Things I've been enjoying lately

This morning has me in a good mood, maybe because it's one day until the weekend, or because I pushed myself on my last run before my half marathon Sunday, or maybe just because even though it's kind of rainy out, it's not freezing in Miami like it is everywhere else in this country. Some other things helping my mood are:

This song "Pompeii" by London indie band Bastille:

And this one by RJD2, "See You Leave":

 

A song I happened to find when it was featured on this new show I'm laughing my ass off at, Broad City:

And finally, I've been pleasantly surprised with how much I'm enjoying reading this book about the NFL's denial of football-related concussions and brain injury. Even though I probably could have skipped the book and just watched the Frontline special on it...but it really is very well-written and very thorough.

Enjoying the little things

The other day (actually last year), I found this nice idea on Pinterest to remember the good things that happened throughout the year by writing the memories down and putting them in a jar to take out at the end of the year and reminisce over. Gio and I very much liked the idea and started this jar. Except that given our faulty memories, throughout 2013 we pretty much forgot to write the good things down. Alas a new year brings new beginnings. So yesterday we wrote down a few experiences to fill up our empty jar. Those good times included:

• Gio starting his first college classes (Sept 2013)
• Me considering myself fluent in Portuguese (Sept 2013)
• Gio's first job (official US taxpaying resident!) (Jan 2014)
• Feeling at home with Gio's family and son in Medellin (Nov 2013)
• Me completing a half marathon (Jan 2013 - and ready for my second one this weekend!)
• Gio's first snowblowing experience (Dec 2013)
• Discovering why the hell there's a Salvador Dali museum in St Petersburg, Florida (July 2013)
• Spending Sunday at home cooking and eating beef stew or sudado de pollo and baking these awesome cookie bars (recent Sunday tradition!)
• Also spending Sunday (mornings) rollerblading down Miami Beach with our fannypacks and wrist guards (ok, only wore the fannypack once and they were wrist, knee, and elbow guards!)

I already am excited for 2014 to be filled with new and noteworthy moments. We've got the World Cup coming up in Rio in July, best friend's wedding in June, and I'd like to program in a weekend getaway to New Orleans, Atlanta, or Chicago! But of course, I'm still trying to remember my new years resolution to remain in the present and just take one day at a time.

Don't be scared to click 'OK'

I just read this Techcrunch post by James Altucher and what I really took away from it was in the last two paragraphs (and I was always taught during my journalism classes to put your most interesting, core point in your opening paragraph! But hey, the headline got me to click on the article). And I actually have little to say about his way of using Eminem as a business school teaching tool, other than to say it makes sense, but really who can't infer whatever they like from a rap song? So back to the last few lines. Because they are why, actually, after a year and a half of leaving this blog unattended, propelled me to come back. His words of advice were geared towards businesspeople, but they can really be used for anyone in their every day life. And as part of my 2014 resolutions, I'm looking for ways to improve my everyday life and everyday way of thinking, starting with the present. Altucher says how he got over the worrying feeling every time he hit "OK" or "Send" when publishing on his blog. He says, "In fact, I don’t hit “Publish” on something unless I’m afraid of how people will react. When you expose yourself there are many many ways for people to attack you. [...] But you can’t create art unless you show how unique you are while being inclusive with others who share your problems." So here we go 2014, I guess this means no proofreading!

And here's a meme because these days they're what sell: