Starting the week as a finisher
Oh, hi friends!
Been thinking lately about finishing the task.
Not just finishing the hat (a creative hat.) But any task. From the truly mundane, like when my recycling piles up and I just need to take it downstairs, to the bigger ticket, higher commitment items. Or how a task can be a thought, like when you have an idea for a story but don't quite see it out until the end, because...no time, no energy, no collaborators, whatever your 'no' is.
The process of getting there is usually hard, but finishing always feels...worth it, you know?
What will you finish today?
Even though it rained 80% of the weekend, still managed pry myself away from Falcon Cam and slip away to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for a sunny afternoon. (Last time I went was 10 years ago...it's only a mile from my house!)
I still can't tell the difference between this tree or that tree (although I did meet a plant called "Sneezeweed") but that doesn't matter. Getting outside does.
"Traditional budgeting usually goes something like this: Assess expenses, then ruthlessly cut them.
This can lead to a scarcity mindset where you’re scrimping for pennies. Instead, you should ask yourself: What do I need to grow?"
Do you need a thrive list? (I think you do!)
I interviewed Tara Newman, a high-performance coach and organizational psychology expert, for my latest story for MONEY. She told me about creating a thrive list, where you write down 5 to 10 items that you need to, well, thrive. Most of them, she says, probably don't cost much money — and you should filter your budget through that lens. I found it v enlightening as scarcity mindset is my #1 enemy.
My friend Nina Strochlic is one of the most enterprising women I know — she travels the world as a writer for National Geographic, and now she and her colleague are turning their efforts toward helping South Sudanese refugees create self-sustaining businesses. As one does!
Meet The Milaya Project.
The civil war in South Sudan has displaced 2 million people. When refugees arrived to Uganda they carried their only possessions wrapped in beautifully embroidered bedsheets called milayas.
Today in Bidibidi refugee camp milayas are being sewn, but there are few customers. Nina and Nora Lorek created The Milaya Project, a non-profit that will help these women sell these gorgeous sheets, pillowcases, and prints in a digital shop.
You can support their efforts by backing their Kickstarter campaign (excellent gift idea: you can even sponsor a milaya artist for Mother's Day). They've got 22 more days to go!
Do you like these daily emails? Please share with a friend!
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Love, Kara