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The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness

Five takeaways:

  1. New findings published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in August 2022 show that random acts of kindness have an underestimated positive effect on both those who commit them and those who receive them.
  2. Experiments referenced in the study each set out two groups that were to give out goodies (hot chocolate in one, a cupcake in the other) to strangers– both showed that the people giving the goodies out were surprised by both the joyful reactions of the recipients, and the level of positivity the act gave them.
  3. Unfortunately, “kindness can be a really hard sell,” says a clinical psychologist in the piece. “People desire kindness yet often feel inconvenienced by the thought of being kind.”
  4. Random Acts of Kindness can be infectious– a random act of kindness challenge on the campus of a small Arizona college in July has led to 200+ acts of kindness in the months since!
  5. Acts of kindness go well beyond baking cookies for someone. They can become more meaningful when we think about our developed skills and talents, and begin using them to help others. This can lead to more useful, meaningful, and cherished actions– for both the giver and the recipient.

From Catherine Pearson at The New York Times:
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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.

Champagne, Explained: A Snobbery-Free Guide to the Best of Bubbly

Five takeaways:

  1. Let’s start with the basics: champagne is a sparkling wine that bears the name of the region it comes from- the Champagne region of northeastern France.
  2. Champagnes are generally known for their bright acidity and light, lively body, often with a brioche-y and/or nutty quality thanks to required minimum aging on the lees, or dead yeast cells
  3. Champagne differs from other sparkling wines in its fermentation process. It’s second fermentation happens naturally, inside the bottle– a natural carbonic gas that cannot escape the sealed bottle naturally makes the wine sparkling.
  4. Champagne producers fall into two categories: Récoltant-Manipulant and Négociant-Manipulant.
    • A Récoltant-Manipulant grower, independently makes his or her wines onsite under his or her own label using grapes grown on the house’s vineyards exclusively.
    • A Négociant-Manipulant — such as Veuve Clicquot, Moët Chandon, and other big, well-known brand names — is defined as a group that buys outside grapes then produces the champagne on their premises. These make up most of the international market.
  5. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier are the most commonly used grapes in the production of champagne.

From Céline Bossart for Food & Wine
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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.

Choose Enjoyment Over Pleasure

Five takeaways:

  1. This article draws a clear and pivotal distinction between pleasure, which Brooks views as a potentially harmful, short-term salve– and enjoyment, which can be far more productive and fulfilling.
  2. Brooks notes: “Pleasure happens to you; enjoyment is something that you create through your own effort. Pleasure is the lightheadedness you get from a bit of grain alcohol; enjoyment is the satisfaction of a good wine, properly understood.”
  3. Enjoyment can give you sense of effort, foreword movement, and accomplishment. Enjoyment is a commitment to engaging with and savoring a situation.
  4. The examples are everywhere, and as simple as exercise: We enjoy being fit, but exercise itself may not bring us pleasure, as it is strenuous and time-consuming.
  5. Pursuing enjoyment over pleasure makes you intentionally independent from base impulses and pushes you towards more insight and personal growth.

From Arthur C. Brooks at The Atlantic:
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Note: At the time of this posting The Atlantic offers five free article views per month.

This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.

What Are Muscle ‘Knots’ and How Do You Get Rid of Them?

Five takeaways:

  1. The common muscle knot is technically known as a myofascial trigger point. The fascia is the thin layer of connective tissue that surrounds a muscle. When a muscle takes damage, even just a little, it can cause inflammation that makes it tender to the touch and can limit range of motion. As many of us are likely aware- they can be very uncomfortable!
  2. While these can be associated with strenuous exercise, you may also notice a muscle knot in your upper back and shoulders if you are consistently hunched over a computer all day.
  3. So how to get rid of them? The tried-and-true method is to wait them out. You can also try massages, electric stimulation, or even a procedure called dry needling, which injects a thin needle into the trigger point. Each of these methods is meant to break up the tissue and increase blood flow to the area- to decrease the tautness of the fascia.
  4. There are methods of “self-myofascial release”: using a foam roller or rolling device like a lacrosse ball or softball. Lying on a roller of some kind will allow you to put necessary pressure on the affected area and allow you to control the movement based on your own pain tolerance.
  5. For those of us at a desk all day, remember that consistent exercise habits and moving throughout the day can help keep knots from developing in your muscles in the first place.

Zachary Gillen from How Stuff Works
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This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be contained on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC and MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors are not responsible for and do not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third party website. The information and material contained in linked articles is of a general nature and is intended for educational purposes only. Links to articles do not constitute a recommendation or a solicitation or offer of the purchase or sale of securities.
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