How to stay sane

“I pray to Jesus to preserve my sanity,” Jack Kerouac professed in discussing his writing routine. But those of us who fall on the more secular end of the spectrum might need a slightly more potent sanity-preservation tool than prayer. That’s precisely what writer and psychotherapist Philippa Perry offers in How To Stay Sane (public library), part of The School of Life’s wonderful series reclaiming the traditional self-help genre as intelligent, non-self-helpy, yet immensely helpful guides to modern living. At the heart of Perry’s argument — in line with neurologist Oliver Sacks’s recent meditation on memory and how “narrative truth,” rather than “historical truth,” shapes our impression of the world — is the recognition that stories make us human and learning to reframe our interpretations of reality is key to our experience of life: Our stories give shape to our inchoate, disparate, fleeting impressions of everyday life. Perry concludes: Artwork by pennylrichardsca

21 Incredibly Important Diagrams To Help You Get Through Life Work-life crunch: why you shouldn’t spend fewer hours at work Photo by Siri Stafford/Digital Vision/Thinkstock. Would I be happier if I spent less time at work? Surely we have all asked ourselves this at one time or another. Perhaps during a fit of pique about a ridiculous deadline or the idiot who works in the next cubicle over. Before my daughter arrived it hardly ever occurred to me to work less, but since she came along, I’ve given it more thought. If you asked me which gives me more joy, my work or my family, there is no question that it’s my family. How can this make sense? When I teach this, it’s usually in the context of consuming things—say, oranges. The same logic works with time. Each hour of your day—sleeping, eating, working, showering, playing with those dinosaur stickers—delivers some amount of happiness. Work is the same way for two reasons. How quickly your enjoyment of any activity declines is pretty personal. Knowing this, how do you divide your time to make yourself as happy as possible? How do I know this is right?

Photographer's Girlfriend Leads Him Around the World My Modern Metropolis Photographer's Girlfriend Leads Him Around the World Photographer Murad Osmann creatively documents his travels around the world with his girlfriend leading the way in his ongoing series known as Follow Me To. With her back turned, never revealing her face to the camera, Osmann's girlfriend guides us all on a journey across the globe to some of the most beautiful, exotic, and radiant environments. Murad Osmann on Instagram via [Big Picture] You might like: More Revealing Portraits of Everyday Foods Sliced in Half Sweet and Sexually Charged Photography Sexy Ballpoint Pen Art (13 pieces) 19-Year-Old Holds Nothing Back with Her Mysteriously Beautiful Portraits Recommended by Views: 977315 Tags: Follow Me To, Murad Osmann, photo Share Twitter Facebook Facebook Add a Comment You need to be a member of My Modern Metropolis to add comments! Join My Modern Metropolis Comment by Joe B. I do like your perspective,cool idea.. Comment by Joe B. cool Comment by Vince S. Sign Upor Sign In

Taiwan - the little country with big ideas - Asia - Travel The views are immense; endless runs of streets unfolding like miniature circuitry. But it isn't Taipei 101 that creates an imposing air. For that I need to go to the Chiang Kai-shek memorial and stand at the feet of the Chinese nationalist leader's statue. "He is our national hero," says my guide, Mr Jeng. "This is almost a holy place." I don't doubt my guide as I gaze up at this huge eulogy to Taiwan's founder. These days, Taiwan is considered a rebel province by Beijing. "The line links our two main cities, Taipei and Kaohsiung," says Mr Jeng as we climb on board the sleek train in Taipei's main railway station. So what is actually being opened up? The eastern run of Taiwan, where I am heading, is much more intriguing. "We'll take the train to Chiayi," says Mr Jeng. Our first mountain destination is the resort town of Alishan. The narrow road takes us deeper into the mountains, the views of gorges and craggy peaks getting more dramatic. Accommodation is in guesthouses and homestays.

3×5 Challenging Authority Since 1978 I am a writer, traveler, and entrepreneur with the goal of visiting every country in the world while connecting with other world-changers. Continue reading about Chris Mission Accomplished!