The physician and writer, Oliver Sacks, explains the value of gardens: “As a writer, I find gardens essential to the creative process; as a physician, I take my patients to gardens whenever possible. All of us have had the experience of wandering through a lush garden or a timeless desert, walking by a river or an ocean, […]
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The painter, Paula Modersohn-Becker, on making life a celebration: “I know that I shall not live very long. But I wonder, is that sad? Is a celebration more beautiful because it lasts longer? And my life is a celebration, a short, intense celebration.” Source: Excerpt of her journal (1897); as quoted in Voicing our Visions: Writings by Women […]
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from James Clear Bill Watterson, the cartoonist and creator of Calvin and Hobbes, on the difference between ambition and happiness: “…having an enviable career is one thing, and being a happy person is another. Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement. In a culture that relentlessly promotes […]
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It’s now clear that COVID-19 is a deadly serious global pandemic. Still, C. S. Lewis’s words—written 72 years ago—ring with relevance for us. Just replace “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus.” In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to […]
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Most people need consistency more than they need intensity. Intensity: -run a marathon -write a book in 30 days -silent meditation retreat Consistency: -don’t miss a workout for 2 years -write every week -daily silence Intensity makes a good story. Consistency makes progress. – James Clear
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Tags: expert advice, success
3 IDEAS FROM ME James Clear I. To improve, compare little things. -marketing strategies -exercise technique -writing tactics To be miserable, compare big things. -career path -marriage -net worth Comparison is the thief of joy when applied broadly, but the teacher of skills when applied narrowly.
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Best most useful advice I EVER got was from Jim Watson (DNA discoverer) over tea at his NYC apartment. 3 words, 2 meanings. AVOID BORING PEOPLE. Josh Wolfe @wolfejosh I’m not so sure about this. In the 2016 election we had many competent, brilliant, successful candidates, some of whom were boring. We chose the least […]
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Tags: expert advice, success
“Juneteenth Day to Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and other places they went. Even now, with barbecues and red soda pop, they celebrate June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers rode into Galveston, announced that the Civil War was over, and released the quarter-million slaves in Texas who, not knowing they had been freed, had toiled […]
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The tragedy of our times is that, rather than apply the most useful of English proverbs – “cheer up, it could be worse” – we are constantly induced to imagine how much better things could be. The rich lists and power lists with which the newspapers are filled, our wall-to-wall celebrity culture, the invidious billions […]
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Mr Rogers’ mother re: scary things in the news: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Anthony BreznicanVerified account @Breznican 22 May 2017 Anthony Breznican Retweeted Dr. Paul 50 years … I have a story to tell about this man. Anthony Breznican added, Dr. Paul @DrPnygard On this day in 1967, a […]
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