Laura Morarity

“It is quality rather than quantity that matters. Do a good job.”

I love a well-timed and accurate fortune cookie.

Wendell Berry provides his point of view on gay marriage at a conference at Georgetown College. The article goes in depth and provides really wonderful perspective, but this quote struck me the most. 

Condemnation by category is the lowest form of hatred, for it is cold-hearted and abstract, lacking even the courage of a personal hatred. Categorical condemnation is the hatred of the mob. It makes cowards brave. And there is nothing more fearful than a religious mob, a mob overflowing with righteousness – as at the crucifixion and before and since. This can happen only after we have made a categorical refusal to kindness: to heretics, foreigners, enemies or any other group different from ourselves.

If you have to get to work extra early, seeing a beautiful sunrise over South Lake Union with Mt. Baker in the background makes things a little better. Of course, the photo doesn’t do it justice.

I skied Mt. Bachelor for the second time in the last two years, and I am convinced it’s my favorite mountain in the Pacific Northwest.

I’ve made my bed every day this week. 

You’re a grown up, you should be making your bed every morning. — I know that’s what you’re thinking. But, I didn’t do it. It seemed like a waste of time, and I was too busy for that two minutes of sheet straightening. 

Then I read this.

Apparently, making your bed (and other feel-good tasks like exercising and cooking your own food) is something called a keystone habit. Keystone habits are those routines that, if you can identify them, spill over to other habits. According to Duhigg, changing or cultivating keystone habits “helps other habits to flourish by creating new structures, and they establish cultures where change becomes contagious.” A keystone habit is essentially a catalyst for other good habits.

So, thanks to an article in Apartment Therapy, I’m making my bed. And thanks to my friend, Carla, I’m taking on a happiness project. Looking like 2013 really is going to be a good year.

I just can’t get enough “Best Books of 2012″ lists. I scan every single one that hits my inbox, crosses my Facebook feed, gets emailed by friends, or is included on my favorite websites. I’m like a collector for my 2013 “to-read” list on Goodreads. It’s a list that’s already WAY TOO LONG, but I’m known to tear through some books, so you never know how many I’ll take out. 

Anyway, here are some books I’m convinced I must read thanks to all of this list scouring I’ve been doing:

• NW by Zadie Smith
• The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
• Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. So, I hear both are amazing and Bring Up the Bodies is on pretty much every single list out there. But, I figure I need to read Wolf Hall first. See, this is how I end up reading all the time. I’m get too invested in too many multiple book series simultaneously.

I also have a list of books that I am tempted to read but never just download to the Kindle and do it. Primary among these is Gone Girl, which apparently every woman in America has read besides me. Maybe that’s why I refuse to do it. I would say it’s because Gone Girl is too trendy, but let’s be real. I was on the Hunger Games like a tracker jacker on Glimmer. I’m sure I’ll get around to it. Sounds like a good flight read to me.

Finally, on the list is the dystopian tale Immobility by Brian Evenson. I love a good tale of the post-apocalyptic world. (See above re: Hunger Games). My favorite recent read in this genre is Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake (See above re: getting sucked into too many series). It’s not as good as Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale, which I re-read after finishing O&C because the way they are told is just so darn similar. It also reminded me why a Handmaid’s Tale is still one of my favorite books of all time. 

I’m rambling, aren’t I? Anyway, the point of all of this. I’ve got a TON of reading to do in 2013. Currently sitting on the Kindle, Book 3 of Game of Thrones. I’m ready to have my heart and soul ripped apart for 1200 pages. Wish me luck. 

Little man’s first piece of artwork at the ripe old age of 4 months. I can’t tell you how excited I was to get it. I’m so looking forward to all of the pieces to come in the future. He’s such a finger painting champ. I also hear he prefers the tast of non-toxic blue to non-toxic red.

I am constantly amazed at how quickly my son’s personality grows. He has so many facial expressions — and often 5 minutes with him and a camera is enough to tell a great story. Here’s a series I took of him when he was attempting tummy time. His least favorite activity. 

I recently wrote a post for my company’s blog on tips for being a successful spokesperson. You can check it out here.

I believe anyone can learn to be a great spokesperson with discipline and practice. Some of us have farther to go on our path to excellence than others, but we can all get there.

Decent photographs may be worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. But a great photograph can leave you speechless, communicating a concept or feeling to which words can’t do justice. Here’s an excellent collection of some of those rare photographs.

I think I’ve seen the photo of Jacqueline Kennedy standing next to Lyndon Johnson as he took the oath of office on Air Force One dozens of times, but this was the first time I really thought about the content of the photograph. Her strength to stand there, still covered in her husband’s blood with such composure — it’s something I can’t imagine.

Many great pieces here. Enjoy.