School seems to be starting earlier and earlier every year; many districts have been back in session since early August! But September will always be back-to-school month in my mind. And whether or not you are in school, I can’t think of a better way to inaugurate a new school calendar than with some worthwhile reads from around the internet. Each of these links spoke to me or inspired me in some way; I hope they do the same for you, too.
Parenting as a Narrative // Abby Perry
“Children watch the ways of life unfold and tell us what they see, ask for what it means. We build a world with our words, our responses, our perspectives, setting the plot points, establishing the timeline.”
Sometimes It Doesn’t Get Easier // Anne Bogel
“We put things off because we think it will be easier later, whatever it is. We’ll have more cash to fix the roof leak, or more motivation to move the 401k, or more energy to find a math tutor, or more inclination to finally kick that habit. But over time, some things—maybe most things—don’t get easier.”
Permission to Pause: Taking a Break Before You Break // Erin Loechner
“Pausing feels indulgent because it is indulgent. It is giving yourself a gift you often reserve for others: the gift of your time, of your soul. It is being charitable to yourself. Merciful, even.”
It’s Okay to “Forget” What You Read // Charles Chu
“What we get from books is not just a collection of names, dates and events stored in our minds like files in a computer. Books also change, via our mental models, the very reality that we perceive.”
A Simple Tool For the Not-Simple Life // Amber Black
“In times of uncertainty, our brains start spinning. We ride the anxiety carousel, imagining countless possible outcomes/conversations, while nothing is being improved or becoming more clear. And this carousel keeps us from affecting what matters most: living daily and hourly according to our life’s purpose.”
How Social Media Warped My Understanding of Friendship // Monica Busch
“Yet while I may be in constant touch with everyone from childhood pals to close friends, it’s in totally superficial ways. Social media is a convenient supplement when you can’t give a friend IRL attention — but is that adequate?”
For All the Sad Americans Who Missed the Total Eclipse // Emily P. Freeman
“For me this week, the disappointment is real, but the deeper question is why. It’s one thing to admit when we feel let down, but it’s another to let our disappointment lead us to our center and enter further fellowship with God.”
50 Ways Happier, Healthier, And More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms // Benjamin P. Hardy
“Do something everyday that terrifies you: ‘A person’s success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.’— Tim Ferriss”
Which of these posts resonated with you? Leave a comment sharing your thoughts!