June Commonplace
QUOTES
"You may think past ages were good, but it is only because you are not living in them." — St. Augustine
"Your response to a challenge defines you more than the challenge itself." — James Clear
Leisure by: William Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” —Leonardo da Vinci
Author and finance writer Morgan Housel on money and lifestyle: "If we have the same assets and I can earn an 8% annual returns, and you can earn 12% annual returns, but I need half as much money to be happy while your lifestyle compounds as fast as your assets, I'm better off than you are. I'm getting more benefit from my investments despite lower returns.
Think about that in the context of how much time and effort goes into achieving 0.1% of annual outperformance in this business – millions of hours of research, tens of billions of dollars of effort – and it's easy to see what's potentially more important or worth chasing.
There are investors who grind 80 hours a week to add 10 basis points to their returns when there are two or three full percentage points of lifestyle bloat in their finances that can be exploited with less effort. Outperformance is amazing when it can be achieved, and some can achieve a lot of it. But the fact that there's so much effort put into one side of the finance equation and so little put into the other is an opportunity for most people, companies, and countries.
This is not about living like a monk, hampered by frugality. It holds true at every level of wealth and spending. The value of all money is relative to expectations... The idea that reducing your needs has the same impact as increasing your income – but the former is more certain and in your control than the latter, so it has a higher expected value – is as true for someone spending $15,000 a year as it is for someone spending $15 million per year." -- Source: The Biggest Returns
"Darkness is preparation for light. Sadness is preparation for joy. Failure is preparation for success. But only if you keep going and remain open to what comes next." — James Clear
"Getting what you want out of life largely boils down to (1) the story you tell yourself and (2) where you direct your attention. What story do you tell yourself about what has happened to you, what you're capable of, and what you hope to achieve? Is the conversation in your head each day empowering and encouraging you, or holding you back? And are you taking control and directing your attention toward what matters or merely letting inertia pull you along? Most things don't matter and most actions won't deliver a result. Focus. Master your internal monologue and master your daily attention. Most tips, tricks, and tactics ultimately come back to these two things." — James Clear
"If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow." — Unknown
BOOKS
AUDIOBOOK - The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in the Age of Emptiness by Arthur Brooks
I was first introduced to Arthur Brooks through an interview with him and Fr. Mike Schmitz. He is an impressive guy, and I found him particularly intriguing because of his commitment to his strong Catholic faith. I loved this book and found it interesting, and I was fascinated by the case studies of people who were struggling to understand the meaning of their lives and their purpose. (I’ve never had that problem.) I can’t say that I learned anything new, but I do have a new sense of empathy for those who struggle.
AUDIOBOOK - Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Oh. My. Stars. I loved this book. I thought I would like it, but it exceeded my expectations. I loved everything about it. Without ruining the story, a “Trad-Wife” influencer wakes up in 1855 and is forced to live the life she’s been portraying online, and when you think it’s going nowhere, a wicked twist shows up at the end and ties it all together. This book might end up on my ‘Favorite Books’ list.
This movie has been on my list since I first saw the trailer in January. I didn’t even wait to see it streaming; I actually put on shoes and went to a theater. It was worth the effort. I loved every part of it. First of all, the story is simple yet fascinating, but I was mostly impressed by the casting. After watching hundreds of World War II documentaries, literally, I am familiar with these real-life characters, and this movie nailed the casting. I could tell by their uniforms, mannerisms, and tone of voice who was who. Even if you don’t love history, I can recommend this movie based on the story alone.
This is less like a book and more like a collection of quotes, but I still loved it. The author says that advice is really people speaking to earlier versions of themselves, and he offers many tips and tricks, but most of the motivation comes from others’ quotes.
TV - Seeking Persephone on Peacock
I first saw the trailer for this on an ad for the Angel Network subscription service, but I found it included with my Peacock subscription. I’m a sucker for all things Regency era, and although this one seemed like a Hallmark movie version, I still enjoyed it. And I have to say, the set and scenery were magnificent. (Adding to my yearning to visit England.) My advice would be to brush up on your Greek mythology to keep up with the story.
