📺 “Disclaimer” on Apple TV+: A seven-part psychological thriller starring Cate Blanchett on Apple TV, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Need I really say more? When a mysterious, anonymous novel appears out of nowhere, a journalist (Cate) is horrified to discover that it includes a secret she thought she’d left in her past. The first two episodes are out now, with more coming this Friday.
🎧 Open App: My introduction to this meditation app came earlier this year, when I used it to fall asleep in the middle of a sleepless night, pulling up a body scan that knocked me out. Since then, I’ve used it more regularly (see below!) for its daily recommended morning and evening meditations. It’s the first meditation app that’s kept me in a regular habit, thanks to the quality of guided meditations offered, but also its useable (and beautiful) interface.
🎥 ‘We Live in Time,’ in theaters: A love story, told outside the confines of time, Almut’s (Florence Pugh) and Tobias’s (Andrew Garfield) love story unfolds across three different timelines—though we know, early on, where it’s headed, when she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Though ripe with overly cheesy lines, the movie is a comforting weeper that speaks to the importance of enjoying life as-is (an irresistible rec, given today’s topic!).
When I bought my house a year ago, I moved into a neighborhood in Portland I had previously spent very little time in. I made the decision swiftly, quieting my own concerns around the location, because the house itself felt (and remains) perfectly suited to me, in addition to being a smart financial investment. And yet, the moment I received my keys, I wondered if I had made a very expensive mistake.
I threw myself into design projects, sinking more money and immeasurable energy into creating an idyllic nest for myself, trying to drown out the feeling of regret I got every time I drove past a cute house in a marginally “better” location. I kicked myself for not waiting until I could afford a house a little closer to my favorite walking loop or friends’ homes, and began to fixate on possible solutions—maybe I could rent it out? Do an extended house swap? Move into a van??
It wasn’t until I was in Bali, thousands of miles away from my home, that something shifted. I was in one of the most beautiful places in the world, on cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean, and yet, I found myself filled with longing for the city park I walk Toast in each morning. I thought of the towering Jeffrey Pines, my small group of dog park buddies, and the funky coffee shop that abuts it, feeling a surge of gratitude for my neighborhood. In the weeks since I returned from my trip, I have made an intentional decision to shift my thinking, making small behavioral and thought changes that have helped me see my neighborhood, but also my life, for its beauty instead of focusing on its flaws. Read on for:
The daily changes I’ve made, centering gratitude and enjoyment
Adjusting from a “maximizing” to a “satisficing” state of mind
How to create a “fill your cup” list
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