Last night my husband and I took a walk through Descanso Gardens (a botanical garden in Los Angeles) to experience "Enchanted Forest of Light." It was cold (for this weather wimp) and misty, which led an air of mystery to the gardens. Although I enjoyed the creative light displays, what I loved most was the earthy smell as we walked among the old oak trees and ferns. Took me back to my own childhood, taking nature hikes in rural Rhode Island with my Uncle Gordon.
I have to say that any walk that my kids (one or both) say yes to is a good one. Not free of complaining or in a perfectly gorgeous spot (although we have some very near to our house), but especially after having a neurodivergent kid who didn't/couldn't leave the house for a long stretch and who says no to so many things, I really appreciate when we can go out and stretch our legs, chat a bit, and have some time together.
This is great. I am a huge fan of Oliver Burkeman and have been reading him for at least a decade now, going back to his old Guardian columns. Among all his other admirable traits, I appreciate his humility and self-deprecation. He very much bills himself as 'anti-self help' (I steer well clear of self help books myself).
I've written about Burkeman and his invaluable insights in the past, and I've also got a reading challenge of my own for 2025, which I wrote about the other day. (I won't link to it, but it's easy to find).
As for walking, it's got to be the best and cheapest form of therapy on earth, not to mention a wonderful way to generate ideas and stimulate creativity. I live in Vienna and there are ample opportunities for hiking around here.
Awesome can't wait to read your thoughts on Burkeman's work! It's new to me. I tried to start 4000 weeks like 3 times and couldn't get into it. The format of MFM is perfect for me! I like self-help, but realized a couple of years ago that I needed to pull way back... too much focus on "optimizing" and not enough "real life" examples...
I walk a lot--walking has been for decades a time for me to process whatever's on my mind--and I don't have pictures, but today the sun is out again for the first time in what feels like a long time here in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. But it's also finally gotten seasonably cold, and there are tiny little sparkly snowflakes falling at the same time. And that feels like a little cause for wonder.
Love to learn more about the answers these questions: “How can we embrace our nonnegotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there’s always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can “get on top of everything”? “
I take daily walks with my two dogs, but these last couple of weeks my adult daughter is visiting and has joined me for which has made them extra enjoyable!
While I've really enjoyed this book, I'm with you, Marika, on the whole "self-help" books written by men. I came across one about the good that can come from letting your life fall apart (can't remember title or author) on a recent trip to NYC. When I flipped to the front, the author, a man, had dedicated the book to his wife who "held them all together." When was she supposed to fall apart! I love the idea of the wonder club.
Last night my husband and I took a walk through Descanso Gardens (a botanical garden in Los Angeles) to experience "Enchanted Forest of Light." It was cold (for this weather wimp) and misty, which led an air of mystery to the gardens. Although I enjoyed the creative light displays, what I loved most was the earthy smell as we walked among the old oak trees and ferns. Took me back to my own childhood, taking nature hikes in rural Rhode Island with my Uncle Gordon.
Wonderful image, Cathy! I’m also a weather wimp but always happy I got out there anyway! Happy New Year! 🎊
I have to say that any walk that my kids (one or both) say yes to is a good one. Not free of complaining or in a perfectly gorgeous spot (although we have some very near to our house), but especially after having a neurodivergent kid who didn't/couldn't leave the house for a long stretch and who says no to so many things, I really appreciate when we can go out and stretch our legs, chat a bit, and have some time together.
Yes! Any walk that a kid says yes to is a good one! We're gonna try another one today... :)
This is great. I am a huge fan of Oliver Burkeman and have been reading him for at least a decade now, going back to his old Guardian columns. Among all his other admirable traits, I appreciate his humility and self-deprecation. He very much bills himself as 'anti-self help' (I steer well clear of self help books myself).
I've written about Burkeman and his invaluable insights in the past, and I've also got a reading challenge of my own for 2025, which I wrote about the other day. (I won't link to it, but it's easy to find).
As for walking, it's got to be the best and cheapest form of therapy on earth, not to mention a wonderful way to generate ideas and stimulate creativity. I live in Vienna and there are ample opportunities for hiking around here.
Awesome can't wait to read your thoughts on Burkeman's work! It's new to me. I tried to start 4000 weeks like 3 times and couldn't get into it. The format of MFM is perfect for me! I like self-help, but realized a couple of years ago that I needed to pull way back... too much focus on "optimizing" and not enough "real life" examples...
Okay, well forgive me for doing this, but...if you'd like to hear a few brief(ish) thoughts on my friend Oliver, here you are:
https://danielpuzzo.substack.com/p/this-advice-might-possibly-change
I walk a lot--walking has been for decades a time for me to process whatever's on my mind--and I don't have pictures, but today the sun is out again for the first time in what feels like a long time here in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. But it's also finally gotten seasonably cold, and there are tiny little sparkly snowflakes falling at the same time. And that feels like a little cause for wonder.
Wow! That sounds magical! It’s sunny here and gonna rain tomorrow so it feels a bit like the whole world here is trying to take advantage…
Love to learn more about the answers these questions: “How can we embrace our nonnegotiable limitations? Or make good decisions when there’s always too much to do? How do we shed the illusion that life will really begin as soon as we can “get on top of everything”? “
I take daily walks with my two dogs, but these last couple of weeks my adult daughter is visiting and has joined me for which has made them extra enjoyable!
Yeah. It’s such a lovely way to be together… Enjoy!
As I write this I am at 9,000 ft and I'm watching a herd of deer grazing. Mountains are wonder-full.
Mountains ARE wonderful-full! Happy New Year!!
This is a BRILLIANT idea! Love it!!
Yes! Really looking forward to it! 👏
While I've really enjoyed this book, I'm with you, Marika, on the whole "self-help" books written by men. I came across one about the good that can come from letting your life fall apart (can't remember title or author) on a recent trip to NYC. When I flipped to the front, the author, a man, had dedicated the book to his wife who "held them all together." When was she supposed to fall apart! I love the idea of the wonder club.
omg I am cracking up so hard about that, Emily! That's EXACTLY it! 🤣
Yes!