1) IN THE 14TH CENTURY, SO THE LEGENDS GO, French alchemist Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle managed to decode the words in a curious book. Encrypted in the text was a series of instructions, that, if followed to the letter, could be used to create an ‘elixir of life.’ The idea that the Flamels found the words to make them immortal is improbable at best, but it makes for a fun tale to tell a listener. But it also speaks to the truth: Finding someone willing to listen to you tell a story may be a real boost for longevity. Here, scientists discover the one kind of friend who is best for brain health.
2) From MIT. Five poems about the mind. This is Dream Vending Machine -
‘In it, my father says I’m sorry I never call, I never know
what to say, and I finally have the words to reply don’t
worry and I know and hey, we’re good. We’re good now.
We’re all good.
3) Very nice. The Edelweiss Beer Ad that’s giving us the space we all crave right now. (58”). Feel The Alps -
4) Emotional, Intense and Necessary - The campaign supporting the UK’s NHS Workers. When They Need It the Most. Dial 0808 19 665 19 to leave your message of support. (two minute video)
5) Big Ocean Bottle: Big Bottle, Big Impact. When you buy a Big Ocean Bottle, you fund the collection of 1,000 ocean-bound plastic bottles.
6) A not very mindful instagram post from Russell Kane(?) But funny - green tea vs coffee.
7) Nice. From The Atlantic. “Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia.” This is a line from John Green’s book Looking for Alaska. It’s also scientifically accurate. Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia, because humans predict what the future will be like by using their memories.
8) From The Guardian. There’s growing evidence that signals sent from our internal organs to the brain play a major role in regulating emotions and fending off anxiety and depression. Interoception: the hidden sense that shapes wellbeing.
9) From Psyche. ‘I’ll never forget the time I overheard one of my high-school classmates repeatedly calling herself stupid in front of the bathroom mirror. When I recognised her voice, chills ran down my spine. I’d always thought of her as one of the kindest people in the whole school. I was shocked to hear how cruel she was to herself when she thought she was on her own. Self-compassion is not self-indulgence: here’s how to try it.
10) Love this (from Afternoon Slow by Russell Davies) ‘Finally, a quick thought from Caroline Webb’s How to Have a Good Day: “Merely by saying “Tell me more about that,” you’ll be in the top percentile of listeners that anyone will meet today.”