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Ever felt a spontaneous yearning to pack your bags and go? A compelling urge to explore the unseen, untouched corners of the world?

That’s wanderlust, my friends.

What is Wanderlust?

The word “wanderlust” is a charming fusion of the German words “wander,” meaning to hike or roam, and “lust,” meaning desire.

The Appeal of Wanderlust

There are many reasons why people experience wanderlust. Some may crave adventure and new experiences, while others may seek a break from their routine. Others might still seek a deeper understanding of different cultures or a spiritual connection with the world around them.

The Science of Wanderlust

Studies have shown that travel can positively impact mental health, including reducing stress and improving mood. It can also lead to increased creativity and more significant personal growth.

Unpacking the Psychological Theories Behind Wanderlust

The Biophilia Hypothesis

Ever wondered why a simple walk in the woods can feel so rejuvenating? Edward O. Wilson’s Biophilia Hypothesis suggests humans inherently desire to connect with nature. This evolutionary bond drives us towards exploration and fuels our wanderlust.

The Self-Determination Theory

According to psychologists Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, we’re driven by three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Travel empowers us with a sense of independence (autonomy), the opportunity to learn and adapt (competence), and the ability to form meaningful relationships with others (relatedness). Our wanderlust might be our subconscious desire to satisfy these core needs.

The Curiosity-Interest Model

This theory suggests that our urge to travel is sparked by curiosity. It’s our intrinsic desire to discover, understand, and predict the unknown. Does the thought of an exotic location pique your interest? That’s your curiosity, and possibly wanderlust, talking.

The Brain’s Reward System: Dopamine, Serotonin, and Oxytocin

Our wanderlust also has some pretty fascinating chemical roots. Ever felt a rush of excitement when planning a trip or stepping off a plane in a new place? That’s a burst of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with reward and pleasure. Travel can also boost levels of serotonin (associated with well-being) and oxytocin (the love or bonding hormone). These hormones work together, making us feel happier and more connected, thus perpetuating our desire to travel.

Wanderlust: A Rebellion Against Societal Constraints?

Sometimes, wanderlust is our spirit’s response to societal norms and constraints. Do you feel tied down by routine or societal expectations? Craving adventure could be your way of seeking an escape or expressing individuality. Traveling allows us to break free, shake things up, and live on our own terms – even if just temporarily.

Reaping the Psychological Benefits of Satisfying Wanderlust

Beyond the joy of seeing new sights and meeting new people, travel is packed with psychological perks. It can boost our mood, reduce stress, and stimulate creativity. It’s also an avenue for personal growth and self-discovery. As we navigate different places and cultures, we learn more about ourselves, our strengths, our values, and our place in the world.

Conclusion

Wanderlust is not merely a desire to break routine or see new places; it’s deeply rooted in our evolutionary history, innate psychological needs, and individual personalities. The next time you feel that irresistible itch to explore, remember it’s not just you wanting to roam.

Your nature, curiosity, and desire for self-fulfillment guide you toward new horizons.

Where’s your wanderlust taking you?

Sometimes, the hardest part is admitting to ourselves that we are stuck.

Photo by Mahdi Bafande on Unsplash

You feel trapped. Every move you attempt to make is met by some wall – real or imagined.

The barrier could be a dead-end job, a bad relationship, or a feeling of lack: financial, spiritual, or plain old malaise.

I’ve personally had these feelings. It’s not fun.

You lay awake at night trying to put the puzzle pieces together that will solve ‘the problem’ — only to wind up in the same place the next day. (Pro tip: 3am is not the time or place for problem-solving.)

You need to get ‘unstuck and unf$%#d’.

It is a frustrating experience, but remember — it’s not a permanent state.

Let’s dive in and explore some practical ways to get unstuck and start moving forward:

Recognize That You’re Stuck

It sucks that we’re not progressing in the ways we’d like, whether in our careers, personal lives, or other areas. The first step of change is always the hardest. Go ahead and admit to yourself that you are stuck.

Confirming this reality is the first significant step towards freeing yourself. Look out for signs such as feelings of dissatisfaction, frustration, or feeling overwhelmed.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

It’s okay to have mixed feelings about change. Acknowledge and accept your emotions rather than trying to suppress them. This is a healthy part of processing change and moving toward acceptance.

Identify What’s Holding You Back

It’s essential to identify what exactly is holding you back. Fear of failure? Uncertainty about the future? Lack of motivation? A toxic environment? This identification process should be easy — but this exercise may cause you to discover other things about yourself or your problems that may have been simmering under the surface. Once you’ve pinpointed the issues, you can begin to address them head-on.

Learn from Past Changes

This can be a tricky one for some people. Some of us use the past as a crutch or an excuse for why our life isn’t better. This is a recipe for disaster.

Reflect, but don’t dwell on past changes in your life. What did you learn from those experiences? How did you adapt and grow? Use these reflections to build confidence in your ability to navigate future changes.

Set Clear, Achievable Goals

Without a clear direction, it’s easy to feel stuck. That’s why setting goals is so important. Your goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This approach will give you a clear path and a sense of purpose as you work toward your objectives.

Goal setting shouldn’t be empty wishes.

‘Losing weight’ is not a goal; it’s a concept, and it’s neither specific nor measurable.

‘Lose 25 lbs in a week’ is neither realistic nor obtainable.

‘Lose 25 lbs by your friend’s wedding in October’ is more realistic and achievable.

Embrace Change

Often, we’re stuck because we’re unwilling or afraid to embrace change. However, change is a part of life and is often the catalyst that propels us forward. So, lean into it. Embrace the new experiences, opportunities, and people that come your way.

Develop a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset, a term coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and persistence. This mindset encourages embracing challenges, persisting in the face of setbacks, and seeing effort as the path to mastery. You’re less likely to feel stuck if you perceive challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.

Use the Power of “Yet”

When faced with a difficult task, remind yourself that you may not be able to do it “yet.” This small word is powerful because it implies that growth and learning are on the horizon. It shifts your perspective from a fixed mindset (“I can’t do this”) to a growth mindset (“I can’t do this yet, but I can learn”).

Practice Self-Care

When you’re feeling stuck, taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical well-being is more important than ever. This means eating healthily, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and taking time for activities you enjoy. These actions will improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and provide you with the resilience needed to tackle your challenges.

Sometimes, we’re our harshest critics. It’s important to remember to be kind to yourself. If you need a day off, take it. Watch your favorite movie, eat your favorite meal, and do what makes you happy.

Seek Support

It’s okay to ask for help. Reach out to trusted friends, family members. They can provide a fresh perspective, advice, and the emotional support you need to get unstuck.

If you’re uncomfortable sharing your issues with friends and family, a telehealth counselor or professional coach may give you the insights you want. They can provide you unbiased information, opinions, and a fresh perspective to help move you on your way.

Take Action

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, take action. Even small steps can start to break the cycle of feeling stuck. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; it will never come. Instead, make the moment perfect by taking decisive right now.

Feeling stuck in life is something that happens to everyone.

It’s not a sign of failure; it’s a sign that it’s time for a change. As you work on yourself, keep these thoughts and practices in mind:

  • Practice Gratitude: Stay grateful for what you already have. Being thankful attracts more abundance.
  •  Believe: Have faith that you can achieve your dreams. Believe in yourself and your abilities.
  •  Patience: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t expect instant gratification. Keep working hard and be patient.

By acknowledging the issue, identifying the causes, setting clear goals, embracing change, and taking action, you can break free and start moving forward again.

Here’s to getting unstuck and turning the page to a new chapter.

Providing an accessible website can improve the reputation of a company or organization and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Photo by Daniel Ali on Unsplash

It’s essential to have an accessible website to ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, have equal access to the information and services provided.

Accessible websites have higher search engine rankings, can reach a wider audience, and can improve the overall user experience.

There are also legal requirements that websites must meet to ensure accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, which require federal agencies to make their information and communications technology accessible to people with disabilities.

Here are ten simple tips to make your site more accessible:

  1. Be DescriptiveUse descriptive and concise text for links and buttons instead of generic terms like “click here” or “read more.”
  2. Provide alternative text for images to ensure that users with visual impairments can understand the content.
  3. Use high-contrast colors to make text easy to read, especially for users with color blindness.
  4. Ensure all website functionality is accessible using only a keyboard, not just a mouse.
  5. Headings and subheadings help users quickly find the information they need. They also provide a consistent structure that can be used to navigate through web pages with ease. Descriptive headings and subheadings should be concise yet clear so that users immediately understand the content beneath them. Pay attention to the order of your headings and subheadings; you’ll want them to reflect the logical flow of your content.
  6. Provide closed captions and transcripts for all video and audio content.
  7. Ensure that form fields are labeled and organized logically to aid users in completing the form.
  8. Avoid using flashing or moving content that may trigger seizures in users with epilepsy.
  9. Use clear and straightforward language that is easy to understand, avoiding jargon and complex vocabulary.
  10. Conduct regular accessibility testing to identify and address any issues that may arise.

When creating a website, always keep web accessibility in mind. By ensuring your website is accessible to all users, you’ll create a better experience for everyone.

The Awesome Things Newsletter is my weekly read featuring ~10 interesting things I found on the internet that week. Sign up for free at Substack and get Awesome Things delivered to your inbox fresh and hot each Friday AM.

Last week’s most clicked link: 9% of readers clicked These Vintage Photos of Celebrities in Their New York City Apartments Will Take You Back in Time

On to this week’s Awesome Things:

Interview: Photographer Documents 33 Women Before and After They Became a Mom

There are few things in life that have a bigger impact than becoming a parent. Motherhood, in particular, changes a woman in profound ways—not just physically, but emotionally, too. Photographer and mother Vaida Markeviciute-Razmislavice noticed her own transformation before childbirth and after her son was born.


Take Ai Weiwei’s Middle Finger Anywhere in the World

Since 1995, artist Ai Weiwei has been flipping the bird to a myriad of global landmarks steeped in oppression, censorship, and overreaching control as a means of reminding the people to question the status quo and represent their own personal values.


40 Years Ago: Why David Bowie Regretted ‘Let’s Dance’ So Much

“I asked myself, ‘Why have I chosen this music?'” Bowie later mused.

[This is far and away my most UNFAVORITE Bowie song. Sorry/Not Sorry. – JS]


Are you mindlessly scrolling? Here’s how to tame your bad tech habit.

Even good habits can cross the line into unhealthy compulsion


Get in on the StockParty happening now! Join with my link and we’ll both get bonus stock, plus an extra $20 to invest (it’s that easy).


What $100,000 Is Actually Worth in the Largest U.S. Cities – 2023 Study

Seen as a sign of success and financial comfort, a six-figure salary has long been an important milestone for American workers. But the times have changed and $100,000 isn’t quite what it used to be, especially as rampant inflation continues to sap the purchasing power of money and push the cost of living higher.


The Perils and Pleasures of Bartending in Antarctica

At the South Pole, the freezer is just a hole in the wall to the ice outside.


Check out Instacart: 1 hour grocery delivery! Here’s $20 worth of free groceries


30 Movies That Are Somehow Turning 30 This Year

Does it make you feel old to know Mrs. Doubtfire is three decades old? What about Jurassic Park? Free Willy?


Why You Should Bake Your Wool Sweater in the Oven Before You Wear It

Of all the things you can do with an oven—make chocolate chip cookies, roast veggies, or reheat leftovers—the last thing you’d think to do is bake your sweater. Yet this is precisely what Audrey Danser, owner of Salvage Studio in San Francisco, proposes in an Instagram post.


To get up to $10 in ride credit, just download the Lyft app using my referral. (I’ll get credit, too.) Here’s my referral link


Leftovers

🌴 Check out this incredibly colorful and preserved mid-century Palm Springs digs.

🕳️ Clickbait: Hiding Places (Reddit link)

🎣 The Mexican Fisherman (Amazing Short Story)

@johnsuder created with Midjourney v4

Let me begin by saying I absolutely love what’s happening in the AI space. I started playing with image generation on DALL-E last year. The results were…meh. But it was fun, and I saw the possibilities on the horizon. I continued to experiment with DALL-E, I tried Stable Diffusion, then I discovered Midjourney and that’s where things really took off. Then ChatGPT was released to the public. I do a lot of writing for my job, and AI has helped me create better content faster. It’s not an end-all/be-all (although someday it might!). AI for writing should be used as an aid, not a robot, to finish your work. The combination of writing and imaging tools used in concert is an amazing thing.

“The enemies of progress are those who maintain the status quo, resist change, and cling to outdated ideas, while the rest of the world moves forward.” — Unknown

AI and Art

AI is helping artists worldwide to create new and original pieces of art. It’s helping them create new and exciting worlds, stories, and visuals they could never produce. AI is also helping writers with their work by suggesting new and creative sentence structures and words. It’s also assisting musicians in creating sounds that they could have never done before. AI allows people to explore new worlds of art and allows for more creativity and innovation.

Why Should Artists Care?

Artists must take the time to learn and understand AI and how it works, as this knowledge will be invaluable for them in their work. Major companies are already using AI to create new products and services, and it will only get bigger. By understanding how AI works, artists can use it to their advantage and create artwork that can stand out from the crowd.

True Art Is Not Going Anywhere

Hear me out: AI will never replace things crafted by hand. Sure, we already see electronic exhibits filled with motion and color, but how can you compare that to a beautiful painting, drawing, or sculpture? No AI can replace the personal touch of an artist. Art is, and will always be, a form of expression that a computer cannot replicate.

My Personal Art Struggle and Backstory

Things are moving so quickly, and I wondered how this would affect my art production. While I love to sit in Midjourney and crank out wild imaginative images, it is not the same as a pen to paper or brush to canvas.

For the last 11 years, I have been a hobby lettering artist. I have loved letters, lettering, and typography for as long as I can remember. I was a graffiti artist briefly in my youth, and I embraced lettering and posted almost daily for about five years.

The ‘problem’ arose that I spent much more time playing with the latest shiny object on the computer and iPad and less time putting pen to paper. I slacked off and eventually stopped posting. I also noticed a shift on Instagram, which was once the haven for artists to share their work — it’s now a TikTok ripoff filled with vapid videos and memes.

As things have accelerated these past few months, I’ve thought about what would make me stand out again in the blur of the AI art movement. I’ve decided not to fight the tide — I’m still all in on AI tools — but I need to take a step back to my roots and have the discipline to step away from the computer and get back to the (literal) drawing board.

Conclusion

AI is already taking over many aspects of everyday life, and art is no exception. AI can provide an excellent opportunity for artists to explore new ideas and create unique pieces. However, it is still important to remember that there is no substitute for the human touch in art. AI can only be an aid to assist in the artistic process, not to replace it.

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I write stuff on my blog and post art on my website and Instagram.
I also have a newsletter called Awesome Things. I think you’ll like it.