The idea of being self-made is inspiring. It's just not an actual thing. The truth is, we all stand on the shoulders of others, and we benefit daily from the gifts of loved ones and total strangers alike, whether we realize it or not. Because we don't become ourselves by ourselves.

This week we trace the origin story of two battle-tested baby blankets and along the way uncover the gratitude and encouragement that comes from pulling on the threads that connect us.

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Remember TV test patterns? They were images used for TV cameras and receivers to display the picture properly. These patterns made adjustment, maintenance, and calibration possible.

We've done away with nightly test patterns as they no longer serve our needs, but I think their purpose is every bit as relevant to humanity as it ever was. It seems we humans would do well to make time for our own maintenance, alignment, and calibration, to routinely cut the live feed of distraction in our lives and make space for rest and wellness.

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Every year, around 600,000 people make their way to Concord, Massachusetts to take a walk, to go swimming, or to climb into a boat and ride upon famous waters. The Walden State Reservation is just as much a place of pilgrimage as it is a tourist destination.

But why? And what does this have to do with you?

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Every Thanksgiving people take to social media to express their appreciation for family and friends, for the things we often take for granted. It’s like a system reset. A collective sigh. A group smile. It’s as if we all agree to put down our busy and put on our sweat pants for one day. Or at least until Kohl’s dumps out the doorbusters. But what about the rest of the year? What does it mean to be regularly thankful? Is that a thing?

Featured:

An incredible passage on gratitude from author Melody Beattie.

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Humans have the capacity to savor, to isolate subtleties in flavors and aromas, to literally appreciate that which nourishes us. But most of us never slow down enough to take it all in. So, what does meal-time awareness look like? And what can we learn from Sommeliers?

Featured:

A blind taste-test with Victoria James, via SevenFifty Daily Supertasters

Inner Engineering by Sadhguru

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Be honest with yourself: How much of your life is set to autopilot right now? What if we could wake things up? What if we could bring innovation into our day-to-day? Think about the open and attentive posture of a beginner. We are never more focused than when we are learning or experiencing something for the first time.

Featured:

The global design company IDEO believes that everyone is creative--yes, even you--and they have a ton of free resources to help you build Creative Confidence. Check them out!

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is a professor and important voice in the conversation on Mindfulness. This episode features a snippet from a video of his thoughts on Beginners Mind.

There's a world of complexity swirling around in your morning cup of Joe. So many elements have to conspire for us to enjoy a few sips of liquid Heaven. It may sound silly, but your morning coffee routine could easily become a daily practice in gratitude. It could also be an opportunity to consider those who labor to provide it. The least we could do is seek to ensure that our morning pick-me-up doesn't put someone else down.

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None of us have to try to hold onto negativity. And we certainly don't have to remind ourselves of tragedy. But the real tragedy is that we don't remember the other moments in our lives, the subtly beautiful moments. But does it have to be this way?

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At some point, we all have to grow up. But we leave something valuable behind when we confuse childlike with childish.

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How Netflix knows us better than our closest friends, and what we stand to learn from their process.

For more background, check out this great video from Vox.