Happy new year, Reader!
After two weeks of holiday, I'm back with a brand new email series. Every Monday for the next 50 weeks, I'll be sharing curated content that inspires me, along with a suggestion for you to try that week. Hope you find at least one thing you love in each issue.
For your ears
“Music” cover by Sertab Erener — Listen on Spotify
I'm not saying Madonna's "Music" was a lousy song and needed to be saved, but... it could be more interesting.
Sertab Erener (2023 Eurovision winner) performed one of the best versions of the song for Crossing The Bridge, a music documentary that portrays the sound of Istanbul in the 2000s. If the city's music scene were a pill you could swallow, Erener's version of "Music" would be that pill. Take it or leave it.
PS. If oriental tunes aren't your thing, you may enjoy one of these versions.
For your eyes
There is an overwhelming amount of plastic waste in the world —some of it recyclable, some designed for single use, and some for Stephanie Hongo to upcycle.
With the support of her family, friends, and local community, Stephanie gathers materials from the trash to create sensational animal sculptures. She describes herself as a "trash sculptor," committed to transforming waste into beautiful works of art.
See Stephanie Hongo's work
For your mind
“Your first idea is rarely your best idea. It can take a lot of reps before you discover something worth keeping.”
James Clear
When you face a challenge or setback…
In the week leading up to the holiday, I made a small mistake that cost me an extra two hours of work during an already busy period.
I was recording a training video for a client. My first attempt wasn't great; I struggled to find my flow. My second attempt was much better. I got into the groove and followed the planned structure with only a few mistakes.
After going through everything I needed, I decided to take a short break before editing the video. That's when I realised I hadn't recorded that successful second attempt. Panic started to rise as I felt heat spreading through my body.
In that moment, I thought:
"Calm down. I can't go back in time. Blaming myself and stressing out about something I can’t change won't do me any good. I'm not back at square one; I am at square one. My next step is to record the video. I've practised. I know what I can improve further. I will take a tea break and then return to create an easy-to-follow tutorial. This is not a setback but an opportunity to produce better work, and that's what I'll do."
Shifting to this positive mindset instantly sparked excitement. I felt more motivated than before, which enabled me to create even better work.
Action: Whatever challenge or setback you face this week, take a moment to step back and look for opportunities within that situation. Ask yourself, “How can I use this moment to enhance my actions, improve my delivery, strengthen my relationships, or learn something new?"
Acknowledge the moment of growth. Recognise the challenge you’ve encountered and the path you chose to overcome it.
When that happens, feel free to email me or shoot a DM on socials. I’d love to hear how you handle that tough situation.
Find me on socials
I’ll be posting on multiple channels in the new year.
Follow @heySparkZone on Instagram for bite-size content and on YouTube for system design showcases and insights. (Both channels are new. So you can get a front-row seat in my heart by simply hitting those cute follow and like buttons today.)
I’m also on LinkedIn, as usual. See you around!
Happy Monday,
Merve
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