The Daily Valet. - 1/8/24, Monday
✔️ Look on the Bright Side
Monday, January 8th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
Let's start this week on a positive note.
Today’s Big Story
Look on the Bright Side
Having a positive outlook is the most important predictor of resilience and longevity
Optimism. Is it in short supply? After all, in our current era of doomscrolling, it can seem like there are cautionary tales all around us. But that's not to say that, despite all that's wrong with the world, you can't have hope. Or resilience. Or simply the belief that things will work out in the end. That's the basis of optimism and it turns out, that the benefits of being a “half glass full” kind of person has real benefits.The topic is one that has been getting a lot of attention lately. For many years, psychologists, following Freud, thought that people simply needed to express their anger and anxiety—blow off some steam— to be happier. But this is wrong, reports The Atlantic. “Think back to the last time you experienced a loss, setback, or hardship. Did you respond by venting, ruminating, and dwelling on the disappointment, or did you look for a faint flash of meaning through all of the darkness—a silver lining of some sort?” According to one psychologist, depression is often accompanied by a pessimistic explanatory style: we tend to blame ourselves for misfortune, believe it's permanent, and believe it affects all areas of life. However, optimists experience less depression and anxiety, and optimistic explanatory style can alleviate depression and help prevent relapses.Pessimism is dangerous. In fact, it can kill you—or, at least, prevent you from living longer. Thinking positively has been scientifically proven to help you live longer. Several studies have found that optimism is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and people who score highly on tests of optimism live 5% to 15% longer than people who are more pessimistic.Of course, this could be because optimists tend to have healthier habits and lower rates of some chronic diseases, but even when accounting for those factors, the research shows that people who think positively still live longer. If you had to pick one healthy practice for longevity, “do some version of physical activity,” Dr. Alison Moore, a professor of medicine and the chief of geriatrics, gerontology and palliative care at the University of California, San Diego told the New York Times. “But if you can't do that, then focus on being positive.”It certainly helps with performance, right. Hellen Keller famously wrote, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.” Optimists have a more positive mood and morale, more vitality, a sense of mastery, and high self-regard. They feel in control of their destiny. All that positivity must radiate outward, because optimists tend to be better liked by others, too.
Get Started:
From health breakthroughs to wildlife success stories and a heap of culture, there are plenty of reasons to raise a glass to the year ahead.
Congress Averts a Shutdown (Right?)
Despite the deal, time is short to assemble and pass legislation before the January 19 deadline
House Republicans and Senate Democrats came to an agreement on topline spending numbers for the rest of 2024, congressional leaders announced Sunday. This means they'll avert a shutdown and keep the federal government funded until the end of the fiscal year. Right?Well, hopefully. The New York Times points out, cautiously, that it's not clear whether they would be able to cement the deal and pass it into law in time to avert a partial government shutdown in less than two weeks. The agreement sets topline spending levels at $886 billion for defense spending for the current fiscal year and roughly $773 billion for non-defense spending. The defense figure reflects the deal reached last year by President Joe Biden and former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. It's likely to enrage far-right House conservatives who insisted on deep spending cuts and border restrictions as a price for their vote on a spending bill.The Freedom Caucus in a statement Sunday called the agreement a “total failure” and “totally unacceptable.” However, President Biden said the bipartisan deal “moves us one step closer to preventing a needless government shutdown and protecting important national priorities.” According to the Washington Post, funding runs out for roughly 20 percent of the government — including for essential programs such as some veterans assistance, and food and drug safety services — on Jan. 19, and money for the rest of the government runs out shortly after that, on Feb. 2.
Winter Storm Kick-Starts a Stretch of Extreme Weather
An onslaught of snow on both coasts puts nearly 70 million people at risk for severe weather
Nearly 70 million people across the Gulf Coast and Southeast are at risk for severe weather, including tornadoes, damaging wind and flooding rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. At the same time, heavy snow and freezing rain hit communities spread across New England on Sunday, while another storm packing heavy snow shut down a stretch of interstate Saturday and briefly knocked out power to tens of thousands in Nevada.Put another way, it's gonna be a cold, ugly week—pretty much for all of us. It's just the start of extreme and dangerous conditions across the country that could feature nearly every weather hazard, from flooding rains to hurricane force winds and blizzard conditions. According to CNN, although it will be a fast-moving system, traversing over 1,800 miles in 72 hours, it will still produce notable snowfall across more than a half a dozen states.And while the National Weather Service is busy forecasting this storm, its experts are already gearing up for what could be an unusually intense winter weather event early next week, which this time would bring blizzard conditions to parts of the Central Plains and Midwest, including St. Louis and Chicago.
FYI:
Central Park's streak of going nearly two years without more than an inch of snow in Central Park continues.
Here’s What Happened at the Golden Globes
It’s a whole new era for the Least important of all the important awards show
Did you catch the Golden Globes last night? Yeah, I didn't either ... but I got all the news alerts and followed along on social media like a good little newsletter writer. Just for you. As you might recall, this is the show's first year without the now-dissolved Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) at the helm after controversy rocked the organization. (The group of fewer than 100 voters had drawn heavy scrutiny for its lack of diversity and its ethically questionable practices.) The Globes are now owned by Dick Clark Productions, which Vulture says “knows a thing or two about B-tier awards shows.”For such uncharted Hollywood territory, this year's Golden Globes looked and felt pretty familiar—except they aired on CBS instead of NBC. Long known as the booziest and most festive award show, viewers have come to expect controversial or political comments from some of its attendees. But this was pretty calm. Oppenheimer dominated in the film categories, picking up wins for best director, best actor (drama), best supporting actor, best score and best motion picture (drama). Succession, The Bear and Beef were among the key winners in the television races.One good shock was Lily Gladstone, making history as the first indigenous winner in her category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture. Gladstone, who took home the award for her graceful portrayal of Mollie in Killers of the Flower Moon.“This is a historic win,” said the actress who was considering leaving the biz altogether when Martin Scorsese offered her the role. “It doesn't belong to just me, I'm holding it for all my sisters … this is for every little rez kid.”
REd Carpet:
Want to see what everyone was wearing? Here's the rundown from the red carpet.
In Other News
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“What Self-Care Means to Me”
How five stylish and successful men invest in themselves
Earlier in this series, we dove into what makes a “modern gentleman” these days. The point was that while there are some enduring ideals of masculinity, the concept of being a good man is constantly changing with the times. And in a world that often dictates strict norms and expectations for men, the concept of self-care has historically been overshadowed, dismissed or even stigmatized. Thankfully, the tide is turning as a new generation of guys embraces the importance of nurturing their mental, physical and emotional well-being.In this enlightening exploration, we dive into the significance of self-care and unveil the secrets of some exceptional and successful men who have made self-care an integral part of their lives. These are not just stylish men interested in looking their best—they're trailblazers and world travelers who understand that even the busiest man needs to take a beat, slow down and prioritize those things that bring some joy and peace into their life. And no, it doesn't always involve lighting incense or aligning your chakras. Ensuring that you set aside some time to recharge your batteries.
Read:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A fleece vest
You could probably use an extra layer, right? It not only adds some much-needed insulation during the coldest days of winter, but it also provides a shot of textural style to any fit. One that you can wear three seasons out of the year, so you should invest in a good one. Le Alfré makes one of our favorites ($175). Cut from a super soft Portuguese fleece, it provides cozy warmth without the bulk and is finished with contrast trim and a two-way YKK zipper with a leather pull tag.
Want more?
The five stylish items you should be buying this week.
Morning Motto
Gotta love those odds.
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