![what I’m into [oct – nov ’19]](https://i0.wp.com/beautyinthemargins.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/what-im-into-oct-nov2019.jpg?fit=828%2C315&ssl=1)
Wow, 2019 is almost coming to an end, and so is my time here in Strasbourg. The Christmas markets just started this past weekend and I’m already getting into the Christmas spirit!
By the way, for those of you who haven’t seen my FB post, I’m starting to work on the next installation of the blog series I’m doing and am soliciting opinions form anyone interested in contributing!
I need a diversity of perspectives from all types of work! So, if you would like to participate, please email or FB message me the answers to the following questions:
1. What is your line of work?
2. What is considered success in this line of work and does your vision of success align with that?
3. What does your daily grind look like? Think mundane activities that fill your day – the more specific, the better!
One of the most fulfilling parts of blogging is hearing how the posts have resonated with you, the conversations that ensue afterward about the topics I write about as well as incorporating the viewpoints of my readership into my posts – so please write to me (it doesn’t have to be super deep, just your honest thoughts!)
On the note of sharing, here is my round-up of what I’ve been up to these past 2 months (mouse over the words to see link for videos):
Videos:
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I’ve been thinking about the role of luck/serendipity in success. This was an interesting TED talk on what we can do to “catch the winds of luck”!
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On finances and the psychological differences between rich and poor people:
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On a lighter note, I stumbled upon the Epicurious series on 3 levels of “insert food name here”, that shows how an amateur cook, home cook and professional cook the same type of food. Here’s the feature on omelettes (be careful, this channel is addictive!)
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Finally, for all of you personality test fans out there, here are a few videos I enjoyed relating to the Ennegram and MBTI types:
A channel by Frank James who does a whole bunch of videos on MBTI:
An Ennegram remake of “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Articles:
Science
Science is failing women by Science
A message for mentors from dissatisfied graduate students by Nature
On a kinder research culture by Wellcome
Faith
The successful pursuit of God by Sarah Bessey – on ministry and family
“What did you do today” by Emma Scrivener – on motherhood and productivity
“Raise kind kids, not successful ones” by Atlantic Magazine
Career
The necessity of office small talk by NY Times
On the importance of early career failures by NY Times
Creative writing:
The 4th state of matter by The New Yorker – a beautiful piece that my amazing fellow logophile Esther Kim told me I HAD to read because it made her cry. It’s on the things we can’t control and grieving.
How cancer changes hope by Katie Bowler
Poetry:
For the women by Amena Brown – powerful spoken word for International Womens’ Day
The Long Home: Coda by Christian Wiman – Christian Wiman is a Christian poet who was recommended to me several times by a couple of my friends!
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver – recently discovered Mary Oliver, she writes beautifully on nature and this poem on wild geese spoke to me about having grace for myself. Nothing like some good poetry for the soul 🙂
Music
Perfect Peace by Tauren Wells
Listened to this while preparing for my presentation with my professor, trying to make sense of all the data that I don’t understand, feeling overwhelmed by knowing that Jesus gives me perfect peace.
Paradoxology by Elevation Worship
We don’t listen to full albums anymore, but I love how Elevation put together all their songs with a unified theme – my favourites are “Here Again” and “Hallelujah Here Below”. I would say the “People” album by Hillsong and this one are my favourites right now!
All hail King Jesus – by Jeremy Riddle
No one will like you – by Hersister
Finally, I’m so proud of my favorite sister-musician friends – Rafaela and Valentina. They write and produce their own songs! I remember first hearing them sing it in their living room, while they did a little pre-release performance for me.
So proud of them for finally coming out with the track on Spotify and the music video:
Food
I will probably write a longer piece on how French culture has been slowly influencing me. But one way I’ve noticed is my appreciation for food.
So far, here are my favorite pastries, desserts, wine and cheeses from France
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Cheese: Comte, aged 12 months and Goat cheese
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Wine: Beaujolais from Burgundy (red), Ugni from Languedoc (white)
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Dessert: Chocolate soufflé (I ate 4 of them one weekend…I know :P)
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Pastry: Parisian croissant au beurre – never thought plain, butter croissants could be so good, until I tasted those from the Parisien bakeries like Stohrer or Tout autour du pain!
So, this has been the things on my mind these past few months!
You’ll notice – no books. Sad. But that’s what happens when you’re far from the McGIll library and the only physical book you carried with you on the plane was the Counterpoints book on women in ministry and you finished it in the first 2 weeks of being in Europe…oops.
Also, you’ll notice a lot of my mind has been thinking about concepts of work culture, success, women and kindness – more to come on how my reading on these issues have affected the way I approach work in my upcoming post!
I’ve been SO moved by all the responses I’ve gotten from people that have resonated with the lab culture piece.
We struggle alone, isolated in our work cultures, and we need to know that we aren’t, in fact, alone.
So that’s where my coffee breaks/lab culture piece came from, but then I was also thinking about the role of kindness/creativity and more “female” characteristics in a very success -driven, more harsh work culture.
Why we need to value them. And if they could possibly redefine the way we think about success and work.
So, yes, again, please send me your thoughts on this! I can’t wait 🙂
