Friday Musings—06/12/24

What's new with me

Keeping up the momentum on the health front, I’m seeing the endocrinologist on Monday. Fingers crossed for some new answers!

I’ve also been reviewing my objectives for this year, and honestly, I didn’t do too badly. For instance, I’ve started cooking a bit and trying new recipes, went out more and met new people, learned a ton about personal finance and investing, and kept up the blog. I guess my biggest misses were not starting the YouTube channel and not creating any social media presence.

With that in mind, I started brainstorming video ideas yesterday, and I think I’ll set myself a challenge for next month—four videos in four weeks. It feels like a good way to kickstart the process and build some momentum there, too.

How about you? Want to review your year and share your achievements—or the things you need to work on more—in the comments?

Why True Champions Don’t Look Back

In her entertaining TEDx Talk, sports agent Molly Fletcher delves into the mindset that drives champions to success. After reflecting on concepts like drive and complacency, she highlights how top athletes "don’t look into their rearview mirror". In other words, they don't compete against others—they compete against themselves. I found this insight very useful; it’s not about winning for the sake of winning but about constantly raising the bar for yourself. It’s a mindset we can all apply to our daily lives, even if we’re not chasing gold medals.

A more conscious consumerism

I recently watched Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy. Featuring interviews with former employees of major corporations, this Netflix documentary dives into the manipulative tactics of big brands and the wasteful culture they perpetuate. From planned obsolescence to mountains of discarded products, it’s a stark look at how our buying habits impact the planet (some scene of environmental abuse and neglect were really hard to stomach). Also, recycling is mostly a scam!

While it’s an uphill battle, I found hope in the efforts of organizations like iFixit, and their fight for our "right to repair". Their mission is a reminder that change is possible when we empower ourselves to take action.

If you get a chance, I recommend watching the documentary. And if you have suggestions for other documentaries or practical ways we can all do our part, I’d love to hear them.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."  (Maya Angelou)

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which musing resonated with you the most? Are there any topics you’d like me to explore in future newsletters? Have suggestions or insights to share? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. And if you think someone else might enjoy this, don’t forget to share it with them!

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML