Friday Musings—06/06/25

What's new with me

It's almost summer here in Turin. It's been raining these past few days, but the temperatures are slowly rising. I don't know about you, but I hate the heat, despite being a sweet summer child (born in July)! 'Tis the season when I really miss Ireland.

I'm lucky that I'll soon get to spend several weeks in the mountains, so I'll try not to complain too much in the meantime.

Anyway, setting my reverse seasonal disorder aside, here are a few things I enjoyed or pondered this week. Also, I know I said it would come out last week and I'm late, but a "Ferrara edition" of my posts is on its way and will land Monday :)

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As you all know by now, the upsides and downsides of living in the digital era have been a recurring theme in these musings. Among the less thrilling implications is the fact that we now navigate a world where surveillance isn’t just the stuff of sci-fi movies. We joke about our phones “listening in” when we talk about needing new shoes and are promptly served an ad for them. But the reality is that some form of tracking is indeed embedded in everyday life: from CCTV cameras to online trackers to social media algorithms.

If you're interested in learning more about how this may affect us, this article explores how the constant sense of being observed doesn’t just influence how we behave, it subtly rewires how we think.

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In my last musings, I recommended a YT channel run by an Australian woman offering unusual workouts combining lymphatic drainage, brain and balance exercises, and more. My physiotherapist said she loved the lymphatic routine I shared with her, and one of you emailed saying you appreciated the suggestion, so I'll keep them coming.

Here's my favorite channel at the moment for flexibility and mobility. Funnily enough, it’s run by another Australian woman, this time living in Portugal. I’ve tried a lot of flexibility routines and instructors, so trust me when I say she’s good.

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"If we could all see into each other's stories, it would all make sense".

One of my contacts on LinkedIn shared this quote from a local writer in her community, and it made me pause. The importance of trying to approach others with more curiosity and empathy has been another recurring theme in these musings. So has the notion of how hard that can be, especially now that we all live in separate online filter bubbles that deepen division and make real dialogue harder. On a more personal level, I’ve often experienced how challenging family and relationship dynamics can be, too.

We can never fully know someone else, but I think this quote is a good reminder to be more willing to give others the benefit of the doubt. That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t take responsibility for their actions. It simply means it’s often better to understand before we judge (if judge we must). At the end of the day, most of us just want to be heard and known, and people may surprise us if we’re willing to give them some grace.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you".  (Maya Angelou)

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you have any suggestions or insights, feel free to share them in the comments. And if you know someone who might enjoy my musings, please pass this along, I’d love to grow this community.

Until next time,

ML