If you’ve been with me for some time now, you know my life motto, my prayer and intention: touch the world and let the world touch you.
I let the world touch me. I want it to touch me, move me, inspire me through various experiences and adventures: people I meet, places I visit, music I listen to, movies I watch, books I read. I want to be deeply touched by this one big, beautiful, crazy unpredictable life.
Today I am sharing with you few of my inspirations from last month. Maybe some of them will touch you, too.
What touched me in January:
Books ?
- The History of Bees. A novel by Maria Lunde. I was really captivated by the story of 3 people in 3 different timelines that connect and intertwine (one of my favorite motifs: we are all connected and YOUR choices influence ME). This book also inspired me to do more research about the importance of bees and other pollinators, and what would happen if all of them died…
- Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport. This book has helped me to radically limit my presence in social media. It inspired me to ask myself some uncomfortable but very needed questions about my choices and their consequences.
Audiobooks ?
- Braving the wilderness. The quest for true belonging and the courage to stand alone by Brene Brown. As a person who has always felt like I don’t belong, like I am too much or to little, this book hit me hard, especially this quote: Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don’t belong. Stop scouring people’s faces for evidence that you’re not enough. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don’t negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you.
- Mooji, An Invitation to Freedom. Simple and powerful guidance with Mooji’s heartwarming, soothing voice. I listened to it and felt… at Home. A quote that stuck with me: You don’t need to create, visualize or imagine anything, so don’t worry – you cannot fail. You are not required to do anything at all (…) Simply stay as you are. Isn’t it a relief? These words resemble what I always say to my massage Clients before the session: don’t try to relax. Don’t try to be anything else than you are now. No need to change anything about you.
Podcasts ?
- The Minimalists Podcast, ep. 173. Joshua & Ryan talk about digital clutter, technological exhaustion, quitting social media, and overall online health with Cal Newport (yes, the man whose Digital Minimalism I already mentioned).
Movies & Videos ?
- Encanto, Disney’s new animated movie. Of all these things that I am listing here, this one touched me the most. I am a Disney girl, I watch every animation they make, but what Encanto did to me was… different. This story touched me so, so, so deeply with the topics of generational trauma, crumbling under pressure, need to be perfect… and with the ultimate message: you are more than just your gift. I watched it 3 times and cried my eyes out. If Encanto it’s not in your top 3 Disney movies then I’m not sure we can be friends. If you haven’t watched it, do it NOW. And if you’ve seen it and love it as much as I do, then we can even talk about Bruno.
- Cal Newport’s TED talk on Quitting Social Media. This was the first time when I heard from somebody: social media is optional. Cal is also talking about three most common objections he hears when he tells people to quit social media (these were my objections, too).
- Brené Brown: The Call to Courage (on Netflix). C’mon, it’s Brené, no recommendation needed 🙂 She made me laugh, cry and reflect on my life. I often hear from people: you are so brave, Magdalena. Brené’s talk helped me to dive deeper into the topic of true courage in life.
Music ?
- The whole album Our Beloved Land by R. Carlos Nakai and Keola Beamer, especially this song. Native American and Native Hawaiian playing and singing together.
- Moojiji Show me the Way by Dawid Deva Osial. Remember, this life is just a dream projected upon the screen of consciousness…
- Beloved One by Krishna Prasad, the whole album.
- Sachamama. This song on headphones + a cup of ceremonial cacao = beautiful journey.
Quotes ?
- Do not think you can be brave with your life and your work and never disappoint anyone. It doesn’t work that way. – Oprah.
- Buddha was passing trough a village. One young man came to him and said, “Teach me something: how can I serve others?” Buddha laughed at him and said, “First be. Forget others. First be yourself and then everything will follow. – Osho.
Experiences ?
- I played the didgeridoo for the first time and I feel in love (because playing a didge is essentially about breathing). Soon after, through a series of beautiful “coincidences”, a stranger… gave me his Australian didgeridoo.
- I cut my waist-long hair and donated it to the organization which makes wigs for cancer patients. I feel lighter.
- I started a Touchful Podcast.
What about you? What touched you recently? What did you see, read, hear or experience that deeply moved your heart, changed your perspective, made you feel alive? I would like to know. I mean it. I really would like to know. You can share your inspirations with me in the comment section. I am here, on the other side of the screen and I read every comment 🙂
Thank you for you!
Magdalena