With hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions left homeless, this week ends on a somber note. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here are 48 Photos from the Earthquake in Haiti. Look at them. I have nothing to add except that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Please donate to the American Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders.
With that said, I’d like to share some articles I enjoyed reading this week:
How Dirty Is Your Mind? compares writing skills to house cleaning. “When we neglect the attic of our mind, all our creativity goes to waste.” In short, it’s easier to keep a clean attic and solid writing chops when you attend to these things on a regular basis.
5 Ways to Conquer Self Doubt could be a continuation on an article I wrote about managing your inner critic. My favorite tip is to go back in time and ask yourself when and why you first starting worrying about a certain type of situation. The author also mentions looking for the successes you have had. For example: if I can [climb a mountain, pass calculus, raise a child], then I can surely [write a book, get out of debt, master falconry].
While some of the points are just common sense, 50 Ways to Get Your Life in Order is worth reading. I would add one more point: don’t try all of this at once. If only I could finish the Herculean task of organizing my photo collection (#33).
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This list of articles is pretty thin as I haven’t been reading many blogs this week. I’m up to my elbows in leaving-Korea preparations.
Three things I’ve learned from these preparations:
1)You can sell anything on craigslist. Houseplants, humidifiers, salvaged furniture. Selling on CL is like having people pay you to dispose of your stuff.
2) Whenever possible, get a backup debit card. Check your accounts monthly, more frequently when traveling. Keep your bank informed of travel plans and big purchases.
3) Whenever you deal with a bureaucracy, gather up as many official documents as you can. Once you have them all, gather even more, things like utility bills and passport photos. Sometimes bribe money helps 😉
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Have a wonderful week, but remember those who have lost everything.
Photo credit: pinksherbet
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Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains is an excellent book for anyone who wants a better perspective on Haiti and international aid in general. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
Thanks again for the awesome blog, Seth!