Captivations v115: Every night that summer

Here’s a recap of my August 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.

August Recap

This month was:

• Live music – seeing Niall Horan and Zach Bryan – seeing live music is renewing
• A live show – Cirque du Soleil’s Songblazers – always amazed by acrobatic talent
• My first time on the UT football stadium field
• The start of football season!

Are You Productive?

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone” – 17th century philosopher Blaise Pascal

Productivity is progressive. It’s how we get new ideas, inventions, and improvements. I’m learning that I constantly need to feel productive, which makes it hard to rest. A great example is this blog, a personal project I devote hours to weekly for over a decade! 

There is a fine line between being productive because you enjoy the work and feeling like you need to prove something. Maybe it’s a little bit of both sometimes. You are smart, good, and worthy without being productive. It’s ok to not make every moment productive.

Where You Live

“You’re going to spend 1000x more time in your surrounding 5 blocks than you will in any other neighborhood in your city. And so thinking about all the things that New York City or next city has, is to me a lot less important than thinking about the things within the five blocks where you live. Most neighborhoods in your city you might never step foot in, they might as well be in the other side of the country. But the things in your immediate vicinity are the things that are going to dominate your life. So picking and influencing your neighborhood is really important.” – this post conversation

This is a good thought and in the same way, it’s about how your home, your schedule, and the people in your life make you feel. All of these things have influence on the state of your life. For example, you likely spend a lot of time working. Is your office setting comfortable, calming, organized, and productive?

Best Food City

According to Andrew Zimmern, the best food city in the world is…NYC, specifically Queens. It’s one of the most diverse places for food and culture. What do you think?

Affordable Travel

This CN Traveller article is my kind of list! Some commentary:

• Biking in Alaska is one my favorite memories from the trip. It was a great way to see the city and enjoy nature.
• If you’re looking for a cheaper destination, check out Egypt and Thailand.
• Traveling at the right time is important. You’ll find travel deals in off-peak times but also research seasons. You don’t want to end up somewhere in monsoon season because of a good deal.
• I’m a fan of packing cubes and carry-on luggage only!

Making It Up

I like this post about how everyone is making it up as they go. It gives me more confidence, encouragement, and authority in my life.

Wanderlust Reads

I’ve only read 1 of the 6 on this book list, but these could be great. Service95 is an editorial website by musical artist Dua Lipa, who is a big reader. I’ve enjoyed following this site for interesting stories and books from around the world.

For more, check out: How to Feed Your Wanderlust

20 Years of Business Knowledge

This Youtube video by Ramit Sethi about all the lessons he’s learned in 20 years of owning his own business has some great nuggets in it.

5 Things I Love Lately

• Waterloo Sparkling Water Tropical Fruit flavor
• This chef’s tasting was excellent
• Stained glass
• Mango mochi – the best place I’ve had it is ECK Bakery in Houston but Hui Lau Shan is a new spot and only option in Austin
• Football