025 | #ANEWWITHTHEHUE
A Saturday listicle to spark joy and inspire change in you.
THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS:
Why having fun is the secret to a healthier life on Ted Health podcast with Catherine Price will remind you why fun is a necessity to your well-being.
Pulling the Thread by Elise Loehnen is the Substack publication that’ll help you dig into some thoughtful considerations on life and how best to live it.
Moleskin notebooks are the seasoned seniors on the block, but who are still the undisputed superstar of all notebooks that everyone needs to own.
Trang Dang is a Vietnamese Singaporean-based digital artist, whose sultry edgy illustrations will have you tickled with delight by her fanciful imaginations.
When you were a child, you looked up at the teenagers. As a teenager, you envied the older kids and their elusive freedom. As a young adult, you longed for adulthood and to be taken more seriously.
Throughout all this wishing, you likely got what you wanted: the serious life of an adult. But spend a moment with young children and they’ll remind you of how we all once started with so much fun and wonder in our lives. As a kid, you didn’t have to tell yourself to have fun. You just did.
On this week’s Ted Health podcast, Catherine Price will remind you, why having fun is the secret to a healthier life. She’ll share the science behind the benefits of fun and explain why it’s good for you. The undeniable truth is that people having fun illuminate. They are radiant with a certain brightness.
Raptured in the moment of fun, those experiencing it exude a lightness and joyfulness that’s truly captivating– and that’s the state of flow Price is interested in. It’s important to remember that fun is a feeling, not an activity– and exactly the kind of energy that’s inherently good for you.
Elise Loehnen’s Subtack, “Pulling the Thread,” is a fantastic find I’ve recently stumbled on through her podcast, of the same title. With her impressive background in real-world media– specifically Condé Nast Traveler and Lucky– Loehnen’s writing exudes professionalism.
But what keeps me returning to her work is her vulnerability and her willingness to reveal herself both as a writer and as an individual. This was strikingly evident in her article, “Splitting Ourselves: The unintended consequences of projecting an image” as she dives into the novelties of her journey as her writer. But, more than that, her appeal is one of relatability. She asks many similar questions I ask myself and perhaps the questions you ask yourself too.
Every writer grapples with the challenge of discovering their authentic voice, but finding your voice as a writer also has a lot to do with self-discovery and seeing the paths she walks is what’s alluring about her work.
In the early days, the stylistic differences between professional journalism and writing in one’s own voice can be a steep hill to climb. Yet, the years of experience Loehnen has accumulated are evident in her distinct perspectives as both a writer and a human, navigating this thing we call life. With clear sincerity in her delivery, it’s no surprise that both her blog and podcast are enjoying a growing following. Kudos to her for her bravery as a writer!
This week’s obsession isn’t anything new, but my genuine love for Moleskin notebooks can no longer go unnoticed. For years and I predict for a lifetime into the foreseeable future, I’ve been captivated by the simple joy of having the perfect notebook. Despite my occasional attempts to find a more economical replacement, my heart invariably drifts back to Moleskin.
While I rarely celebrate perfectionism, as it’s often an allusive illusion, Moleskine notebooks are truly in a class of their own– and as a prime example of the magic that can arise from exceptional thoughtful design. Moleskin notebooks are, without competition, the best notebooks you’ll own. Once you’ve used one of their notebooks, I doubt anyone would deny its outstanding experience.
From the quality of the bindings to the thoughtful sizing, to the excellent choice of materials, to the perfectly spaced lines, and the textures of the paper, to the overall look and feel of their notebooks– Moleskin is certainly a world’s best.
Whether held in hand or used for writing, I never knew such a simple pleasure can exist. Also, as someone who has kept a written diary since I was six, writing in my first Moleskin transformed my writing experience completely, which has won me over as a loyalist to the brand. For the better part of this decade and counting, I’ve never looked at another notebook. So, if you’re on the hunt for the superstar of all notebooks, Moleskin is your go-to.
Imagination lies at the heart of human creativity, and Trang Dang, a Vietnamese Singaporean-based digital artist, channels her eclectic sensibilities through the vivid themes and visual narratives of her digital illustrations.
The beauty of her artwork shines through the intimacy shared with her subjects. My interpretation of each drawing suggests that each piece is a personal reflection of the artist’s inner world at that particular moment in time.
Encapsulated in that temporal space of time, Dang’s attitude and moods are laid bare for all to see. At first glance, vulnerability is what emanates from her numerous depictions of a female character– perhaps a self-portrait capturing the ‘self’ in that moment of thought.
From the colours and the feminine figures to the wild and some edgy renditions, each expression feels like an intimate glimpse into the artist’s mind.
Spend the final moments before you fall asleep recounting three blessings from your day. This simple practice of appreciation can help you cultivate more gratitude in your life and hopefully send you off into a restful, positive slumber.
Those moments right before you sleep are some of the most crucial for shaping your overall attitude in life, as the thoughts you dwell on before drifting off are likely the ones that will be processed by your subconscious while you sleep.
Whether you’re aware of it or not, there’s evidence to suggest that those last waking moments before a night of sleep are among the most important in your daily life, as they set the stage for what your brain will process, store, and focus on during your slumber.
So, before you go to sleep tonight, consider answering one of these questions: What are three things you’re thankful for? What brought joy and spark to your day today? Who are three people in your life who add more love to your existence?
“…You do not have to ignore,
or erase the past,
you just have to wholeheartedly
embrace the present and move on…”
– Yung Pueblo
The passage above is part of a poem from a preview of Yung Peublo’s new book. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that he’s one of my favourite writers of all time. His words often resonate deeply with me, and the ones I share above are particularly apt for the moment I find myself in today.
There have been many moments in my life where I felt compelled to make a drastic change. While most of these moments may not make sense to anyone else or even to myself sometimes. There’s a strong gut feeling that persists for months. Urging move beyond my rationale, to take a leap of faith. Over time, for a handful of times, I’ve learned to say yes to these sparks of intuition.
But I must admit, in such moments of transition, I sometimes find it difficult to make the shift smoothly. I often find myself caught between two selves– the one before the decision and the one after.
What this passage reminds me of is that, while life will always have a moment of transition, each move doesn’t have to be so starkly black and white. Because at the end of the day, there’s always a lesson to be learned from all our encounters.
Before they became Grammy winners, there was a band I absolutely adored and listened to on repeat for hours, even days on end. The soothing voices, thoughtful lyrics, addictive beats, and refreshing melodies kept drawing me back, but what set them apart from any other band I knew was their effortless straddling of genres– techno, electro-pop, indie, and rock. Their blends of sounds resonated with me and listening to their music felt like finding a long-lost friend.
Rufus du Sol is a band like no other. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing both their live performance and DJ sets, and on both occasions, I beamed with a large grin from ear to ear. My discovery of them dates back to 2013 when I became utterly obsessed with their album, Atlas.
What pivotal moments in your life have helped shape the person you are today? What are the lessons and values you’ve taken from those experiences that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life?
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