life

5 on a Friday: Positive Things Edition

September 20, 2024

1- Can Money Buy Happiness? Well, this episode was fascinating (if not the world’s most uplifting!). By the end I had a million more questions about what correlates with happiness. Amount of free time? Age / number of kids? Weather where you live? Overall feeling of health/well-being? Amount of sleep?

I also thought the discussion of how happiness is measured was fascinating: one study had people look back to the day before, and another pinged them for real-time happiness status. I can absolutely see how these might give completely different results . . .

2- FIGS SALE! Commenter Amy clued me into this one and I am totally going to order some new scrubs today. I have found FIGS to be super durable, very comfortable, and I can even get away with not hemming their “petite” length! Triple win.

3- Fall Book Preview from GND. All of the cozy reading vibes! I do think this will be a good season for more Louise Penny for me, and I have Elizabeth Strout’s latest on its way to me (signed copy too, via my Parnassus Books sub <– best bday present ever, Josh if you are reading this feel free to give it to me every year lol!!).

4- YouTube drawing videos have been discovered by C. I’m kind of impressed! One of those uses of tech that does not bother me in the least.

using his new favorite markers (these – he used them at school and then begged for them for weeks!)

5- Looking forward to: more improved weather (today was a beautiful 74F on my run this morning!! I mean still 90% humidity obviously but the cooler temps made a world of difference), and *possibly* our stressful phase winding down. I can imagine life possibly inching close to normal by October, and that would be a wonderful thing. Hoping, hoping, hoping.

10 Comments

  • Reply jennystancampiano September 20, 2024 at 9:28 am

    Okay, I’m hoping that by October you will be through with this stress!
    That podcast episode sounds interesting- I’m going to listen to it. I was listening to a podcast recently where the guy said he was “time-rich,” in other words, he had a nice amount of leisure time. I thought that was interesting. I also think the other things you mentioned are an important part of happiness. And I ALSO think that money does play a role- you don’t need to be rich, but having enough money to feel comfortable does lead to happiness. Or put another way, it’s hard to be happy if you’re worried about money.
    I like C’s drawings! Yes, there are some great things on youtube.

  • Reply Lori C September 20, 2024 at 10:05 am

    My boys went through a phase of loving those You Tube drawing videos too, a great use of technology in my opinion! Great wall decor from C, you could grab a couple ikea frames and hang them in his room 🙂

    • Reply Megan September 20, 2024 at 2:01 pm

      My 10 year old loves drawing via You Tube and I also fully support! And the end product is so impressive. We have many a Charzard and other Pokemon characters as well.

  • Reply Suzanne September 20, 2024 at 10:30 am

    I hope October begins a season of lower stress!

    Those drawings are so great! My daughter loves drawing videos on YouTube, too. Definitely a fun way to pair tech and creativity.

  • Reply Elisabeth September 20, 2024 at 11:41 am

    My kids used to draw off YouTube all the time. It’s been months (maybe a year) since they did it last. We have a long day to fill tomorrow and maybe I’ll get out some blank paper and sit down and draw with them (I have a feeling the teen will say it’s a “baby” activity – SIGH).

    My next shmita update comes out on Monday and one of the things I thought about in August was the connection between money and happiness. Now I want to listen to that episode!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger September 20, 2024 at 11:44 am

      I feel like a lot of teens are into manga type drawing – you might be surprised!

  • Reply Amy September 20, 2024 at 3:41 pm

    Glad you are treating yourself to some new Figs 😊
    My order is a bright spot in a tough week

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger September 20, 2024 at 3:57 pm

      I got burgandy and mauve!

  • Reply Julie Palm September 21, 2024 at 7:52 pm

    I love that you have more Louise Penny on your reading list. I recently discovered that the Currently Reading podcast gals are doing deep dives into each Inspector Gamach/Three Pines book, in order. Delightful! I think they are up to book 7.

  • Reply San September 22, 2024 at 2:24 am

    I am not sure money can buy happiness but it can make a whole lot of things a lot easier in life (so you can focus on achieving happiness).

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