"One story stands out to me beyond getting to know each other and sharing ideas. When I was getting ready to give my first PyCon talk in Montreal, Selena Deckelmann offered to help review my slides and listen to me practice. We spent a few hours on the floor of her hotel room prepping while her very young daughter crawled around on the floor and chewed on my PyCon badge since she was teething. It's still one of my favorite PyCon and PyLadies memories." - Carol Willing, Willing Consulting
We live in a world of consumerism whether we like it or not. It's hard to do anything or go anywhere (or even doom scroll) without being served up the latest gadget, subscription, or solution - most of which end up being a reason you have to devote so much time to decluttering the damn house. How can you know when your latest splurge is actually worth it or just a waste?
I've often written on this blog about the complicated connection between money, purpose, and happiness. Some studies suggest that income relates to happiness up to a point, but the most enduring research tells a different story. The Harvard Adult Development Study, which has tracked participants for over 80 years, concludes that personal connections-not money-are the true key to fulfillment. Still, the question remains: Can we spend our way to happiness?
The author experienced strange knocking sounds at night in his Los Angeles apartment, leading him to fear for his safety and suspect supernatural involvement.