Hibernation, Tomato Timers, and Optimism – Friday Fun

Hello. I wonder how you’re faring this weather. Have you been hibernating like I have?

I don’t mind hibernating. It doesn’t spoil my joy. It just makes it a little harder to get out from under the covers in the morning.

It’s okay. I’ve found plenty to keep me going. Here are some of my favorite findings from the week.

This forum post. The clock app on my work laptop wasn’t working, so I searched for an alternative. Not only did I get my clock to work again, I also found that post. It made me laugh. The person who posted it has some serious contempt for tomatoes in timer apps.

This optimistic (music?) video. I tend to agree with the narrator when he says, “People are selling you a narrative. They want you to be scared because they’re scared. It’s a worldview built on fear, guilt, shame, power, but it’s only half the picture. The other half-awe, wonderment, abundance, optimism–I mean, that’s the new rebellion.” On top of that, the video is fun and well-made, and I like his bedroom with the big piano and the tall window and the colorful blanket.

The books in the image on this post. I learned some interesting things about birds, and I got lost in a mythic, poetic story about a prophet. What more can a man ask for?

I also wrote some things of my own. I wrote a poem, but it’s not ready to show you yet. I also created some puzzles. They’re also not ready to show you yet. I do have some things to show you though. I’ve been writing about wonder, mostly, this week, but a bit about compassion too.

• I wrote this essay about trying to see the wounds and suffering behind another person’s negative behaviors.
• And this one about The Brothers Karamazov and Harry Potter and the power of happy memories.
• I also wrote this one about wonder and awe and something I learned from the story of Job.
• And I shared some simple ways that I’ve found to increase my sense of wonder.

I think the happy memories one is my favorite from this week. When the weather is the way it has been lately, a good, happy memory can really come in handy.