Internet Things on My Mind - June Edition

Plants, puppies, and parks

Hello fellow cultivator,

It is that time of the month to share all the things that have been consuming some of my mental bandwidth over the past month. So, let’s jump in!

For Your Mind - Spooky-Weird TV shows

• Black Mirror

  Well, Black Mirror is back, and it is weirder than ever. I want to write about the various themes, but I don’t want to ruin anything for y’all. It is bizarre and spooky. That’s all I have to say. The two episodes that impacted me the most would be - Beyond the Sea and Demon 79. Beyond the Sea has Aaron Paul, and boy, does that guy knows how to show emotions! I wasn’t too impressed by his work in the West World, but his Black Mirror episode reminded me of the good old days of Breaking Bad and Jesse Pinkman.

• Mrs. Davis

  So, I started watching the show after hearing about it on Lovett or Leave It. I was told that the show was about an algorithm called Mrs. Davis, taking over the world. However, I am not sure if that is how I would describe the premise of the show. The show takes on Christianity, particularly this nun’s relationship with God and Jesus Christ, in a fascinating way. No, don’t scroll away or get discouraged! I am not a Christian or religious (I think), for that matter, but I truly enjoyed it! The infamous Damon Lindelof from Lost is one of the co-creators, so expect the ending to be ALL OVER THE PLACE. The other seven episodes are amazing, and I would still recommend watching it.

For Your Soul

• Essay by Holly Whitaker

  I mentioned this in Notes earlier this week, but Holly Whitaker’s latest essay convinced me to become a paid subscriber. One particular paragraph resonated with me, as it shed light on how we transformed even our burnout into profitable endeavors through retreats or courses. Yet another instance of capitalism being the fucking worst!

  “As always, when anything becomes a cultural meme, we don’t just take it for what it is — in this case, a symptom of a larger issue enough of us might be ready to actually do something about. Instead, we turn it into an entire cottage industry and see it as an opportunity for a business venture instead of an opportunity for living differently. Or we see it as an individual issue, a thing going wrong within ourselves that we might go to a camp, read a book, read a listicle, or take a breathwork course to fix, so we can keep trucking along.”

• Some thought reframes to try

  If you know me or have been around here for a bit, you are very familiar with my struggles with my inner critic. SHE IS LOUD and very annoying. In fact, I wrote about it last week. You can read it here.
  

  Additionally, these six thought reframes by Nicola Jane Hobbs have been top of mind for me, thanks to this Instagram reel. Especially the one about the inner critic. Which one speaks to you the most?

  
  Here are the six thought reframes mentioned in the video. The left side of the sentence is the original thought, and the right side is the reframe. So, instead of saying, “I am so busy”, try, “My life is so full today.” I love the addition of today at the end of these reframes because, most of the time, these feelings are temporary!

  1. I am so busy === My life is so full today.

  2. I am not good enough === My inner critic is loud today.

  3. I’ve had a really unproductive day === My internalized capitalism is intense today.

  4. I’m so selfish === I have nothing left to give today.

  5. I haven’t got time === I’m experiencing a lot of inner urgency today.

  6. I’m so lazy === My body is tired today.

For Your Body

• A Case for National Parks

  This one can be for your soul, but since it will probably involve a LOT of walking, I am adding national parks to this section. Last week, my partner and I joined my sister and mom in Utah to explore Arches, Bryce, and Zion National Parks. I am still processing the trip, but I want to share some highlights. I hope these pictures inspire you to celebrate the 4th of July at a National Park or somewhere in nature (without the fireworks!).

Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park

For Your Home

• Grow your own berries!

  Have you thought about growing your own food and found the entire process intimidating or cumbersome? I hear ya, but let me show you something that might change your mind about growing your own strawberries.

  

  I MEAN!! LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIES! I left town for 5 days and came back to this. This is the most beautiful this plant has ever looked to the point that I don’t want to take them off and eat them. They are freaking gorgeous. I moved these beauties a month ago to an area that receives morning sun, so the berries aren’t getting burnt anymore. What are you growing in your backyard/front yard/patio/balcony?

Your Dose of Pittie Cuteness

I wonder if I need to change this Substack’s name to Dogs in Robes because…

Music album dropping soon

Okay, one without the robes, so you know that I am not constantly torturing these two.

DO THEY KNOW HOW FREAKING CUTE THEY ARE??

That’s all for this week!

I would love to hear about your literary tastes, the podcasts that have captured your attention, what you are growing in your garden, or the delightful moments your pets have brought into your life. 

Additionally, please remember to give your lovable and adorable pets a warm embrace on my behalf.