Hello,

I’m not someone who keeps the tv on in the background for company and while I am as susceptible to the lure of “Netflix and Chill” as the next person, tv is something I really only turn on late in the evening. Recently though, I have been trying to be even more intentional with the time I spend watching TV and have found myself absorbed by two series in particular, The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman and The Kindness Diaries. For anyone as interested in how humans interact as I am, these shows are a gift, thoughtful, well presented and full of hope. It is exactly what we need more of right now in the world.

And now, let’s get on with the Notes…

1) Found in books

My son has just started reading Harry Potter, my old copies of the books are all stacked and waiting for him. He was flipping through them the other day when he wandered over with a train ticket in his hand. As he handed it to me I was instantly transported back to the train on which I read this book, a hardback version because I could not wait for the paperback to come out. The ticket was over 12 years old, older than my son, yet there it had been tucked away like a frozen memory waiting to be found. This will not happen with my Kindle and is one of the many reasons I struggle with my love of the convenience of e-readers against the deep pleasure of real books and how they contain so much more than words.

It seems that I am not alone in finding these lost memories. This was a lovely stroll through the strangest things the writer had found in books.

2) Could you retire now?

This woman did, at just 38 years old.

3) Staying organised

There are some great tips in this round up from 11 highly successful, and busy, women about how they stay organised and on track. I picked up a couple of new apps and particularly liked the tip about scheduling reminders for when I should be writing to make sure that I haven’t been distracted.

4) Spend money where you spend the most time

I had never thought of money in these terms and once you do, it is so simple.

5) All the women

“…more than 75 percent of high-ranking women maintained a female-dominated inner circle or strong ties to two or three women with whom they communicated frequently.” I know this to be true because I’ve seen it over, and over, and over again. It works in the corporate environment, but once you head out on your own, what then? What if you run your own business and don’t have access to a building-full of potential inner circle members, how do you find that frequent communication amongst female peers? I’d love to know your thoughts, feel free to hit reply and let me know.

Until the next Notes,

Emmy