Internet Things on my mind - May Edition

a lot of links, pictures, and puppies

Hello cultivators,

I am still feeling a little hungover, or whatever the writing version of hungover is from the last week’s essay. However, I wanted to share some things that have consumed some of my mental bandwidth over the past month. So, let’s get into it.

For Your Soul

• Brene Brown’s HBO TV series Atlas Of the Heart

  I am a big fan of Brene Brown, so you might say that this is coming from a biased place, but she has been my go-to person for emotions for a few years now. She made emotions approachable for me by walking me through the science behind them. For me, it started with vulnerability with her book, The Power of Vulnerability, and her Ted talk with the same name.
  In Atlas of the Heart, she establishes the power of connection - connection with others and ourselves. Talking and expressing ourselves is vital to communication and our relationship with others AND OURSELVES. Brene Brown gets down to the basics in this docuseries by establishing the basic definition of an emotion before explaining what that emotion looks and feels like. Language is critical - this is probably one of my biggest takeaways from almost a year of couple therapy. The words we use to communicate what we are feeling matter. I recommend watching this TV series to know why that is and how we can get better at communicating with others, including ourselves, to better our connection.

  “This is one reason we need to dispel the myth that empathy is “walking in someone else’s shoes.” Rather than walking in your shoes, I need to learn how to listen to the story you tell about what it’s like in your shoes and believe you even when it doesn’t match my experiences.”― Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

• One of my favorite takeaways from my therapy sessions over May has to be this grounding exercise - The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety. Essentially, you list five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and lastly, one emotion you can feel. It is designed to help you be present in your surroundings.
  I was in the middle of sharing a traumatic event from my childhood with my therapist when I felt overwhelmed, and panic took over my body. She brought me back to the room and my body with this quick 5-4-3-2-1 exercise. I would recommend giving it a shot next time you feel a big emotion.

• You know how I feel about therapy. I have brought it up a bunch of times in this space. Here’s Gianmarco Soresi saying it for me We ALL need therapy!!
  Additionally, you can find the post here to learn why therapy is a crucial part of my self-care routine.

For Your Mind

• I have recommended Rae Katz’s Substack in this space before. So, I am hoping you are already subscribed to receive her beautiful essays. If not, then let me try to convince you one more time with her essay about rest called Healingpaloozas. In today's society that values productivity above all else, Rae discusses the shame that comes with taking a break and offers a refreshing perspective on the subject. I highly recommend subscribing to Rae Katz - her insights on rest, among other things, are truly invaluable.

  

• I finished Widowland by CJ Carey this past week. Ever wondered what England (or our society) would have looked like if the Nazis had won WWII? Yeah, me neither. CJ Carey, however, walks us through that horrifying alternative where women are divided into different hierarchical classes based on their looks (obviously), and their bodies are mined for babies. Reading is discouraged for all, especially women and young girls. It is a mix of 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, so it is a heavy read. The main character Rose is a devout follower of the system. In fact, she is tasked with erasing tales of women empowerment from literature. In the book, we follow Rose's path towards radicalization. She reads books by women writers intending to censor their voices and interacts with women from Widowland who were once free and fought against the Nazis but are now deemed useless.

For Your Home

• Morel Hunting

  I went foraging for mushrooms, Seira Morels, in particular, for the very first time this past weekend! FINALLY! I don’t necessarily recommend the person leading the foraging class as he didn’t really lead the class. 

  However, I recommend finding a Wild Mushroom Foraging Class in your area to meet fellow mushroom hunters and learn about those secret locations. I went with a dear friend and here’s what we found. 

  

  As you can see, it is not a lot, but this whole experience was fantastic, and I would do it again! If you are into mushroom foraging in the Bay Area, can my friend and I join you next time? Pretty pleaseeee!

• Wildflowers in the Backyard

  I planted these wildflowers about 3-4 months ago, and they are bringing me SO SO much joy. I mean, look at them!!

  

  

Your dose of Pittie Cuteness

You remember that picture of Diana in a piggy robe, right? Well, I got Angel a hippo robe, and it did not disappoint. I took a bunch of pictures, and this one is my favorite. You can see those little ears on the robe. MY HEART!!

Angel, in a hippo robe, looking at me with those beautiful eyes

Another one, because you deserve it!

Angel and Diana posing for me.

That’s all for this week! I would love to hear about your literary tastes, the podcasts that have captured your attention, the plants you have been taking care of in your garden, or the delightful moments your pets have brought into your life. Please feel free to share your interests with us in the comments section. Additionally, please remember to give your lovable and adorable pets a warm embrace on my behalf.