“Studies show that short, novel experiences — a day trip, an unplanned hike, exploring a new street — boost dopamine and reset mood. You don’t need a vacation. You need interruption. The brain thrives on small doses of novelty. Routine keeps you alive. Novelty makes you feel alive.”

I fully support vacations, don’t get me wrong (and yes, we do need them). However, I also believe in the power of novelty and interruption. It breaks the momentum of the day. I experience it every time I go for a walk. Here are a few tiny boosts of dopamine from our walk yesterday.

I don’t know what this pink circle is, but it looked like a muppet face to me. In other news, we have magnolias and crabapples blooming right now. In October. So strange, but still lovely.

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