musings on friendship & how to be a good friend
( < 1 minute read ) The world is full of friends you haven’t made yet. Maybe not everyone will be your friend, but you can be a friend to everyone you encounter in life, and in doing so, you may form a friendship with yourself, too. We found some inspiration…
top twitter tips for effective communication
( < 1 minute read ) As essential as it is to human relationships, effective communication can be tough. Navigating communication styles, different types of communication, and society and cultural norms can make communicating with your fellow humans challenging at times. So we took to social media to find some positive…
4 tips for having vulnerable conversations via text-based communication
( 3 minute read ) If you’re following social distancing guidelines, interaction in real life has been abbreviated to a quick hello at the grocery store, a moment of chit-chat with a barista, or a smile and wave on the sidewalk. These days, digital communication tools have likely replaced many…
8 short but powerful quotes to energize & inspire
( 2 minute read ) It’s hard to find inspiration in everyday life, especially during times like these, where many of us are facing challenges we’ve never faced before. We firmly believe in living that #illumylife, which means finding what’s good amid all the bad. Here are a few short…
6 ways cats live the illumy life
( 2 minute read ) Cats are wise animals. They were worshiped by the Egyptians as gods, and humans who are owned by cats certainly understand why. They’re confident, graceful, and cuddly companion animals. Here are some of our favorite famous-people quotes that reveal the awesome relationship we have with…
100+ free things to do while sheltering in place
( 5 minute read ) [updated 7/24/2020] Self-quarantine, shelter in place, and physical distancing are all very important things we can do to keep ourselves and our fellow humans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. 😷 It’s a very stressful and unusual time, and many of us could really use a…
how to launch a virtual book club using illumy
( 3 minute read ) How have you been spending your time in lockdown? Maybe you took some suggestions from our list of 100-plus free activities, such as learning a language, attending an art class, or browsing digitized art treasures. As we researched that list, we saw no small number…
6 tips for reducing stress during these tough times
( 2 minute read ) Even during ordinary times, stress can overwhelm our lives or creep up on us in unexpected ways. But these are extraordinary times. The world faces unprecedented stressors: economic struggles, and a global pandemic. Uncertainty, fear, and pain are at the forefront of our world right…
7 lessons from our canine friends
( 2 minute read ) Sometimes, we need to take some advice from our doggy pals on how to be better people. Here are some insights into and from our canine friend that apply to us humans. Lesson #1: When having a conversation, give it 100% of your attention. Lesson…
inspiring quotes for dads everywhere
( 2 minute read ) Sunday, June 22, is Father’s Day in the U.S., UK, and Canada. If you were lucky enough to have a dad or father figure in your life, this is the day to honor that relationship—either with your dad (if possible) or in your heart. ❤️…