Month-in-Review Highlights: July 2021

I feel slightly disheartened that I haven’t done more than plan so far this year, given that I really thought I’d set realistic to even overly low goals for 2021.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthAugust 4, 2021goals, postmortemComment

Changing Routines to Shift Your Thinking

Finding a way to create a complete change of rhythm for a few days will fizz your brain and show you where you have opportunities to grow.

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 28, 2021health, happiness Comments

Games to Try and Games to Avoid for Multicultural Groups

I’ve always loved board games—and only recently realized that many don’t work for cross-cultural groups. Fortunately, great games for multicultural gatherings abound. You just need to know what to avoid and what to seek.

MigratingLeslie FarnsworthJuly 22, 2021friendship, expat, culture Comments

Books I've Read: Q2 2021

The books I read in Q2 2021, with my favorites in bold. What would you recommend I read next quarter?

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 14, 2021books, reading, literatureComment

Month-in-Review Highlights: June 2021

Achieving full vaccination lifted a lot of my easy excuses for postponing several goal-related activities, especially the ones I rarely consider intrinsically motivating.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJuly 7, 2021coronavirus diaries, goals, postmortemComment

Why People Like Stressful Entertainment

Given that we use entertainment to amuse us, teach us, and provide us an escape, what role does stress, then, play in it?

ThinkingLeslie FarnsworthJune 30, 2021fiction, culture Comments

The Connection between Strength, Flexibility, and Balance

Follow me on a journey of light-bulb moments that took me through an exploration of physical flexibility, strength, and balance into their essential role in building more balanced, resilient societies.

How to Have a Good Restaurant Experience in France

Understanding the cultural differences will help you have a better restaurant experience when visiting France. And who doesn’t want to have a wonderful dining experience in a country celebrated for its food?

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthJune 16, 2021France, culture, travel Comments

My Experience with the COVID Vaccine

In which I chronicle my experience—straightforward and completely honest—with the Moderna vaccine and booster for COVID-19.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJune 9, 2021coronavirus diaries Comments

Month-in-Review Highlights: May 2021

Here’s to full vaccination and antibody-empowerment by mid-June, after which some of the lagging goals can get a bit more attention.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthJune 2, 2021coronavirus diaries, goals, postmortemComment

My Top Podcasts (for the Moment)

Seven top podcasts on culture, ideas, and current events that gain my attention each week. What are your podcast favorites?

JournalLeslie FarnsworthMay 26, 2021cultureComment

Why the Loire Valley Has So Many Castles

Why does the Loire Valley have such a high concentration of castles? And why are so many of the Loire Valley castles so well preserved?

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthMay 19, 2021France, travel, culture, Loire ValleyComment

Best Novels for French Language Learners by CEFRL Level

Reading a book improves language learners’ grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. Here are my recommendations for novels in French that language learners will enjoy, categorized by CEFRL level.

Month-in-Review Highlights: April 2021

How our friends and our workouts change our minds and our bodies.

JournalLeslie FarnsworthMay 5, 2021writing, exercise, fitness, postmortemComment

How to Choose a Wedding Planner from a Distance

How do you find a wedding planner to help you get married in a location far from where you live? Whether you want to get married in France (from a U.S. home base, like me) or elsewhere, here’s what you need to know.

WanderingLeslie FarnsworthApril 28, 2021wedding, france Comments