Captivations is a monthly feature with links, stories, and news that captivated me.
You’re doing better than you think
I went to a spin class at Flywheel, already tired from a week of hard workouts. At Flywheel, each bike has a monitor that shows your stats and periodically during the class, the instructor will flash everyone’s overall number and the rankings on the big screen. Before I even stepped into the room, I had decided I wouldn’t meet my usual number, but I still tried hard, struggling through every song. Somehow, by the end of the class, I had surpassed my usual number.
Don’t count yourself out before you try. Give yourself grace but stay positive. If you don’t surprise yourself like I did, you’ll meet the lower expectations that you set for yourself, and that’s no way to live life.
Where Murders Go Unsolved
The Washington Post mapped 52,000 murders in the 50 largest cities in the U.S. Overall homicide arrest rate in these cities is 50%. I think you can guess where murders are not being solved. Hint: it has to do with income. One group blames the lack of resources, another blames apathy.
Chobani
How is the world’s largest yogurt facility making a difference? Chobani Founder Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant, can tell you about how he pays his workers twice the minimum wage and why he employs refugees.
No More Balloons
They’re bad for the environment. Here are some alternatives!
Clean, Non-Toxic Beauty
This is something I’ve talked about and I’m still trying to learn about. This Goop post talks about what clean and non-toxic beauty is and gives recommendations about some products. One tip that can apply to all products and not only beauty products is greenwashing! Greenwashing is when companies put an environmentally-friendly spin on their marketing without the evidence to back it up. This could mean their use of “organic” or “natural” terms is false! The best way to get past this is to read the ingredient list and look up information about products.
4 Monkeys of Materialism
When it comes to trying to live a minimalist lifestyle, there are four things that can get in the way. See the full article here. Those four things are advertising, trends, status, and attachment. Being a minimalist means going against a common way of life and fighting to not care about these four things.
Memories of a Girl I Never Knew
I found a fun Instagram tag called #Memoriesofagirlineverknew. Created by Timothy Goodman, these posts are an interesting look into relationships, dating, and the thought that goes into them.
20 Money Mantras
Money, money, money. We go through life wanting more of it, chasing after it, and spending it. Hopefully, you have a positive mindset around money, and if not, read these 20 money mantras to work towards being financially free.
The Ultimate Guide to Showing Up for Other People
Showing up for others is a life-long goal of mine that I became conscious of in college. It started with showing up for high schools I mentored and now it’s making sure the people around me are living their best, healthy lives. I think showing up for people can change our communities. Here’s how to show up for others.
First Generation American Problems
From figuring out how to be a part of two cultures to all the expectations of immigrant parents, I can attest to this list’s accuracy.
Interview with Mari Andrew
I’ve shared my love of Mari Andrew’s illustrations in plenty of Captivations posts. Here’s a great interview about her artistic process, what her work means to her, and thoughts on creativity.
Libraries Matter
A news website was faced with the backlash when its article “Amazon Should Replace Local Libraries to Save Taxpayers Money” was posted. HAHA. Talk about privilege and lack of knowledge. My friend Yaika, who is a librarian, has a good rebuttal for the article. You all know I’m advocate of the library and my love of reading.
Barbie is a Vlogger
Yes, the Mattel doll! Who knew?! One of her latest vlogs is about women saying “I’m sorry” too much. Take a look:
We Survive Together
The ESPN Espys Award Show was this month and more than 140 survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse took to the stage as Aly Raisman gave a speech accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The case against the sports doctor is the biggest sexual abuse case in American sports history. You can watch Raisman’s full speech here.
What’s got you captivated lately?
P.S. One highlight of the month: tubing the river!
You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.
You might also like
