I enjoyed this article the Atlantic. Something to think about...

• In Praise of Pointless Goals: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/07/set-goals-meaningless-trivial/670476/

 Last week, a good friend sent me a link to an article in The New York Times Style Magazine entitled "How Japonisme Forever Changed the Course of Western Design". It was fascinating! Although I was familiar with various threads in this article, this was the first time I’ve seen them all woven together. It's a long read but one that is well while. Enjoy! (Thanks, BF!)

I'm a huge Sharon McMahon fan and I was so pleased to see this article about her in The Atlantic. Sharon is a former high school government and law teacher, and she uses her viral instagram account, @sharonsaysso, to educate the public about all things American government and democracy in a non-partisan way. She has certainly helped me better understand some of the current events happening in the USA. (In addition to being extremely knowledgable, she's also a hoot. The article describes her as having powerful golden-retriever energy.)

• The Atlantic Article: www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/06/sharon-says-so-podcast-mcmahon/661150/
• Sharon McMahon's Website: www.sharonmcmahon.com/
• @sharonsaysso: www.instagram.com/sharonsaysso/

Yes, I am a perfectionist. There have been times in my life when this has worked to my advantage. However, it has also caused a lot of frustration and stress resulting in procrastination and burnout. Needless to say, I've read many articles about perfectionism. However, the paragraph below, from the article Perfectionism: Why and How to Beat It, is one of the best explanations I've read as to why perfectionism can be so destructive. I've been trying to hold things more loosely for several years now, and it has made a difference. If you are a perfectionist, you might find this article helpful as well.

"Usually, in perfectionism the standards are not the problem. The problem is the rigidity around those standards. The rigidity means it’s all or nothing, so we hyper-focus on achieving our impossible goals, only to burn out, neglect other responsibilities, avoid our goals altogether, or constantly feel miserable even when we’re objectively doing well. "

Perfectionism: Why and How to Beat It
https://every.to/superorganizers/perfectionism-why-and-how-to-beat-it?

I am slowly learning about roses and, whew, is there a lot to learn! Perhaps the first step is learning to identify the different varieties of roses. If this interests you, this website is a good place to start. (A screenshot of the website is below. Of course, there is much more if you scroll down on the original website.) It also has a lot of related articles about roses in the side menu.

• Rose Varieties: What Are Some Different Types of Roses: www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/different-types-of-roses.htm