life, travel, stories – Join the journey, Love Raven
Dear Reader, Reading self-help books can feel oddly productive, especially when the tips are actionable and the writing is both engaging and “to the point.” I’m a fan of the psychology/ mental health genre so I was naturally intrigued by the book “Unf*ck Your Brain: Getting Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers with Science.”... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, They say it’s important to spice things up every once in a while, to keep a long-term relationship alive. Well, news flash, the longest-term relationship you will ever be a part of is the one with yourself. So, today I will ask you, how are you and yourself getting along? As a couple... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Stairs and ramps are fundamentally different. If you are traveling up an impossibly high ramp, then progress can seem slow and tedious, however, if you are traveling up a staircase you can clearly see each step as a small accomplishment. This is not the perfect metaphor for ways to view progress, but it... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, While many of us seek out information on “how to” do something, the book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink is all about “when to” do things. This book answers questions such as “when to change careers” and “when is a divorce more likely to happen” among others.... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, There are four types of people in this world, well, at least according to Gretchen Rubin there is. In her highly-acclaimed book, The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too), Rubin divides people into Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels based... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, How is it that one person can look like a college student and the other middle-aged while both are in their early 30s? Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Elissa Epel get to the bottom of aging in their book The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer. Telomeres are the... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, We are not doomed to be upset just because something does not turn out the way that we planned. In 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, psychologist Amy Morin discusses key steps that everyone can take to help improve their emotions, outlook, and general life satisfaction all by focusing on developing mental... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, When was the last time that you saw something so magnificent that were in awe? Was it seeing the Grand Canyon, a California red wood, or a famous work of art perhaps? Feeling awestruck is a powerful experience that has many positive effects. I recently read an article called “Awesome awe: The emotion... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, If you are sitting at the bottom of a wet and cold valley, it may become hard for you to imagine the beautiful and warm beach on the other side of the hill. Sometimes, when we feel sad, we also feel hopeless and like things will never change. Conversely, when we feel happy,... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, This week has been a roller coaster of sorts. While there were some ups and downs, the most notable feature of this metaphorical thrill ride was that it had a tendency to accelerate from 0 to 100mph in no time at all. Now that it is Friday, I have taken the time to... Continue Reading →
