Happy holidays, dear friends!

This is our final edition of the year, and instead of looking outward, let's all take these few days to go within. Focus on ourselves, and prepare for renewal in 2022.

This edition is about mindfulness and its twin meditation, it's about attention and self-care. As year-end gifts to the DesignUp community, my fellow co-editor Jay has put together a Mindfulness journal (it'll continue to be updated) + design leaders & teachers (from the School) - Alysha, Navneet, Preethi and Param have shared reading/listening recommendations that have been meaningful to them, in their own journeys.

So let's breathe in...🧘

🌱 Getting started with mindfulness

The Mindfulness Journal from Jay — designup.notion.site

If you want to get past the hype and dive into a more systemic way of understanding all the hullabaloo around mindfulness, this may be a place to start.

📚 The Mindfulness reading (and listening!) list

Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle

A short and profound book, with the premise that stillness is central to our lives. This is one book you will return to, again and again.

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer

This delightful book is simple for a beginner and beautifully designed, reminding us there's much meaning to be found in stillness and contemplation.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

An insightful read on the foundations of mindfulness and meditation, written with peaceful and gentle wisdom.

The Attention Revolution by Alan Wallace

A very approachable book from the expert on Tibetan Shamatha, bringing ancient practices to modern-day challenges of attention and focus. Free on Audible.

How Yoga Works by Geshe Michael Roche 

An enriching book for everyone on the philosophy of yoga. It's a fictional allegorical story about the value of discipline and practice. You don't need to know about yoga poses to enjoy this book.

Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat Zinn

This book comes highly recommended for anyone who would want to approach mindfulness in an analytical way.

How to Train Your Mind: Exploring the Productivity Benefits of Meditation by Chris Bailey

This helpful and easy-to-use audio book is suitable for beginners. Free on Audible.

A Skeptic's Path Podcast by Scott Snibbe

This podcast is hosted by Scott Snibbe, an interactive artist and augmented reality entrepreneur. It takes a secular approach to meditation and is based on powerful analytical meditation techniques.

🐣 Self Care

How to rest well — psyche.co

Taking a break isn’t lazy – learning to recharge is a skill that will allow you to enjoy a more creative, sustainable life

🎁 Eye Candy

Reality and Imagined Meditative States Converge in Tomás Sánchez’s Tranquil Landscapes — www.thisiscolossal.com

For Tomás Sánchez, meditation is not a fleeting time or a punctual exercise, it is a constant practice that he uses as a lens to interpret the world.

WrapUp: UpRise founding Cohort

Just in time for the end of the year, the DesignUp.School's first UpRise program wrapped up, and all students have been getting their very own boxes complete with a little plant, tees and a certificate. Meanwhile a wall of love 💕 has been steadily building up on DesignUp's Linkedin and Twitter pages - head over, have a read. Next comes the Grad Week in early Jan + more catch-ups and checkins with the teachers. The Program restarts in March 2022, if interested please sign up for an invite (at the end of the UpRise program page)! And still limited to 24 students.

Here's to more stillness, learning, meaning and mindfulness in 2022.

Stay safe, stay inspired

@soosixty & @jdallcaps