5 things for the weekend 23.20

be your own butler, banana bread, middle earth, photo challenge, take a nap

May 27, 2023

I’ve been away on a trip to The Netherlands this past week, so this week’s 5 Things is being delivered a little late! It was a whirlwind week full of activities with elementary aged kids from five different countries, so I am completely exhausted. But it was an enriching time, with new experiences, meeting new people and learning about different cultures. Though tired, I can feel that my head and my heart have grown several sizes, and I will be taking the next week or so to look back, reflect, do some journaling, and distill everything I learnt.

Intellectually I know that travelling helps us grow, but it’s only when I actually go on a trip, especially to a new place, that I really see how true that is. I am reminded that I want to build more new experiences in to my life, and it encourages me to get out of my comfort zone a bit more.

Where did you travel to last?

5 Things

1. This month The Postcard by Anne Berest will be translated from the French, and published in English in the US. This story talks about how the novel was inspired by an anonymous postcard received by the author’s mother.
2. Do you ever thank your past self for making life easier for you, by preparing things like the coffee machine the night before? According to this it’s like being your own butler, and is one way to approach having self-discipline.
3. There are only five ingredients in this banana oatmeal bread that’s great as a snack or for breakfast,
4. Lovers of The Lord of the Rings will appreciate the discussion of the theory that Middle Earth is not a place, but Tolkien’s way of showing the development of Britain over time.
5. Okay people! Naps aren’t just good to keep you rested, they also improve your creativity! Another great reason to build a nap into your day.