Natalie Audelo

The little things you do for others that remind you both of who you are, matter. They’re what define the thread count of the human experience

I could sense the difference between authentic effortless (actually not giving a damn and being comfortable in my skin) and this manufactured effortless I had known before (aka people with a whole lot of money and a whole lot of time who get to look like they rolled out of bed) It really begs the question: who actually gets to be cool anyway?

A bunch of studies show that when we witness acts of kindness and pro-social cooperation by others we experience something called “moral elevation” - we are lifted into optimism and altruism and feel inclined to spread kindness onwards. I referred to the way awe works to connect us into our humanity a few chapters back. A global study showed that 9... See more

Cut a chrysalis open and you will find a rotting caterpillar. What you will never find is that mythical creature, half caterpillar, half butterfly… No, the process of transformation consists almost entirely of decay.

— Pat Barker

Many people who are talented in their various fields have access to insight they can’t share with others. They simply see something we can’t. They try to describe it—picture any Paris Review interview—and often hearing them talk about their process is interesting and informative. But they’re unable to describe the core thing—what gives them the sto... See more