Tag: Gentle and Lowly

A black background with a white skull sketch and the words October 2022: 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' + Memento Mori

October 2022: ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ + Memento Mori

Posted on by Kelvey Vander Hart in L I F E

I’m still mourning that Halloween has passed…but here’s your monthly recap anyway: 

Best Book I Read This Month 

Remarkably Bright Creatures was a brilliant work of fiction. Even being as animal obsessed as I am, I was stunned by how much I grew to love a non-human character. If you want a refreshingly different read (or are landlocked and just yearning to be near the sea), this is for you. Find it here. 

Best Article I Read This Month

In honor of Election Day being right around the corner, I wanted to share the landing page for voter guides from Reason Foundation, the think tank where I work. Have a question about a ballot initiative in your state? It’s probably been covered here. 

Tip + Trick of the Month

Read constantly, don’t want to spend money buying books, and don’t have time to get to the library? Libby will be your best friend. As long as you have a card with a participating library, you can use the app to read or listen to all sorts of books. I’ve read over 50 books this year, and 95% of them were read through Libby. Find the app here. 

Quote of the Month

“When you sin, do a thorough job of repenting. Re-hate sin all over again. Consecrate yourself afresh to the Holy Spirit and his pure ways. But reject the devil’s whisper that God’s tender heart for you has grown a little colder, a little stiffer. He is not flustered by your sinfulness. His deepest disappointment is with your tepid thoughts of his heart. Christ died, placarding before you the love of God.” -Dane C. Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly

Kelvey’s Thought for the Month

Memento mori. 

It’s a phrase I’ve been considering a lot this week. 

It’s Latin. “Remember that you must die.” 

Some may cringe at this as being too grim. Too morbid. But memento mori acknowledges the one ending for all humans on this earth: We will die. 

How do you spend your days? How do you spend your one life? Where are you destined once your time on this earth is spent? 

Memento mori. Remember that you must die. How will you live in light of that reminder? 

Take time to be grateful as we head into this Thanksgiving season. I’ll catch you next month.

April 2022: Greenlights + Build Back Better (Habits)

April 2022: Greenlights + Build Back Better (Habits)

Posted on by Kelvey Vander Hart in L I F E

Here’s hoping your Monday went well and that your May is off to a great start! April 2022 was far too cold, but I still shivered my way through a full month to recap for you: 

Best Book I Read This Month 

I read my first celebrity memoir, and I think it’ll probably be my last celebrity memoir. Matthew McCounaughey’s Greenlights was a wild ride. Beautiful quotes and wise advice were interspersed with stories so crazy they must be true (partially because a good number of them reflected very poorly on him, his family, and other loved ones). It was an entertaining and bewildering read, and you can get the book here. 

Best Article I Read This Month

I swear I read journalism from other outlets and not just from the magazine I work for, but Reason has so many good takes it would be a crime to not share. Enjoy this longform read from our May 2022 issue talking about the pandemic, social networks, and old-time saloons. 

Tip + Trick of the Month

Do you want to cut back on mindless social media scrolling? Set time limits on your phone, but let someone you live with set the password. And DO NOT let them tell you what it is. I share a house with my sister, and since having her set my phone’s time limits, I am far more exacting in my social media use. I’m not exaggerating when I say it has reduced my phone use by hours every week. 

Quote of the Month

“If you are part of Christ’s own body, your sins evoke his deepest heart, his compassion and pity. He ‘takes part with you’—that is, he’s on your side. He sides with you against your sin, not against you because of your sin. He hates sin. But he loves you.” 

-Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly

Kelvey’s Thought for the Month

I was in great shape when I was in college, but by the time 2021 rolled around, I couldn’t say the same. Between gym closures, reduced outings, and food delivery, the pandemic took the same toll on me that it did on everyone else. Couple that with a newly diagnosed thyroid disorder, and I lost a lot of muscle mass while putting on inches and generally losing a lot of my former healthy habits. 

2022 has been my rebuilding year, and I’ve rebuilt with wellness (not just muscles or hard workouts) in mind. Here are some of the simple habits that have had me feeling better, building more muscle, and leading a healthier life than I have in years. Steal if they work for you! 

  • Prioritizing Enough Quality Sleep
  • Getting 150 Grams of Daily Protein
  • Maintaining Average Calorie and Macro Consumption
  • Averaging 70,000 Weekly Steps
  • Building An Adjustable Workout Schedule

That’s all for now, folks. Have a great May – I’ll catch you next month.