Hey Friendos,
Thanks for visiting the blog. I know that it has been a hot minute since I’ve posted. April got the best of me. Between a work trip to Bhutan, running my first 50k, and working on a number of t-shirt design projects, I’ve been scrambling around like Scooby-doo. I also managed to smash my phone twice in 4 days (hehehe, but at least I didn’t put it in the washing machine again).
In order to deal with the wave of uncertainty and restlessness that seems to seep into my bones every Spring, I’ve been focusing on intentionality, mindfulness, and nutrition. Here is some ear and brain candy that I hope you will enjoy:
Personality Quizes:
My family spent all of Easter brunch discussing Myers and Briggs personality tests. If you haven’t taken yours in awhile, I highly recommend taking the 10 minute quiz (just to check in). And for my creative friends, Adobe just released a visually stunning Creative Type quiz. Treat yourself to questions like “are you more of a fortune cookie or a birthday cake?” and sip on those sweet choose-your-own-adventure graphics. Trust me, the quiz is worth your time.
Podcasts:
Nike Trained: This podcast is boss, and I binge-listened to all the episodes on my commute to work this month. It is run by Ryan Flaherty, the Senior Director of Performance at Nike. Ryan interviews athletes, coaches, and fitness experts. I especially enjoyed the conversations with Allyson Felix (On overcoming obstacles), Shalane Flanagan (On community), and Arianna Huffington (on self care and why she has transitioned to the wellness industry).
Chasing Excellence: This is such a rad podcast. And I really, really loved the episode on leadership. Even though I’m not a coach of any kind, it seemed applicable to everyday life.
Other Pods I dined on this month: Oh man, there were so many great ones. A few non-sports related ones that I enjoyed listening to were:
1) Adventure Storytelling with Steve Bramucci, a writer for National Geographic and Uproxx.
2) Pentatonix: The Art of Acapella because this Acapella quintet is dope and will be at Ravinia this summer.
Films:
I’m grateful to my adventure buddies who joined me at the Banff International Film Festival in Portage Park this April. Here were two short films that we enjoyed from the festival:
Be Alive: This 14-minute short film is uplifting, inspiring, and ABSOLUTELY worth a watch. It’s about an 82 year-old French ski racer and mountain biker whose life motto is “no problem”. You won’t regret watching it.
Break On Through: Though this short film has been around since 2017, it is worth tuning in for. Break on Through follows the training plan of Margo Hayes, a young American Climber on a quest to be the first woman to climb two of the most revered routes in the world. My favorite thing about the film was seeing her diary and the at times blinding sense of commitment she has to the sport.
Newsletters:
Morning Brew: This uber-hip daily newsletter is the best thing I have subscribed to in a long time. Not only is it informative, it is just plain cool. Definitely give it a try.
Books and Articles:
The Restful Mind: I went to Bhutan in late March for work. This beautiful, remote country opened to the public in 1974, and was without a doubt the most spiritual place I have ever been. The wind was full of energy — and to be quite honest, it made me cry a few times because it was so sweet (it smelled like pine trees and incense) and was so alive as it whistled its way across the Tibetan Plateau. While I was there, I had a chance to learn more about Buddhism and Eastern Medicine. As a result, I picked up a copy of The Restful Mind, and I’ve been reading a few pages before bed every night. The book is a delightful reminder to slow down, to not wear busyness as a badge, and to honor the present moment.
I’ve been super grateful for my community here in Chicago and really enjoyed reading this article about Aristotle’s Philosophy of Friendship and why it still matters.
I got a kick out of guessing which food items at Trader Joes are the most popular in each state. Can you guess what Illinois is?
Design:
I was delighted to be featured on the Spoonflower Blog: Four Designers to Keep an Eye on This Month. Thank you to all who shared this post on their instagram, it meant a lot!
I’m drooling over this predictably weird Oregon tourism website. It is so unique and the graphics are out of this world. Can someone design graphics like this for my website?
I enjoyed peaking at the World Illustration Awards Shortlist
A friend just visited Tokyo, and I can’t get enough of this Avatar-like digital museum world. You can climb through a digital forest, play on incredible light displays, and more. OMG!
Do you know what Biophilic Design is? I didn’t either, but I’m stoked on it now. It has to do with bringing plants and nature into building and home design, and I now need to up my plant game.
That’s all i have! If you enjoyed the blog, please share it with someone who you think might enjoy it or follow me on Instagram. If you are working on a cool creative project, let me know I’d love to include and celebrate you here too :)