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.
Small Legacies
April was a month of duality, reminding me that LIFE is all about duality. You can’t have the good without the bad, happiness without sadness, learning without frustration, gain without loss, and gratitude without humbleness. It was a good month. I spent time doing self-care, enjoyed a full weekend of family time, and had a good balance of being active yet making time for rest.
We gathered to celebrate the life of our grandmother (one I gained through marriage) in April, and the duality was fully felt. We mourned and remembered. I got to spend time with her on a handful of occasions, so I have fond memories, but loving the people she loved makes it feel like much longer. The way she cared for my husband and his family as he was growing up and the memories of who she was have indirectly made an impact on my life. How someone is loved is passed to the people they love. We’re connected to each other (all human beings) by the way we live our lives and in a sense, we’re all small legacies. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?
Legacies can also involve physical things, which has been another part of this month. In the hopes of giving new life to things Grandma J curated and putting old items to use, we gained a lot of furniture and appliances that we are sorting through. This new podcast episode from The Minimalists about “Generational Junk” was very timely and explains a lot about my thinking on inheriting generational things.
One day, hopefully, a very long time from now, we’ll have the pleasure and burden of sorting through the things of loved ones who have passed. Observing this process recently, I highly advocate doing the following. It can be a sad thing to talk about but it can be a meaningful process now and saves a lot of questioning and stress in the future.
- Make sure documents are in order. A will is helpful so that there’s no question or argument about dividing financial assets. Also, it’s good to know their last wishes, where financial accounts are, etc.
- What are the stories behind valuable personal possessions and what kind of value? Maybe something has been in the family for a long time or maybe something has another sentimental value. Hearing these stories now will help you learn about the person and help you understand what to do with items after they have passed.
- Encourage decluttering. Our homes are full of stuff. Some things hold monetary value, some hold sentimental value, and some things just take up space. Do you know the difference when it comes to the stuff of the elders in your family? (Or your own home?!) You can’t and shouldn’t force or shame someone into decluttering but living as an example could sway them to do the same.
The idea of small legacies makes me think of the many ways I can bless others, whether it’s a kind word or physical items I no longer need. Like the Rumi quote says, we all have the opportunity to be a lamp, lifeboat, or ladder.
Nudibranch
One of my favorite thing to see while scuba diving are nudbichranchs! They are small sea slugs and come in many different colors and shapes. Here’s a video to help you learn more about them.
Burnout
There is a lot to unpack about burnout, capitalism, and rest in this article on Refinery29. The article also mentions the tie with children of immigrants. In a world that hustles constantly, I think it’s easy to have burnout these days.
Microplastics
Microplastics were found in human blood and I, along with the rest of the scientists, are not sure if that’s a good or bad thing right now. It is evidence that plastic has seeped into everything. Here’s an article about how to avoid it.
Manifesting Money
I shared interesting beliefs about manifestation last month. Now, what if we formed better habits when we think and talk about money?
Representation Matters
Are you a Bridgerton fan? This Netflix show recently released its second season starring Charithra Chandran. This Teen Vogue interview shares some insight (and spoilers!) on how South Asian culture is represented throughout the season.
Good Loser
Do you know how to lose gracefully? Failure is a universal subject and it takes courage to try to fail again and again. This article from NPR has some good pointers.
Harry
I’ve become a Harry Styles fan in the last few years. He will soon release his third solo album and his music is fun and bubbly like his fashion. This interview was a good one. Favorite quote: “The most honest version I can think of is, I didn’t grow up in poverty by any means, but we didn’t have much money, and I had an expectation of what I could achieve in life. I feel like everything else has been a bonus, and I am so lucky.”
5 Things I Love Lately
- Blue Genie’s May Market is back in Austin
- My flower farm tour
- The final episodes of This Is Us
- Thrift shops
- Puzzles
What have you been captivated by recently?
P.S. The above photo is actually from an adventure in March at the Museum of Ice Cream! Their location at The Domain was fun to visit for a media event.
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