51. A quick roundup #7
Late summer grounding practices.
interlude
Between personal & professional travel, friends visiting town, and leading an art day camp, I’ve had a full summer! Amidst all the movement, there have been some go-tos which keep me grounded. Let’s review them and find enjoyment & calm as we enter another school year.
resources
Stand-up comedy. Belly laughs are good for your heart, and I’m in the mood for more humour these days. By chance I found Aaron Chen’s special on YouTube, and was struck by the offbeat way his mind works. He is clever, quick on his feet (as these clips demonstrate), and doesn’t need to rely on off-colour jokes to be funny. This parody masterclass is also hilarious – acting as a real masterclass in subverting expectations.
Pentel brush pen. If you enjoy calligraphy or sketching, this is a fantastic pen! Reasonably-priced for the amount of ink cartridges included, which should last me a while. I’ve enjoyed loosely inking and adding swaths of colour with Mildliner highlighters, as seen in this piece from a hike in Lynn Valley with Hazel:
Registered massage therapy. For anyone who has the luxury of health insurance that covers RMT appointments, I recommend taking full advantage. Each appointment acts as a mini-vacation, when I remove myself from all technology (including my Apple Watch) and focus on relishing every moment. My RMT encourages me to let go of tension in my shoulders, which is a great metaphorical reminder as well.
And for those who don’t have the insurance, YouTube has some solid resources for restorative self-massage and stretching, like this and this! Really, any time we can take to feel into our bodies is well-spent.This tweet. What a fantastic perspective:
Any comedians you’d recommend, or practices that help you appreciate the present moment? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
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Who is your RMT? I’ve been trying out different ones to find one I like!