurant post update coming soon.)
- Wedding + fun in Surfside, TX: Will’s bestie got married on the beach! Another weekend of friends, food, and fun.
Chiropractor Visit at Adjusted ATX
I had my first visit to a chiropractor! Dr Kyle at Adjusted ATX invited me in to try it out. I don’t have any ailments but I wanted to see what it was like. Overall, chiropractors find solutions by analyzing your spine, which connects to the overall health of your body. I learned about what he looks for, like general posture analysis. Then after some cracking, I felt increased mobility by doing the movements again!
I’m a strong believer in advocating for your health and trying alternative medicine to find solutions, especially when mainstream medicine is not healing you. You’re not meant to live in pain. Learn more on their website and schedule a visit to talk through it.
It’s Ok to Cry
Jay Shetty has a podcast that brings on famous people to talk about deeper subjects like mental health. This episode with actress Lili Reinhart talks about her evolution. The discussion about crying at minute 20 stuck out to me. In short, society has created the thought that crying is a negative, shameful expression of emotion. We put so much emphasis on saying we’re ok when we’re not. How can we be a healthier, more compassionate world if we allow people to express their emotions fully? I think we are moving in that direction as conversations about mental health become less taboo.
Success vs Failure
Artist Emily McDowell had a successful business. She made money through her art. But then she decided to step away. In this newsletter, she discusses why it’s ok to walk away even when in society’s view, things are a success. She questions “what if the point of being alive is expansion” and what if we used “completion” as the end point?
The Tortured Poets Department
Taylor Swift released a new double album this month. Fans are divided on it, and for me and my friends, it’s a slow burn to enjoy and appreciate it. Like any artist, she draws from her life and emotions, but it’s up to the listener to interpret and make it applicable to their own life. References to what and why are helpful to understand the lyrics but ultimately, are you listening for the ties to real-life drama or to appreciate the music for what it is?
Two Quotes on Love
“The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light.” – James Baldwin
“The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” – Vincent van Gogh
Nudibranchs
Sea slugs are my favorite sea creatures. They can be a few millimeters to 50 centimeters. There are 3,000 different species and they can be found anywhere. When I’m diving, I’m usually slowly scanning for them like I’m looking at a Where’s Waldo book. This Smithsonian article introduces you to nudibranchs in Australia.
5 Things I Love Lately
- Weddings – so much love!
- Sushi omakase
- Beach time
- Visiting Nashville
- Really good cake
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