Each day, the Two Minute Du Jour blog posts include two links du jour for you to explore. You’ll find a categorized list below so you can easily go back to the links that intrigued you. Enjoy discovering new resources!
Books
A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage – and now a Fox Nation series with Dan Akroyd
How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen – Interview with author David Brooks – PBS
The Wives, a memoir by Simone Gorrindo, takes place in Columbus, Georgia, while her husband is stationed at Fort Benning – Simon and Schuster
A prolific historical fiction writer by Kristin Harmel
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Let It Be Easy by Susie Moore
Facing Death: Spirituality, Science and Surrender at the End of Life by Brad Stuart, MD
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
NPR’s Book of the Day is a tremendous resource for building your TBR list — it’s how I found Wild Thing by Rae Wynn-Grant.
Learn more about Rae Wynn-Grant and her memoir Wild Thing: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World.
Brainstorming
Mind Maps are wonderful tool for connecting the dots. This link offers a guide to effective brainstorming.
It’s been awhile since I’ve used Miro, but recall it was an easy, productive and fun way to capture ideas and create action plans.
Creativity
Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being – National Institute of Health/National Library of Medicine
Destinations
The Boathouse at Disney Springs – A respite from the crowds with outstanding food, including fresh seafood and Chicago’s famed steaks from Gibsons.
JB’s Fish Camp in New Smyrna – The last time the McKinney family dined here was in 2000; the place is as kitschy as ever, and the food is outstanding.
Waffle House in Davenport, Fla. – What can I say, it’s not a trip to the South without breakfast at the Waffle House; I love the grits! Perfect for Mother’s Day with friends.
The Eastern Market in Detroit is full of food stands, retail and more. It’s a year-round farmers market, and then some! USA Today has nominated it for a 2024 Top 10 Public Market.
Motown Museum – you’ll leave singing and dancing (one of my joys!).
Belle Isle Conservancy – a 982-acre island park located in Detroit with historic, environmental, and cultural resources that have been beloved for generations. The park is home to the Belle Isle Aquarium, Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Belle Isle Nature Center, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, and more!
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) – always a delight to visit.
The Henry Ford Museum – on the agenda for our weekend in Detroit.
Hop Cat, a Michigan favorite with locations throughout the state – I like the Madtown Grilled Cheese – Dill Havarti, smoked gouda & muenster cheese on sourdough with apple slices, garlic aioli & honey. Served with a cup of our roasted red pepper gouda bisque.
Mootz Pizzeria in downtown Detroit, order the Bee Sting, it’s simply amazing!
Family Rituals
5 questions for Anne Fishel, a family therapist who helped launch The Family Dinner Project.
The Family Dinner Project – This nonprofit organization helps parents serve up robust conversation and connection during regular family meals.
Food, Nourishment & Recipes
For more ideas with holiday leftovers, check out Fit Men Cook.
Good old Amazon offers a good selection of vintage cookbooks, including Recipes and Recollections from Terrace Hill.
The Original Nestle Toll House Cookie Recipe
Delish shares 10 fun facts about Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Coca-Cola Company History — Since its birth at a soda fountain in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886, Coca‑Cola has been a catalyst for social interaction and inspired innovation.
Friendship
4 Tips to Stay Connected When Your Friends Live Far Away – NPR’s Life Kit
Reconnecting With Old Friends – Prepare to be Surprised – LKN Magazine (Lake Norman, N.C.)
Goals
The Magic of Committing to a Specific Goal by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.
Hypnosis
Glenn Harrold is an internationally renowned hypnotherapist with various free and subscription tracks. I found great value in his sleep track.
From self-doubt to unstoppable confidence, Joshua Peters, X-Factor Hypnosis, is an extraordinary hypnotherapist who helps you uncover your hidden talents, find clarity of purpose, and become your best self!
Joy, Meaning & Purpose
Finding Meaning in What One Does Pew Research
Does purpose play a positive role in mental health? Mayo Clinic
“Want to Give Your Life More Meaning? Think of It As a ‘Hero’s Journey” Time Magazine
Joseph Campbell and The Hero’s Journey
3 Simple Ways to Cultivate Joy Every Day – Mindful – Healthy Mind, Healthy Life
FindingJoy.net – a website dedicated to intentional living and seeking joy in life, specifically in motherhood and empowerment for women – Rachel Marie Martin, author of The Brace Art of Motherhood.
Learning a Foreign Language
Funny, gamified, and easy to use, check out Duolingo – I have the Super plan (ad free), and have sampled the Max plan, which offers AI-generated conversations and detailed explanations.
For even more online learning options, Wired Magazine has a detailed overview.
Legacy
Breadcrumb Legacy™: How Great Leaders Live A Life Worth Remembering by Jann Freed, Ph.D.
Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos make great pets – How to care
The care and keeping of leopard geckos.
Life Coach
Susie Moore’s Daily Six-minute Podcast
Susie Moore’s Book Let It Be Easy
Movies
Podcast: Ava Duvernay’s New Film Origin Reaches Beyond the Theater Next Question with Katie Couric
NPR: With ‘Origin,’ Ava DuVernay illuminates America’s racial caste system
Pecha Kucha
Learn how to create a Pecha Kucha presentation.
Relationships
How to Know a Person, The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks, author of The Road to Character – Penguin Random House
Reunions
10 Tips for Enjoying Your Class Reunion — Guideposts
Spirituality
Facing Death: Spirituality, Science and Surrender at the End of Life by Brad Stuart, MD
Spring Cleaning
Spring Cleaning Has Ancient Origins: Here’s Why We Still Do It (National Geographic)
Pust: An Ancient Festival To Chase Away Winter (BBC)
Stress
Stress vs. Responsibility – Podcast Episode 668 – Let It Be Easy with Susie Moore
The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, PhD
Travel
In Praise of Anticipation – Psychology Today
Why We All Need to Travel – AdaRose, a woman-owned business that moves employee programming from stress to success
Volunteerism
Helping Out: How American Volunteerism is Changing and Why – AP News
Helping People, Changing Lives – 3 Benefits of Volunteerism – Mayo Clinic
Walking
The Health Benefits of Daily Walks With Your Dog – HelpGuide.org is an independent nonprofit that runs one of the world’s leading mental health websites.
Weekends
11 Weekly Journal Prompts for an Effective Weekend Reset Filling The Jars – Decluttering + Intentional Living for the Overwhelmed Overthinker
Yoga
“Yoga for Beginners” with Adriene Mishler—a warm welcome into yoga’s world.
“Intermediate Yoga Flow” with Kassandra Reinhardt is for those ready to deepen their practice.
Disclaimer: The links curated on this page are provided for informational purposes only and were live at the time of posting. Please note that the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the views, information, products or services provided or held by such websites. Additionally, I am not affiliated with these sites nor do I receive any form of compensation for including them here.
Two Minutes Du Jour 