This year is almost coming to an end. In this post I’ve listed 10 Tiny Bits from my newsletter this year that was most often clicked upon and interacted with by this community. Thank you for being on this journey with me.
I.
A wonderful quote I’ve come across. Writer and activist James Baldwin on what love looks like:
“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.”
Source: James Baldwin in Nothing Personal.
Featured in the August edition.
II.
Q&A: One of the things I’ve learned along the way is that handling adversity has more to do with how well you’re able to recognise reality for what it is and accept the challenges that enter your life, than about avoiding or minimizing setbacks. In April I answered an interesting reader’s question on what I’ve learned about adversity and resilience over the years.
Featured in the April edition.
III.
A unique and fun newsletter to subscribe to: the 3-2-1 Thursday Newsletter by James Clear. It’s a quick, valuable read on how to build better habits. Just a few minutes of reading, and you’re left with something to think about each week.
Featured in the April edition.
IV.
A book I recommended earlier: Educated. Tara Westover’s story is on my personal reading list and it’s the ultimate example of how complex family ties can be sometimes. But the story is also about how powerful faith and education can be – the ability to see life as it is and then imagine a different life.
V.
A documentary series to watch: Wild Wild Country describes the Bhagwan in its glorious times, as well as the beginnings of this cult and its downfall. It’s “wild” what this group of people set out to do in such a short period of time, and it touches upon some interesting themes, for example, how humanity tends to deal with so-called “outsiders”. Maclain and Chapman Way did a pretty good job in making this documentary series, and if you’re interested in topics like these, I highly recommend this one.
VI.
On my mind this month: Being silent and doing nothing is one of the most challenging things to do. Listen to Mike Posner, who spent a full week in solitude without electricity and running water, and shares what he has learned from it. One of his key insights: “The only wrong way to do a day is to believe there is a right way to do a day”. Watch the clip here: ‘Two lessons you learn from total solitude’.
VII.
Another thought that was my mind: the efficiency trap—also known as Parkinson’s law. It means that work takes as long as the time you give it even if it could be done faster.
VIII.
An article to check out: When I travel, no matter how remote my final destination is, Coke seems to be everywhere. Which has made me wonder several times – how does Coca-Cola make its way to these remote places? Melinda Gates noticed this during one of her trips to the developing world too, and argues in her TED-talk that the strategies that Coca-Cola uses to reach people everywhere around the globe could also work for distributing health care, vaccinations, and even condoms, to make the world a better place.
IX.
Scottish Slang: A word I came across during my trip to Scotland this month that quickly became a favorite: a wee bit, meaning something like: ‘a tiny bit’. The Scottish seem to use it at every possible opportunity. Scotland has some seriously fun and playful slang, I just love it. Other Scottish slang terms: peely-wally (looking pale or unwell), doo-lally (crazy), or crabbit (grumpy).
X.
In the spotlight:
Thank you for reading! These tiny bits were the most appreciated by this community this year. For more fun facts and other valuable recommendations, sign up to receive my Tiny Bits Newsletter every month.
Lisanne
Leave a Reply
You must belogged in to post a comment.