The taxi pulled up on the opposite side of the street. I handed the driver 10 euros, and hauled my backpack out of the car.
Then I turned to my left and looked up. There it was, towering magnificently above me.
Basílica de la Sagrada Família, architect Antoni Gaudí’s magnum opus in Barcelona. Construction began in 1882, and is still ongoing. It’s projected to be completed in 2026, 100 years after Gaudí’s death.
I was awestruck upon seeing it. For a few seconds, I thought I was going to weep — it was that powerful.
To think that the minds and labor of human beings could create such a magnificent structure is awesome in the truest sense of the word. You can see pictures of the interior of the cathedral here (scroll down past the pictures of Mykonos).
Just days later, however, I experienced the dark side of what mankind can do. The Spanish National Police viciously beating peaceful voters in Barcelona, and the next morning, the news from Las Vegas.
It’s a confounding and often tragic world that we live in. At best, we should seek every opportunity to experience and appreciate all the awesome aspects of life, both big and small.
Keep going-
Brian Clark
Further
further: resources
Heart Healthy
The death of Tom Petty from cardiac arrest hit hard. Like Bowie and Prince, we somehow thought he would always be there for us. The music remains, so let’s take care of our hearts to keep the show going.
Beets Me
I didn’t know that beet juice is an endurance aid. And now, I further know that it’s good for your brain.
Beet Juice Keeps Your Brain Young
It’s All About Control
For most of us, temptations are everywhere, from the dessert buffet to the online shoe boutique. But a new study suggests that exercise might be a simple if unexpected way to increase our willpower and perhaps help us to avoid making impulsive choices that we will later regret.
How Exercise Might Increase Your Self-Control
Rich Life
Saving money may not be about retirement; it may be about living a longer life. But will only the wealthy have a true shot at living to 120 and beyond? The income effect on longevity could get a lot wider as medical science evolves.
Face Time Fail
Empathy relies on more than reading facial expressions. In fact, new research is suggesting just how powerful the voice can be to help us connect, and it’s good news for our technological lifestyle.
Why You’re More Emotionally Intelligent on the Phone: We Read Voices Better than Faces
Ambiversion 2.0
The popular dichotomy between introverts and extroverts obscures a more important factor: how well you can adapt your personality to a given situation.
Introvert Or Extrovert? Here’s Another Way To Think About Your Personality
Walk This Way
You might think this piece is about health, but it’s actually about productivity. Specifically, taking the time to think about what you want to produce.
Mission Critical
Most intelligence tests fail to capture real-world decision-making and our ability to interact well with others. The ability to think critically, on the other hand, has been associated with wellness and longevity.
Why Do Smart People Do Foolish Things?
Home Alone
In our hyper-connected world, a world in which we can communicate constantly and instantly over the internet, we rarely remember to carve out spaces for solitary contemplation. But if we lose our capacity for solitude, our ability to be alone with ourselves, then we lose our very ability to think.
Before You Can be With Others, First Learn to be Alone
Be Awesome
Given the way this issue began, you’ve probably guessed that I dislike the modern trivialization of the word awesome. And yet, this is the perfect way to wrap things up for the week.
further: sharing
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