Chris Saenz's video: Channel and Personal Update - May 2023

In this video I talk about my choice to take 3 weeks off from You Tube creating to prepare and for my trip home to Vermont to see my family. I won't be gone 3 weeks and Manuel will be here but there is a lot of preparing to do and I think a fresh start (after taking a 3 week break until) late May going into June is just the ticket for me to keep my stress levels from going over the top. I also discuss: * Teasing that Matt is creating some new features for the ink swatch website!!! https://inkswatch.com/ * My 30 day in-progress no buy for pens/hobby supplies and books * The book: Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke (specifically her Dopamine fast process) https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/1524746746/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Dopamine+Nation&qid=1682869470&sr=8-1 * Going caffeine free (yes me) this being day 5 and no pain or headache anymore * The book: Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske https://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Blues-Hidden-Dangers-Americas/dp/0446673919/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28X0C1A06NS21&keywords=caffeine+blues+by+stephen+cherniske&qid=1682869529&sprefix=Caffeine+Blues%2Caps%2C515&sr=8-1 Interview with the author of Caffeine Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1PBt3glb3k Read older books free at: https://archive.org/ * Weight gain (20 pounds) and the fact I think it links to Cortisol (and probably if I'm honest too high carbs) because I'm still very consistent with my intermittent fasting 20:4. * My trip + the pen case and notebook + Galen Leather case +I'm Hobinichi I'm taking with me (undecided at this point whether to take any fountain pens ... I know this is weird but indecision as to which ones to take is real). * Hemingway Jones will have Tom from Ink Journal and Goldspot on his channel May 16th and I also mentioned that. Here's his channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HemingwayJones Thank you so much for watching and if doing so is something you're comfortable with I'd love to have some prayers +for or positive thoughts for safe and timely travels ... I'm nervous after 4 years pretty much at home and not going anywhere .... all my traveling bravery seems to have gotten up and went. I have 3 flights up plus a 1 hour rental car drive and the same thing the day I come back a 1 hour drive followed by 3 flights. But it will all be worth it to see my Mom, brother +, family, nephew, aunts and friends I hope to see even with my short time there ... ! See you all on the other end and in the meantime watch the community tab and my Instagram because I'll post when I get a chance: https://www.instagram.com/snowball7470/