You can find additional content by clicking many of the images and photos below as well as the underlined links.

What Makes a Good Life?

Robert Waldinger is the fourth director of the longest longitudinal study on happiness. The comprehensive Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1930 and is ongoing--it has lasted over 85 years, following 724 men (60 of them are still alive today) and the research continues on their children as well).

Waldinger's Ted Talk spells out the results and what they have found might surprise you. Contrary to what most people might think in America, the secret to a happy life has nothing to do with money or fame.

The cliff notes on this talk is that good close relationships are what makes for a good long life. Mark Twain just about sums it up: “There isn't time, so brief is life, for bickerings, apologies, heartburnings, callings to account. There is only time for loving, and but an instant, so to speak, for that.”

Ben and Jerry's Oreo Bar Graph

How to illustrate concepts where the numbers are just so big that it is hard to picture? How to combat all the fake news out there?

What better way than than through easy to read, straightforward bar graphs that show comparisons throughout history of what is really going on with our budget, gdp, unemployment, immigration, etc. It is a clear way to separate truth from propaganda--looking at cold hard numbers in a very easy digestible way...What policies work and under what administrations have we made the most progress?

Ben and Jerry were on to something when they created this U.S. Budget Oreo Chart, which is simplified here in cartoon form. Although it is ten years old, I think the gist of it is still very valid.

I just wish more of the news was conveyed in this way...

Traditional Dress

This short video This is Not Our Traditional Dress has been making the rounds on social media. Thought it was important to repeat here as a reminder that we have backpedaled and need to fight to combat that. Women Unite! We have the Power! How to stop this horrific trend?

Painting of the Week

Charity of the Week:

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.