Welcome to Sunday Reads on Refocuser, a collection of weekly links from around the web to help you do incredible things.  These links span topics like creativity, performance, focus, exercise, nutrition, and positivity.

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Could our gut microbiome be affecting our mood?  Making us happier?  Possibly.  And there may even be an evolutionary reason for it: “happy people tend to be more social. And the more social we are, the more chances the microbes have to exchange and spread.”

How do you hang onto that post-vacation feeling as long as possible?  Plan, Reminisce, and Retreat according to an interesting New York Times Travel article.

I love this stretch.  In less than five minutes, hit the hip flexor, shoulder, and back.

Top 6 Kettlebell Exercises for Building Mass.  While I’m not as into “building mass” as I was in my 20s, I know these double kettlebell exercises will pack on muscle like no other.

How the “war against GMO” is mislead and full of lies.  Warning: this is an epically long article.

I love what Juliet and Kelly Starrett are doing to bring standing desks into the classroom.  I’m anxious for my kids’ school to take this approach as well to increase overall fitness and attention in the classroom.

CrowdCow is pretty amazing.  It coordinates the purchase of a cow directly from a local rancher.  We went with the 100% grass-fed and finished beef from Spanaway, WA.

Stress isn’t all bad.  “The higher the nations stress index, the greater the GDP and life expectancy, the more satisfied people are in that nation with their live, with their work, their communities, their own health. The happier they are.”

Another long one, this time on the crazy effects of sleep deprivation.  “Losing sleep can cause hallucinations, psychosis, and long-term memory impairment. Some studies have linked sleep deprivation to chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and bipolar disorder.”

Long-form Reads

I thoroughly enjoyed reading My Fight / Your Fight by Ronda Rousey (UFC Champion – Women’s Division) and Maria Burns Ortiz (her sister).  It was one of the most complete descriptions of what it takes to be a champion regardless of the sport.  The sacrifices, the struggles, the emotional roller coaster… all described in great detail along with fantastic motivational quotes like “you have to be good enough to win on a bad day”.  And one of my own personal favorites: “Once you’ve conquered the worst things that could happen, there is no need to fear the unknown. You are fearless.”  It was a far better read than I expected it to be.

You can always follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m reading.

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