(Image via Pinterest)

It’s not quite beach weather around these parts but that’s not stopping me from celebrating the unofficial start to summer this weekend. I’m hoping to find myself a little out of town at some point. Maybe go to a bbq. Do some reading.

If you have a bit of downtime (now or later), I highly recommend listening to this episode of On Being: A Shift to Humility: Andrew Zolli on Resilience and Expanding the Edge of Change.  If you’ve been feeling a little bummed by recent things going on in the world, I think this conversation realistically speaks to what we’re collectively facing.  I’ve been thinking about the interview all week and have replayed portions of it a few times.  I truly & sincerely hope you’ll check it out!

Listen here

Clearly I should have worn the layered button down blouse with my over-sized handbag and above the knee skirt.  What was I thinking?!  In this overly pulled together skirt suit and classic bag I screamed standard, safe…predictable.  I didn’t stand a chance under the black and white lense.  It wasn’t my fault, exactly.  No one told me that there would be a geometric overlay.  In two colors no less.  My shoes were adventurous but how would you ever know?  And it’s not like his shoes were anything exciting.  But they were visible and that’s something, I guess.  Next time I’d know better.  I’d loose the understated but eternally classic double button jacket.  I’d shorten my skirt.  And I’d inevitably second guess the change when I spotted her looking just like I do today.

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As If It Were A Dream is an ongoing series in which I will pair an image with some of my own writings. Previous installments: 1 / 2 / 3

Image via here

I just watched this TED talk by clinical psychologist Meg Jay. Although I just turned 28, it is starting to feel like all of my peers are turning 30 or older; and there is a lot of 30 talk on the blogs that I read. I found this talk through one of our own contributors, Erin, from Well in L.A. The topic is very interesting to me as my friends and I always find ourselves in conversations about our generation.  As the economy has changed, I think it’s a strange time to be in your 20s. Meg Jay has some insights on how to get through them in a more beneficial way.

Here are her 3 tips for 20 somethings:

1. Get some identity capital – Do something that counts toward the person that you want to be.

2. Use your weak ties – connect with your weak ties for new friends, jobs and potential life partners.

3. Pick your family – Though you might not be able to pick the family you grew up with, you can start to pick the family you will have of your own.

I’ve been thinking lately, now that she’s back and settled, I really miss following Farrell’s travels through her posts here.  There were a lot of things about her travel posts that I liked, one of which was her Noteworthy series, a kind-of collections of lessons learned on the road.  I had a bit of an adventure away from home last weekend so I thought I’d revive the idea.

(Typewriter by Matthew Logelin

~Read the paper, start with the Arts section.

~You don’t have to go far to feel like you’ve gotten away.

~Accept invitations.

~Keep band-aids on hand for the transition from winter to summer shoes.

~Whatever you’re feeling right now is okay.

One of the cool things about living in LA is being able to attend free movie screenings. Last night, I went to see a screening of the new movie The East. This eco-thriller stars Brit Marling who also happens to be my girl crush. She is intelligent, talented, creative and beautiful. Recently, I have seen The Sound of My Voice, Another Earth and The East - all movies that she has not only starred in but also co-written. Each of these movies stayed with me for days, even weeks, after I saw them. They all leave you wanting more. After the screening last night, there was a Q & A with Brit (actress, co-writer, girl crush) and Zal Batmanglij (director and co-writer). It was awesome to hear them talk about their lives, their successes and goals for their movies together. The whole experience was interesting and inspiring.

If you haven’t seen any of movies that I mentioned, please do. I loved all 3 of them.

L: How do you keep up with the news?

F: I mostly listen to NPR.  Honestly, I don’t really like the news, so I keep my exposure to it at a minimum.

L: What’s your favorite style trend of the moment?

F:  I am pretty into the turban trend. I know it’s a bit last year but peeps in Los Angeles are sporting them. I use a bandana and make it into a faux turban sometimes. I think it’s fun.

L: Do you have a bike?

F: Nope, but I am in the market for one. I really miss being able to walk everywhere in NYC.  In LA, you get the feeling that you could bike a lot if you had one.

L: What’s something you’ve learned over the past few days?

F: I am on day 24 of my 40 day mental detox. It is about subtle mental shifts toward creating greater happiness. I have learned that when you make someone special (especially yourself) you create an unrealistic imbalance in your relationships. It is awesome to see everyone as equal.

L: Do you think it’s funny that we pose these questions to each other every week?

F: I think it is funny, however I like it. We usually ask each other questions that we wouldn’t actually ask each other directly when we are talking on the phone. It keeps me updated on things that I care about in your life. Plus, I miss you.