Monday

"I am allowed to enjoy things slowly."

Welcome to Monday! Today, we're chatting about:

• Tips for practicing gratitude

• The emotional power of old pictures

• How to save and share your old tapes

• What is somatic art?

• A guide to understanding the stock market

Why Gratitude Is Worth Practicing Daily

Gratitude doesn’t always arrive naturally, especially when life feels busy, stressful, or overwhelming. It isn’t about ignoring hard moments or forcing optimism. It’s simply noticing that something good exists alongside everything else.

One place to start is awareness. Pausing when something feels supportive, a warm drink, a kind text, a quiet moment, helps the brain register it. Writing those moments down, even briefly, can make them easier to notice again tomorrow.

Gratitude also grows when it’s shared. A short note, a thank-you message, or even a quiet acknowledgment can strengthen connection. Some people turn gratitude into a ritual, like reflecting before bed or taking a few deep breaths to name what went well.

Over time, these small habits can make life feel steadier. Not perfect or problem-free, just a little more grounded, a little more supported, and a little easier to move through with care.

The Emotional Power of Old Pictures

Looking through old photos can spark a mix of emotions. Some moments feel comforting or joyful, while others carry a quiet ache. A single image can remind you of how far you’ve come or of something you’ve lost.

Photos often help clarify memories. They can show a truer version of the past, shifting how you understand who you were then and who you are now. Sometimes that perspective brings pride. Other times, it brings tenderness.

Nostalgic photos may encourage reaching out to people who once mattered deeply or appreciating those still present in your life. That sense of continuity can feel grounding.

But not every photo feels good, and that’s okay. Some images hold grief, longing, or reminders of change. Letting yourself feel whatever comes up, without judgment, allows photos to be what they are: small windows into a life that’s still unfolding.

How To Save and Share Your Old Tapes

Most families have boxes of old home movies, tapes, photos, and recordings tucked away in closets or basements. These formats weren’t made to last. Over time, film degrades, tapes stop playing, and the moments tied to them become harder to access, or disappear entirely.

Legacybox helps turn those fragile memories into digital files that can be saved, shared, and enjoyed again. It’s a process more than 1 million families have already trusted to protect their most meaningful moments. Getting started is simple:

1. Fill your Legacybox kit with home movies, tapes, photos, or audio recordings.

2. Send it in using the prepaid return label.

3. Receive your digitized memories as a digital download, thumb drive, or disc set—plus your original media sent back to you.

Legacybox works with a wide range of formats, including VHS tapes, camcorder tapes, film reels, photos, and audio recordings. Kits range from 2 items up to 80, so you can preserve just a few special moments or an entire family archive. Plus, each kit includes 30 days of free cloud access, making it easy to stream, download, and share your digitized memories with family.

With Valentine’s Day coming up, this also makes a thoughtful gift, especially for preserving wedding footage, family milestones, or memories you want to share together. Plus for a limited time, Note To Self readers can get 50% their first order with code SELF.

Start saving your family memories today.

Thank you to Legacybox for sponsoring Note To Self. 

How Somatic Art Connects Body and Mind

Somatic art is a creative practice that focuses less on the final result and more on how your body feels while making it. Instead of sitting still and working on small details, this approach encourages big movements, loose marks, and following physical sensations.

The idea comes from somatic therapy, which emphasizes the mind–body connection. By moving your arms, hands, and even your whole body while drawing or painting, the nervous system can shift out of stress mode and into a calmer state. It’s especially helpful for people who tend to think through emotions rather than feel them.

There’s no right way to do it. You might tape paper to a wall, play music, scribble with both hands, or use paint, markers, or pastels. Five to ten minutes is often enough to notice a shift.

The goal isn’t insight or improvement, it’s release. If you finish feeling a little lighter, calmer, or more present, the practice did exactly what it was meant to do.

Still Guessing What to Trade?

Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ True or False: True. Remembering connection reinforces belonging.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: Sunsets are more than beautiful—they’re actually good for your mood. Got a favorite one? Reply to this email with your best sunset or sunrise photo for a chance to be featured!

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: The memories that stick aren’t always the big ones. Sometimes it’s the scent, the song, the quiet moment you didn’t know you’d keep.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!