I recently found myself in an unlikely position: Stepping out of a car on a residential street in sleepy Bakersfield, California.

Looking back I realize I did an awful lot of complaining in the roughly 48 hours I was there (to celebrate a family member's birthday); I whinged about the heat (a dry, 100-degree wind was blowing when we  arrived at 7pm), the stray dog situation, the lack of aesthetic appeal, and the stifling heat (did I mention that already?). 

After about 12 hours. I had enough of my own bad attitude and decided to shift my outlook. Instead of silently chastising the locals for their low animal-welfare standards, I focused on the beautiful flora, and tuned in to the birdsong that carried me back in time to my Southern California youth. From that one baby step, I began noticing the charming architecture--1920s bungalows on the residential streets and an interesting Art Deco downtown--and seeing the history of this Central Valley mini metropolis come alive.

When I turned off the negative internal dialog and quit judging, I was also able to connect with locals. While waiting for my green drink at the local juice bar/health-food store Nature's Food Market and Juice Bar, I exchanged smiles and conversation with some lovely ladies who raved about both their collard-green  wraps and their love of the tiny Bakersfield oasis.  The folks at the local modern art museum and vintage clothing store were equally warm and welcoming. It was pretty nice. 

This Bakersfield adventure was more than just a family visit; it was a reminder that feeling "at home" and liking where you are in life isn't so much about what's happening outside, but about what's going on inside. We've all got the ability to shift our perspectives and turn a perceived "bad" thing into something "good," and all it takes is the willingness to give it a try.

A few months ago, after a friend published an article on greenwashing and the detrimental effects of mass-produced clothing, I began making an effort to wean myself off of the once-a-month trips to H & M and Zara, and to focus more on curating a wardrobe reflecting quality rather than quantity, and style rather than fast fashion. 

For a while there, I was doing pretty well, but this week, I fell off the wagon, nipping into Forever 21 because, well, it was right there and I couldn't help myself. In the past, I’d actually scored some jeans I really like there, and even a pair or two of non-leather shoes.

Stepping into the loud, crowded store, I could hardly believe my eyes: So much stuff! Hundreds of different designs for sale, from short-shorts and flouncy dresses to cheap jewelry and  gladiator sandals. I was overwhelmed by the variety and scope of choice—and completely underwhelmed by everything on offer at the same time. I didn’t see a single thing I wanted to own, and left feeling better about my choice to shop with a more discerning, less-impulsive eye. 

I love fashion, but more so, I love style, because style is something we can cultivate, something that’s living and grows as we grow, and it knows no bounds in terms of variety, creativity, and affordability. 

My latest style obsession is the video series/website, StyleLikeU. It features short, eye-opening, revealing, personal, and—I really mean this--deep profiles of interesting people talking about what style means to them and what their journey toward fashional self-discovery was like. It’s spellbinding, and so much more than a superficial fashion show.  Tune in and try not to get hooked! And then tell me: Who or what is your style inspiration? What does style mean to you, and why? Post photos if you dare!

This week has been a rough one, world news-wise. Between wars, transportation disasters, and tales of police brutality, it's enough to make you want to retreat to a deserted island where the only external communication is the call of the wind or the trill of birdsong.  In journalism school, we were told that it's those sensational stories that sell. "If it bleeds, it leads," goes the maxim. Well, what if you want to stay tuned to global events and news that matches your interests without all the bad stuff that just ruins your whole day and makes you feel small and helpless? Does such a good-news source exist? Happily, yes!

Besides sites like Upworthy, the Great News Network,  and The Huffington Post's good-news section that focus on the positive headline-news stories, it's also possible to become the curator of your own information flow using simple tools like Google Alerts. You decide what kind of stories you want to read on what subjects, and how often, and create a newsfeed that reflects your interests and values, without all the bum-you-out-for-days stuff that doesn't add value to your life.

Another little hack worth knowing about is the Facebook newsfeed possibilities. We've all had those days where well-meaning friends post a particularly sad animal story or image (usually while trying to spread the word about relevant subjects) that end up haunting you long after you've logged out. Here's a simple tutorial on how to edit what you see and encourage posts that you really want to see.

Can't be bothered with any of this? How about a new fast? Disconnect for a few days and see how you feel, and if there's really anything you've missed by opting out for a spell. The  New Yorker will always  be waiting for you when you opt back in.   

I suck at yoga. I know it's not very yogic to say so, but there's just no other way to put it. 

After five seconds in warrior pose, my legs start to wobble and turn to jelly, and I sort of feel like crying. Headstand attempts nearly always end badly, usually with a loud slam to the ground and a lingering fear that I've damaged my back permanently.

The only asanas I excel at are the corpse pose (that's lying down on your back with your eyes closed, if you didn't already know), and the uber-comfy child's pose, which can lull me into a sleepy-kid coma in no time flat. 

Still, I plod along with a daily routine intended to keep my muscles supple and my spine limber so I don't end up like a witchy character from a Grimm's fairy tale.

To keep things interesting, I try to incorporate new stretches and poses into my routine from time to time.  The latest addition to my morning repertoire is this one, called ustrasana, or "camel pose." It's meant to open the heart and expand the chest area, but I really feel it in my lower back. At first, I could only do it for a few seconds, but now, I almost feel like I could hang out there all day.

What does your morning routine look like? Do you have a favorite yoga pose or other get-up-and-go ritual? I'd love to hear more and borrow your great ideas!

A friend and I were recently discussing the work of Masaru Emoto, a Japanese philosopher and entrepreneur whose best-known work relates to the power of words.

One of his projects involves freezing water, then examining the ice crystals that form and scrutinizing their shapes. Doesn't sound all that interesting until you learn that the shapes of the crystals differ greatly depending on the music playing while the water transforms from liquid to solid. 

The crystals have a completely different geometry, for example, when they are formed while Chopin plays versus Metallica versus the Beatles. But the most dramatic examples of his hypothesis--that words can shape matter--are evident in another experiment in which he assigns words to bowls of rice or water that's to be frozen.  As you might conclude, "Peace" and "Love" yield much more beautiful ice crystals than "Adolph Hitler" and "Anger."

Emoto says that if our words can affect water that way, how must words affect us, considering we, ourselves, are composed primarily of water ?  

To test the theory, my friend Sophia and I have launched our own experiment in which we label our water bottles with positive words, which, hopefully, will imbue our liquids--and eventually ourselves--with positivity and goodness. It can't hurt, right? And it might even help! (Results to follow.)

Do you believe in the power of words? What are some of the things you regularly say to yourself? If there are some negative things in there, you might want to join us on this experimental ride and see what kind of magic happens.