For you, from me, with love

Flowers Credit Kirsten Akens 2015

A blend of old and new offerings around and about that I've been dipping into this week.

Enjoy!

Learn: My favorite Seth Godin piece this month: "Compared to."

Participate: Fellow blogger Erin, over at Adventures in Thumbholes, started the Small Change Initiative to encourage runners who travel to competitions to make a small donation to a nonprofit in the community in which a particular race is being held. This year, Erin (who had planned to compete in the Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon, but now can't due to an injury) chose to donate to a cause close to my heart, Safe Place for Pets. Thanks, Erin, for starting this program and for supporting Colorado Springs. Hopefully you'll be in tip-top shape for next year's race! And to all my runner friends, give her site a read, and maybe pass along the kindness wherever your journeys take you?

Watch: The incomparable Bill T. Jones: The dancer, the singer, the cellist ... and a moment of creative magic, on TED.

Eat: A #newrecipeaweek from last week: Kale Market Salad. Yum.

Gadgetry: I'm in love with my new Sigg thermos. No joke. (And note: this is not a sponsored post.) I used it at a workshop this past weekend, and each morning when I went to rinse the water out from the day prior, the ICE WAS STILL SOLID — 24-plus hours later. The tea filter does double-duty, keeping ice from falling out the bottle and all over your face. Bonus!

Listen: My dear friend Laurie was in a mass shooting at New Life Church here in Colorado Springs almost eight years ago. Both her twin sister Stephanie and her younger sister Rachel died. KCMJ Radio recently interviewed Laurie about her story and her journey of healing. It's inspiring. Listen below. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/216766908" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Read: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan. I haven't finished this yet but it's been such a fun romp so far (on audio) I'm looking for others to geek out with me.

Insight: From 8 Ways to Get Ready for Your Wild and Precious Life, by Courtney Carver:

While we can’t be certain about how our lives will unfold, when we decide to be mindful about how we spend our time, and the people we want to be, we have a shot at not only knowing the answer to this lovely question, but living it too.