Quote of the day
None of these things define you as a person: Your education, the size of your bank account, your job title, your failures, your successes. And sadly, we let so many of these things rule our lives. Obsession with crossing off the checkboxes of society’s life plan leads to little other than therapy, midlife crises, and depression.
~SRINIVAS RAO, author of The Art of Being Unmistakable: A Collection of Essays About Making a Dent in the Universe
HAPPINESS
3 Things psychopaths can teach you about being a happier person, Barking up the wrong tree | Tweet
You’re a good person. Or at least you’re trying to be. Me too. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a thing or two from the bad guys.
→The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success
CREATIVITY
Why the greatest work of your life will require a compass, not a map, The Creativity Post | Tweet
If we use a map for long enough, we lose sight of the fact the entire journey was based on a plan someone else had for us. We stop questioning it at all. It’s safe, it’s secure, it’s easy, and guaranteed to get us where we’re going.
→The Art of Being Unmistakable: A Collection of Essays About Making a Dent in the Universe
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Why you should go to the movies (and do other stuff) alone, Science of us | Tweet
Would you go to a movie alone? For some people, the question elicits a quick and easy nod — of course! Why not? For others, panic: The idea of sitting there, all alone, surrounded by people who aren’t alone is humiliating.
→Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
NUTRITION
Why almond milk is a rip-off, Business Insider | Tweet
People drink almond milk for a variety of reasons, but many have no idea how devoid of nutrients their trendy dairy milk alternative actually is.
→DIY Nut Milks, Nut Butters, and More: From Almonds to Walnuts
READING
Why can’t we read anymore, Medium | Tweet
Or, can books save us from what digital does to our brains?
SOCIAL MEDIA
7 Tips for getting started with Twitter Marketing, Social Media Examiner | Tweet
Are you building a presence on Twitter? Want to start with a solid foundation?
→The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Can artists be entrepreneurs? Absolutely, Forbes | Tweet
“You’re not really great unless there’s a coffee-table book.” – Humorous observation of artist Shawn Rossiter, editor of the online arts magazine “15 Bytes” and co-founder of the nonprofit Artists of Utah.
→Final Light: The Life and Art of V. Douglas Snow
PHOTOGRAPHY
How photography was optimized for white skin color, Priceonomics | Tweet
At a very, very basic level, this is how common photographic film works: film is thin plastic covered in a layer or layers of photosensitive chemicals.
WRITING
How not to be boring with Miranda Liasson, Romance University | Tweet
As you look at your entire book, do you continually raise the stakes for your characters?
→The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great
How to not let others sabotage your writing, Positive Writer | Tweet
As a writer, you have a responsibility to protect your writing from others…
→Writer’s Doubt: The #1 Enemy of Writing (and What You Can Do About It)