Tl;dr: please share your delightful passions, curiosities and projects in the comments and on social media using the hashtag #BrightThings
My dear multipotentialite friends,
Our writing and editorial team (myself, Claire Nyles, Neil and Kristin) have decided to change up our blog content for the month of April. We had a plan, and we’re scrapping that plan because we want to bring you articles that respond to the current moment and shared crises.
Specifically, we’ve decided that we’re going to bring you articles about “bright things”: art, poetry, lovely wormholes, and interesting topics to explore on the internet. We want to share some of our multipotentialite passions with you and hopefully pique your curiosity by introducing you to some new and delightful things.
I’ll kick it off.
Introducing my favourite podcast, Reply All
Do you guys listen to Reply All? If not, you have a LOT to look forward to! I’ve long felt that Reply All is The Best Podcast that exists, and I will defend that assertion. š
Reply All is “a show about the internet.” But it’s not really just about the internet. It’s basically about everything. A true multipotentialite podcast if I ever heard one.
Here are two amazing episodes to get you started:
Episode #102: Long Distance
A telephone scammer makes a big mistake by calling Alex: one of the hosts. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but it’s riveting.
Episode #158: The Case of the Missing Hit
If you grew up in the 90s and/or are a musician, you will find full delight in this episode. I was completely rapt listening to it. Once I finished it I immediately listened to it again. Expect to leave with an earworm though.
Just a heads up that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (and because the hosts and production team are amazing), they’re doing a bunch of call-in shows from their closets right now. But if you look back through their catalogue, there’s plenty of deep reporting and fascinating stories.
Your Turn
We want to share some of your favourite “bright things” this month, too. Got an interesting, heartwarming, whimsical, beautiful, or hilarious Thing you’ve discovered recently that you would like to share? It can be anything. Have you been learning about something that you’re super excited about? Feeling inspired by a particular book, person, theory, story, etc.?
There are two ways you can share:
- In the comments section below, tell me about something that might help lift up your fellow multipotentialites or at least give them something new and interesting to dig into.
- Share the love with the wider world. After posting your comment here, feel free to share your bright thing on social media using the hashtag #BrightThings
Let’s get this going!
Love you guys and thinking of you a lot right now.
Emilie
I am super stoked that I finally found a clear direction for my blog that I have been trying to start for years. Identifying what it should be about….my target audience….no kidding what I want to write about and then ultimately getting the copyright down to make it clear to potential viewers. Ironically enough, that all happened because I found Puttylike! I found the site a week ago and since then the creative juices have finally all come together. I re-did my About Page and Bio summary for the main page today and it finally feels complete! Oh, and for a cherry on top, I got my first whole week of social media posts scheduled out for the week for my first 7 blog posts today! Feeling super productive and accomplished. Hope that counts as a Bright Thing!
Great to read about going after the social media and congratulations…not easy. Iām kinda doing the same but more music oriented. I usually do instrumentals but..I went out and purchased a vocal harmonizer ? and learning…big curve..how to use it.
Iāve never sang in front of an audience (doesnāt mean I SHOULD sing either I guess) and Iām guessing many here and understand that indeed. I MADE myself do a few mic nights (instrumentals) too…you can imagine what my inner high introvert voice was saying..ha.
Aaaaannd…going to…not saying maybe this time….but going to launch my own website too.
The best to you too and I guess there are no good or bad days to get things rolling…just āI Dood it!ā days. So…I Dood it..you too?
Wow, Ashlie! That’s awesome. Congrats!
I’m currently reading The Overstory by Richard Powers, which is a book that is quite hard to describe. A friend that’s active in the Extinction Rebellion lent it to me and at first I thought “ugh, tree hugger stuff” but it really isn’t, or at least it is but through great storytelling and writing š
I’ve been telling friends it’s about the impact trees have on our lives, both actively and passively. It’s fiction but I’ve actually also learned quite a bit about trees and forests, the ways to care for them and the ways in which they are seen as commodities (already added Botany to the mental list of new things to study…).
Anyway, it’s got some sad bits, but I’m really enjoying it and I feel like I appreciate trees more now. Highly recommend!
I just finished The Overstory! It was one of the most amazing books Iāve ever read. I picked it up after developing a huge interest in trees following a fascinating Ted talk about how trees communicate with each other. I think Richard Powers is brilliant! Enjoy!
My wife has been talking about this! I think we’re going to have to order it. Thanks for the recommendation!
In these days when here, in Italy, we are relegated home from the lock down for COVID-19, I spend time helping my nephew with his paperwork for the exam of middle school and for the foreign language, English , he chose to talk about one of my myths, Steve Jobs.
His famous motto “Stay hungry, stay foolish” gave me inspiration to reflect on what I would like to do “after”.
I came back from two years in Ireland, right now. An experience with lights and shadows.
Like so many other times before, I threw myself into a new venture there: this time, perhaps, I went beyond my strength and I made many mistakes.
So I came back, disappointed, defeated, embittered.
I have to start again. But from where? As always, a thousand ideas and nothing above all.
I started going around the web, and I entered the word “eclectic”.
The Puttilike blog came out. An illumination. Finally a light! I’m not alone. I’m not wrong.
When I can leave the house, I won’t do “one thing”. I will do all that I consider appropriate and logically and economically possible.
Because I wasn’t born to do “one thing”, but all that things that my skills allow me to do. Some succeed. Some don’t.
If I got here, at 55, I will go even further.
Thanks Emilie!
Yes! That’s beautiful, Alessandra. Welcome to the Putty-verse and to appreciating your multipotentiality for the first time. That’s so wonderful.
I don’t know if you’re able to order books right now, but there is an Italian version of my book, How to Be Everything. Might be helpful!
Take care and stay safe!
Emilie
Alessandra, I too took a leap into my own venture 3 years ago. It wasnāt a massive success and Iāve spent the past 2 years sort of recovering financially from it, but being here and reading your words helps me feel like weāre part of a community that we may not have been exposed to had we stayed in our comfort zones. The adventure continues!
My Bright Thing is all the free and cheap learning courses that companies are selling right now! Even free ones. You can learn something new while quarantined.
Yeah, that is pretty sweet!
I wrote this story to feel safe when the virus news had just started coming in. I channeled my anxiety and my discomfort into the story and right now it’s helping me and my children to stay peaceful and at ease. It’s a fun, easy to read tale that’s helping other moms stay calm right now.
https://medium.com/@alifewellwritten/mom-im-afraid-what-do-i-do-4638051a7f95
<3 <3 <3! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
My Bright Thing is finally having more time to focus on my (sleeping) dreams and the practice of lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is being aware that you dream, while you dream, which allows you to explore and influence the vast wonderland that is the dream world. It is something that everyone can learn, if they put in the time and effort. Lucid Dreaming is one of my biggest passions that I wish more people knew about, as it changes so much about how I experience the world (in a good way.) For people getting started, I recommend Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming and Exploring the World of Lucid Dreams by Stephen Laberge. My other Bright Thing is having more time to read all the books I’ve had in my house for years but never got around to. I brought them all out in a stack and am already reading and enjoying them! And I am finally able to bring an online project hopefully to completion.
Oh nice. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of lucid dreaming. Enjoy!
Nature is an unlimited source of #brightthings. This morning my 79-year old father sent me a video he took on a walk yesterday of chirping frogs off a rural road in central Oregon. Yesterday I walked in my Seattle neighborhood and saw crocuses poking out of people’s yards and birds chirping. I don’t think we need to go far to stand/sit still and notice nature around us, even in the city. It’s part of being in the present and noticing what’s around us.
Absolutely. I live around a lot of nature and I’ve been appreciating it even more in the last couple weeks. There’s almost nothing better than being outside right now. I’m also grateful that I can go for a walk and see pretty much no one. It sounds so much harder to be in an urban setting right now.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your blog suggestion of Reply All Episode #102: Long Distance was sooo worth it. I’ve always wanted to track down one of the those scams and imagined creating a counter scam group to give them a taste of their own crap. Alex did a great job. Thanks Emilie!
Oh good!! There’s also a part two: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/76h5gl
A friend of mine is at home probably facing Corona virus right now and feeling very sick. I recorded a piece of music and sang out to her via Facebook. My general feelings about the whole situation is that we will come out of this so much stronger if we collectively point our energy on the source that we are and the light that we shine. We will shape out new future which is all love….
<3
I’ve been very into interior design lately. I recently posted some pictures of my house to a Facebook group, and I got tons of comments! It’s nice to have some validation, and I’m starting to think about ways to use this in my career search.
Very cool, Kacie!
My Bright Things are the books How To Be Everything (just finished) and Refuse to Choose (in progress). I am also working through an online backpacking course from She Dreams of Alpine and just started a paddle sports mentorship program.
I want to get started on some projects next month (I have been too scared to go for it before this point) and am really hoping that my BRIGHTEST thing will be being able to join The Puttytribe (keeping my fingers crossed).
Aww!! That’s awesome, Kirsten! The Puttytribe is opening up next Tuesday, so I’ll look out for you in there! š
My Bright Thing is that I finally have so much time (save lots of travel time with work from home) to do lots of reading and improve myself in areas that is not my professional expertise. And also find that myself and friends / friends in church / ex-team members are so close to each other and care about each other (to order / share masks, share information and to enlighten everyone with positive stories). This happened again after 2003 when we had SARS here. And we kept on praying for everyone in the world!
That’s great, Gina. Glad you’re finding some joy and connection.
Iām from Italy and Iām a fitness instructor.
Recently I discovered the world of Online Trading and literally it saved my life.
At the moment my gym is closed for Covid-19 and I began to share on Social media my passion about Trading and books like ??? ?? ?? ??????????.
The online Trading is my only way of income and I was falling in love with it.
I hope the situation will be fine soon.
Good luck to everyone
#brightthing
I run into Emilieās TedTalk 6 months ago. Interesting enough that happens just as I was ready to resign in the job I had to focus on some of my own projects. Since then I have been focusing in my hotel, cooking, carpentry, family, commercial consulting and my studies of magic and mentalism. Lately I also started some stand up classes and have been for most of the past two weeks studying mentalism and learning some new home improvement traits……txs for sharing your thoughts and experiences…..
I compiled a list of freebies and resources because there are SO many things available now that Iām excited to try!
https://medium.com/@alt1/covid-19-online-resources-a4a9bdf7a347
Amazing resource. Thanks Alice!
After a long and rainy winter that felt like an endlessly prolonged autumn, the sun is shining and many spring flowers are in bloom!
Anyone who has encountered some of my shares knows this already, that one of my earliest Internet discoveries (before 1995) was also one of the most exciting. So, to call it my favorite Bright Thing after all these years still applies. When you visit this website, you’re at risk of exponentially expanding your multipotentialality!
Welcome to Martindale’s Reference Desk…
https://martindalecenter.com/
Itās….GLORIOUS
I’m taking the time to dedicate myself more to my family – spending more fun time with the kids playing boardgames and watching movies -, to my homestead – so much to do right now!!! -, and to myself and my projects, starting with cleaning, sorting out, organizing and releasing! And cooking and freezing meals, canning stuff and creating a balcony kitchen garden for easier management in case I get sick.
Also, going through all of your posts! š
My bright spot is that I am hunkered down with my daughter, which means we have so much more time to work on collaborative art pieces together…the creativity is really flowing.
I am a special education teacher a year away from retirement. Although technology is incorporated into everything I do, I have really been stretched when my district moved to a remote learning model a few weeks ago. I’ve learned to create audio files, have used Google translate to reach out to non-English speakers, conducted troubleshooting sessions by phone, and participated in virtual faculty meetings.
Every teacher I know complains how time-consuming preparing remote lessons is, and how exhausted we all are by the end of the day. We start answering emails at breakfast and are still slumped over our computers after 10PM,including weekends.
What surprised me most about this whole experience is how much I miss the kids,especially the needy, talkative, squirmy, challenging ones. I miss greeting my colleagues, fussing over broken copy machines, the hustle and bustle of the hallways. I even miss cafeteria duty! This has been a real eye opener for me.
Another bright spot is that I have been nurturing my love of poetry, participating in virtual writing workshops and poetry readings. And after talking about it for years, I finally entered a NaPoMo (National Poetry Month) writing challenge and am working on a chapbook.
Anne, seeing that you are a teacher, I just want to thank you for the amazing gift you give to kids. Teachers are so under appreciated and I hope one day we can live in a world where teachers are rewarded on the level of Doctors and Lawyers. YOU are amazing!
Hi! My name is Chiara and I’m italian. I am a 3rd year medical student so during the biggest part of my time I study for my exams but during this period I redescovered so many passions and I enjoyed two online courses: one about vegan kitchen and another about fashion sustainability. I am reading many books that I bought and never read during these years and I redescovered my passion for French language. During my free time I also do origami and I am learning the basics of italian sign language. I love being a multipotentiate and I love this community. Thank you Emily for creating this beautiful virtual place. <3
Hi! My Bright Thing is definitely the discovery of this website! I work as an HR in a commodity trading firm and was just thinking”hm. I recall my Arabic studies, those were good days too; maybe i should go back and do a masters with a thesis on calligraphy” Of COURSE this has something to do with trading.
Thanks so much,
Diego
My Bright Thing is how I made my way to Puttylike. A few weeks ago, I decided to take a course on āLearning How To Learn.ā Itās a fascinating course offered through Coursera. I mention it because in the course they offer optional reading assignments and in one of the articles I read, I was exposed to the concept of the Polymath. The article taught me that having various interests is OKAY and that Polymaths only became less of a thing through the rise of the Industrial Revolution and the division of labor (Specialization). That then led me to realize that Polymaths were, at one time, praised in society! With that in mind, I typed āPolymathā into my TED talks app and thereās Emelie, speaking about how being a Multipotentialite! Before today, I felt all this self doubt about my lack of Specialization and it made me less confident, when I saw other people my age achieving metrics of success just because they were specialized in something or lucky enough to not get laid off from a company like I did a few years back. Today, I am so extremely grateful that I have the language to describe my learning style and way of life and I am super excited to have found this community at a time that the world likely needs Multipotentialites more than ever! ??? We ALL have amazing potential!