Since I had so many great links to share with you this month, I split my usual monthly roundup into two parts. I wanted each link to be given the space and attention it deserves, without getting lost in a sea of content. I shared Part 1 last Monday; here are a few more great links that are definitely worth a read.

Make More Art: The Health Benefits of Creativity // James Clear

“Who wouldn’t want to reduce stress and anxiety, increase positive emotions, and reduce the likelihood of depression Furthermore, the benefits of art aren’t merely ‘in your head.’ The impact of art, music, and writing can be seen in your physical body as well.”

The little things I do that feel like abundant living // Anne Bogel

“Those flowers aren’t a big deal, but they make a big difference in how I think and feel. It makes me happy to see them (usually on my kitchen counter) all week long; it’s a little thing that has an outsized effect on my days. It feels like abundance.”

An Open Letter To The Woman Wearing The $10,000 Purse on Instagram // Jeanette Johnson

“I don’t know your circumstances. What if your purse was a gift, or the result of diligent work? What if you donated a million to charity and only took $10,000 for yourself? How do I know under what pretenses or for what purpose you purchased it, or with what spirit you carry it? And so… it’s just not for me to judge.”

Things Take Time // Addie Zierman

“The space between two solid landscapes feels like water, and sometimes you feel like you’re being baptized, and sometimes you feel like you’re drowning, and it’s all just very hard to pin down. You can’t do a thing to make it go faster, though certainly you try. What it takes, of course, is time.”

What It’s Like To Be a Stay-at-Home Mom // Hayley Hengst

“It looks like being thankful to not have to tell your children goodbye every morning while you go off to work, realizing you would be missing out on millions of sweet moments throughout the day, some minuscule, others monumental, but it also looks like being a little envious of the moms that get to enjoy a quiet car ride alone, lunch with fellow adults NOT at a Chick-fil-a, who have opportunities to challenge themselves, use their brains, and…oh my gosh..receive actual RECOGNITION for it.”

Not Everything Is a Side Hustle // Anna Friedman

“Half of millennials have a side gig because they can’t find a full-time job that will pay them a living wage, or because a side hustle is what’s required to break into their desired field. But once you’ve decided to monetize a leisure activity, it can be hard to go back.”

Practicing Hospitality Imperfectly // Lore Furguson Wilert

“We sometimes must let things be awkward. If every space in an evening or a life must be filled with small talk or inventions of stories, there is no space for the awkward growing pains of maturity to stretch. Being quiet for longer than the noted beat of acceptable silence reminds us in sometimes painful ways that not all is resolved yet, that we are still in process, and in need.”

How Reading Rewires Your Brain for More Intelligence and Empathy // Derek Beres

“Because reading does in fact make us more intelligent. Research shows that reading not only helps with fluid intelligence, but with reading comprehension and emotional intelligence as well. You make smarter decisions about yourself and those around you.”

If you’ve read or written anything in the last month that you’d like to share, please leave a comment with the link. I’d love to check it out!