Here are ten hand-picked and carefully curated recommendations to give you an uplifting dose of monthly wisdom, and inspiration:
I.
Salvador Dalí on how creativity isn’t about starting from scratch — it’s about learning from others and building on what’s already been done. Or, in his words:
‘Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.’
Source: By Salvador Dalí in Dali by Dali (1970). Translated from French by Eleanor R. Morse, Chapter: The Futuristic Dali, Quote Page 137, Harry N. Abrams, New York.
II.
Q&A: A reader asked what motorcycling feels like — I answered with a story from my trip to Vietnam.
III.
You have to see this. In this documentary by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, you’re dropped right into the intense world of the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF) pastry competition—basically the Olympics of French desserts. The chefs, under immense pressure, craft and present their stunning, fantastical desserts with precision, turning the entire contest into a gripping drama. This must-see shows the passion that some people have for their profession. I watched with great admiration, and it left me deeply impressed.
IV.
What Readers Are Saying: one of the latest reviews I received from a reader for my book recommendation The Great Gatsby:
‘The first time I read The Great Gatsby, I was in college, and I kind of missed the depth of it all. I saw Gatsby as this hopeless romantic, chasing Daisy, and I didn’t really get why it was such a big deal. But now it’s like I’m seeing it with new eyes, especially now that I understand the weight of chasing a dream that’s just out of reach.
Gatsby, for me, isn’t just after a woman—he’s after a dream that doesn’t even exist anymore. His whole life is built on this fantasy, this perfect moment with Daisy that he can never relive. It’s heartbreaking when you realize he’s spent all this time trying to recapture something that was never really his. I think that’s what resonates with me now. We all have our own versions of that ‘perfect moment’ we want to chase, but sometimes, it’s just not meant to be.
What I love about The Great Gatsby is how it quietly explores our desires and ambitions, and what can happen when we blindly pursue them. It’s a reminder that some dreams are better left in the past.’
— Gayle (4 out of 5 stars)
V.
One of the best things I recently read was an 1889 essay by Andrew Carnegie called The Gospel of Wealth. It makes the case that the wealthy have a responsibility to return their resources to society, a radical idea at the time that laid the groundwork for philanthropy as we know it today.
VI.
A Fun and Meaningful Initiative: Eckhart is one of my favorites, and through their Prison Outreach Initiative, they’re sharing his books and audio teachings with people inside prisons across the country. Next week, he’ll be speaking at two California facilities, and these talks will be part of a video course reaching over 800,000 learners through their partnership with Edovo Foundation. His teachings offer hope and help break cycles of suffering that so many face. If this moves you, please consider supporting their work—link.
VII.
Watch this. This Mr. Bean trick I picked up as a kid has saved me more than once:
VIII.
A Shower Thought That Was On My Mind: the system is often invisible to those who are woven into it. The hidden cues have been ingrained in them so deeply, that the hum of everyday life feels completely natural. Those who are slightly out of sync with the system serve as constant reminders, over and over again, of its presence.
IX.
This Month’s Fun Fact: Sea otters hold hands while sleeping—they do this to avoid drifting apart in the water.
X.
In the spotlight this month:
Self ‘at the beach’ Coutainville, 2019, acrylic on linen, 50 x 60 cm. Collectie Olav van Aubel, Antwerpen. by Neel Korteweg
Thanks for reading. You can get more recommendations in my Tiny Bits newsletter. I share 10 meaningful things that make you think and feel inspired. Sign up to receive my email newsletter now.
Lisanne
