a bit of this and that
Tea
Personally, I think that tea doesn't receive enough recognition compared to coffee or wine. It's been a refreshing break from my work to discover the diverse range of tea varieties, and I'm grateful to my Taiwanese colleagues for introducing me to some amazing oolongs. When it comes to purchasing tea, I always turn to In Pursuit of Tea for their exceptional selection and prices. However, my all-time favorite Earl Grey comes from Old Barrel Tea Co.
Meditation
Meditation has been incredibly helpful in my life. It helped me become happier, more grounded, and present. If you live in the Bay Area, there are several great places to help you practice, such as Spirit Rock, East Bay Meditation Center, and Berkeley Zen Center. My first meditation retreat was in the Goenka style and it was possible thanks to their generous donation-only policy.
Plants
I love plants and constantly strive to add more to my life. Among my favorites are calatheas, with their mesmerizing colors. I recently acquired a Swiss cheese plant (monstera adansonii) and am thrilled with it. And my waffle plant is recovering from a previous repotting attempt.
Favorite podcasts
As a millennial, I cannot survive without my regular dose of podcasts:
- The Grey Area with Sean Illing - absolute best
- Planet Money and the Indicator (among many other great NPR content)
- The Ezra Klein Show
- Corporate Gossip - learned about it from Planet Money and enjoyed ever since
Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV.17
