October 25, 2021

Hello BOSLadies,

This week is Lightfair which means that Brittany and I will be delivering speeches on Thursday at 1pm as part of Voices of WILD: Rising for Social Change. Come support us if you're in town! Looking forward to seeing as many of you as we can :)

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 9th at 6pm EST for a Q&A with the author of this month's book Blue Mind:The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. I'm VERY excited to hear what everyone thinks of the book and if it has influenced anyone else in the way it did me.

The Weekly Three

1. Something about why moving water is good for us: An excerpt from an article written by Blue Mind author Wallace J Nichols:

"In a natural environment on or near water, there’s a high degree of predictability — unlike a busy street, a body of water is largely the same from moment to moment. The background we see is fairly controlled, which allows part of the brain to relax. Against that consistent background, the brain continues to search for something that wasn’t there before, since the essence of survival is the correct interpretation of things that don’t fit in the landscape. When the brain notices a disturbance on the surface (like a wave or a water bird), there’s a sense of surprise and novelty, which is accompanied by a pleasurable hit of dopamine. Because bodies of water stay the same and change simultaneously, we experience both soothing familiarity and stimulating novelty when we look at them. This is regularity without monotony, the perfect recipe for triggering a state of involuntary attention in which the brain’s default network — essential to creativity and problem solving — gets triggered. This dreamy state of involuntary attention is a key characteristic of Blue Mind."

2. Something about cold-water swimming and mindfulness: Southern California cold isn't New England cold. Yet I still have trouble getting into the water on the days that I get to the beach before work. Maybe a wet suit will help? It's worth the battle of will. On the days that I swim before heading into the office, I feel unflappable. I read this article by one of my favorite artists and it helps explain why.

3. Something fun for fall by Grace Farris:

Thank you for your time and enjoy your week,

Amber