I’ve had a lot of discussions about hobbies with my husband. To put it bluntly, neither of us are “hobby” people. We both like working and staying busy and not to mention total homebodies. Its not to say that we don’t WANT hobbies, but its that we like too many things to invest in one area of hobby-ing that we never end up investing the time in them.
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After returning home from the gym, I found out our wifi wasn’t working (which is a pretty common occurrence). I had some work to do for a client and was hoping to find some much needed inspiration for it by scouring the internet for ideas. Not having internet definitely threw a wrench in my finely tuned plan. Sure I could go to a coffee shop or the library, but I think best at home…preferably in shea butter socks and a candle near by.
Taking a shower followed by sulking and snacking for about 30 minutes I decided that no internet might be just what I need-A break, time to think, to ACTUALLY create and write without being distracted by an anthropologie sale or a show on Netflix. It’s true a lot of blogging is the research. Its finding good sales, getting the perfect instagram shot, and promoting your blog but its also about creating good content and sharing ideas I am really excited about.
While the internet is a great tool, sometimes it can really curb our ability to be authentic. We can get so caught up in comparison and perfection that we forget ourselves. Too much internet can stifle creativity either by discouraging me because everyone else has already done something or by flooding my brain with so many ideas that I never move forward. By stepping away from what everyone else is doing and really focusing on what I want my life to be and what deserves my attention helps recenter my mind.
It’s so important that we develop our own sense of style, likes and dislikes, and passions because thats what makes us unique and our uniqueness is what we have to offer the world.
A new series I am starting this month is sharing with you all what I’ve been reading and listening to. To be honest, I’m not an avid reader. I love books but sometimes there are so many other things I would love to be doing and sitting still is not one of my strong suits. In many failed attempts at forcing myself to sit down and read, I’m creating this series as a not-so-subtle last ditch effort to keep me pinned to the books. Hopefully you’ll find some fun things to read and learn along the way.
My first book in this series of blog posts is- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.
“That message is simple: When you come to one of the many moments in life when you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world, do not, I pray, discount that you filled a dying man’s days with a sated joy, a joy unknown to me in all my prior years, a joy that does not hunger for more and more, but rests, satisfied. In this time, right now, that is an enormous thing.” – Paul Kalanithi
I know what your thinking- Why such a heavy book to start off? I guess its been on my mind of late. This book was suggested by a co-worker who thought I would enjoy this book and she was right! When Breath Becomes Air is a story about a neurosurgeon diagnosed with lung cancer who comes face to face with the hardest question of life- What makes life worth living? A thought provoking, inspiring book to read but make sure you have a box of tissues near by.
Along the same lines as When Breath Becomes Air, I have a much shorter portrait of loss in the words by Brenda Miller. The Shape of Emptiness is a flash non fiction piece about loss and emptiness in each our lives through the piece her student shared in class. A beautiful quick read to mull over a glass of wine or cup of tea.
“But for now, when he finishes reading, he gathers our hands and gives them back to us one by one. We take them from him carefully, so we can carry our emptiness into the day. We compare them, showing off the shapes of our grasping. Curled like prayers. Like anger. Like love.” – Brenda Miller