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R: Mommy, can we go on the train one day?

H: Sure, where do you want to go?

R: On the train!

So for a few hours one day, we rode the train together from one end of the city to the other, and back. No destination. No agenda. We were just riding the train for the sake of it.

That morning, as we walked to the train station, I felt proud that I had carved out a few hours to give my son my full, undivided attention. Such a lucky kid, I thought.

But the truth is, I was the lucky one. With nowhere to be, no schedule to keep, no phone, no books, no tasks or conversations that require my attention, my son gifted me the opportunity to slow down and savour the experience with him. I can still recall the way his face lit up as the train zoomed through a tunnel, his contagious laugh and silly dance moves as we waited for the train to go back the other way. Afterwards, my kid declared it one of the best outings we've ever had together, and I think he's right. 😊

Anyone else relate?

Healthy boundaries 👏
Proper hydration and nutrition 👏
Quality sleep 👏
Being in tune with your body 👏

Fun fact about Angela: She loves podcasts – specifically podcasts about real people who have interesting stories that inspire her, or open her eyes to something she didn’t know or can’t imagine.

She put together a list of the podcasts that she regularly finds herself lost in, and we’re sharing them below. Which podcasts are your favourite?

✨The Mortified Podcast: Good for a laugh! People read their diaries or journals from when they were young, which are so hilarious to listen to.

✨The Dropout: A series about the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, who was found guilty of fraud. I found it fascinating and shocking to listen to how far she went to pretend to be someone successful and fit into what others view as a strong leader.

✨Under the Influence: Marketing stories that let me reconnect with my former marketing nerd and learn interesting and cool things that maintain my healthy skepticism of all advertising.

✨Labyrinths: A really interesting and diverse collection of stories and people, historical events, and issues that remind me it’s normal to feel lost, and also allow me to get lost in other people’s stories.

✨The Happiness Lab: Led by the same amazing person that ran ‘The Science of Well-Being Course’ through Yale, this podcast talks about all things related to happiness and gives me good reminders to reinforce what I’m pursuing and what I can let go of as I find my own happiness.