15,000 year old animations, underrated family holiday movies, and escaping stagnancy

Ice Age Artists May Have Used Firelight to Animate Carvings

I think about this Smithsonian Magazine piece often… Archaeologists like Andy Needham believe that early humans used firelight not just for warmth and light, but as a creative tool. Their research involved studying limestone plaquettes, small 15,000-year-old engraved stones, found in southern France. You know how flickering flames make things look? These stones, carved with images of animals and other forms, were thought to be animated by the flickering firelight, giving the illusion of movement.

I just think it is so sweet to see artistic expression in early human societies… In a world where every day was a fight for survival, people still made time to create, to imagine, to tell stories, to make their children smile. And they used what was right there – firelight – to turn simple carvings into something alive, something magical. It makes you think, doesn't it? About creativity, about resilience, about how, no matter what, we humans find a way to make our mark. That's the kind of spirit that's been driving us since the dawn of time.

My favorite quote from the article: “Making art wasn’t essential, like finding food to put on the table, but it may have been at least partially about finding some social time to sit by the fire and chat with friends or family, Needham notes. “This feels really human to me in a powerful way.”

Oh, also! It reminds me of this:

(I believe this quote has since been disproven but… I love it, okay!)

Two Underrated Holiday Movies to Watch with Your Family

1. Dan in Real Life (on Prime Video)

This movie is a gem. The one and only Steve Carell plays Dan, a widowed dad juggling life with three (iconic) daughters. He unwittingly falls for his brother's girlfriend, so the family's annual get-together becomes this whirlwind of awkward, heartfelt moments. It’s cozy, autumnal, lovey, perfect. :’)

My favorite scene — the acting is just brilliant. Also, I love their home.

2. The Family Stone (on Hulu)

This film is pure. holiday. vibes. I come from a family that is soooo close to each other just like the one in this movie which is maybe why I resonated with it so much. Sarah Jessica Parker plays an uptight businesswoman who goes home with her boyfriend for Christmas for the first time. The Stones are loving, nosy, fun, and fiercely protective of each other, and the dialogue has this raw authenticity that makes every scene feel like you're eavesdropping on a real family. The togetherness, the warmth, the heart… it is so special.

Required Reading: Quit Your Job by Wolf Tivvy

I return to this piece whenever I find myself in a rut. It's a powerful read that I would say is especially resonant for those with entrepreneurial aspirations, individuals in creative fields, or anyone facing unemployment or career uncertainty.

Tivvy, who I had the pleasure of meeting last year, argues that real treasure in life often lies beyond linear, objective-chasing, in the realms of curiosity and novel exploration. This approach, he claims, is not only personally enriching but also crucial for addressing larger societal and structural challenges.

My favorite quote: “You have to let your life go fallow sometimes, like a crop rotation giving the land time to bring forth new fertility.”