Here are ten hand-picked and carefully curated recommendations to give you an uplifting dose of monthly wisdom, and inspiration.
I.
A wonderful quote I’ve come across this month. Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl speaks about the freedom we have to choose an attitude:
“Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Source: Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search For Meaning
II.
Q&A: When people talk about learning new languages, they often think of it as memorizing the grammar and learning a bunch of new words. I like to think of it as an exercise in acting and imitating others. Native speakers all have their own little habits of expressing themselves through words, and those habits can be observed, closely read, and absorbed. In the Q&A of this month, I’ve answered a reader’s question about the part I love most about learning languages.
III.
What readers are saying: one of the latest reviews I received from a reader for my book recommendation Lolita:
“Lolita is the greatest novel ever written. Throughout my reading, I was constantly torn between my empathy for Dolores and my disdain for Humbert. This inner conflict is a testament to Nabokov’s ability to make readers engage with the story on a deeply personal level. It’s a novel that challenges your beliefs and makes you reevaluate your judgments.”
— Miquel
5 out of 5 stars
IV.
A thought I’ve been reflecting on this month: we often want to control the pace at which life unfolds, but being okay with uncertainty—and not having all the answers—can actually be the quickest and most effective way to solve problems.
V.
Being humble is admirable. But when someone asks for information or an answer that involves you revealing your strengths, it’s okay to step up and share. This article describes savvy self-promotion as a delicate balance of talking about your strengths without feeling like you’re boasting.
VI.
An article worth reading: People tend to favor decisions they can easily change, believing it grants them greater freedom. Ironically, this choice can lead to less happiness. In a fascinating study, photography students who had the option to swap their prints ended up liking them less than those who had to stick with their choices. This suggests that having the freedom to change can actually undermine satisfaction. Yet, despite these findings, most students still wanted that flexibility. It’s a striking reminder of how we often misinterpret what will genuinely bring us joy. Gilbert & Ebert (DECISIONS & REVISIONS).pdf (harvard.edu)
VII.
This Dimple Machine, invented by Mrs. E. Isabella Gilbert in 1936, claimed to create dimples by wearing it briefly several times a day. Instructions advised users to laugh in a mirror to enhance the effect. However, medical associations argued that it wouldn’t create or enhance dimples and warned that prolonged use could even lead to skin cancer.
VIII.
Being humble is admirable. But when someone asks for information or an answer that involves you revealing your strengths, it’s okay to step up and share. This article describes savvy self-promotion as a delicate balance of talking about your strengths without feeling like you’re boasting.
IX
This Month’s Fun Fact: butterflies taste with their feet—they have taste sensors on their legs that help them find food.
X.
In the spotlight this month:
Luther with the yellow ring, 2018, acryl op linnen 60 x 50 cm,
by Neel Korteweg
Thanks for reading. Tiny Bits is a handwritten publication. It’s a personal gift to my readers, to create a moment of calm and introspection into your day. Sign up to receive my email newsletter every month.
Lisanne
Leave a Reply
You must belogged in to post a comment.