Everyday Epiphanies
A photo of a prey mantis to reflect Everyday Epiphanies
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome back, intellectual minds and curious spirits, to another installment of the Creative Creations series. This time, I traded pencils, pens, and cameras for something a little different, learning itself. For 31 days, I gave myself a new prompt or suggestion each day with one goal in mind, to learn something new. Yes, every single day for a month, I went looking for small sparks of knowledge, surprising lessons, and every day epiphanies that stretched how I see the world.
But before I dive into what I discovered, the prompts that guided me, and the unexpected lessons along the way, let’s take a moment to settle in. Find a cozy spot, wrap up in a warm blanket, and pour yourself a soothing cup of tea or hot chocolate. Where I live Fall has arrived here. The trees are already trading their green for golden, a few leaves have drifted to the ground, and Halloween decorations are popping up on porches and windows. The perfect backdrop for reflection and curiosity.
So, with that in mind, let’s open the door to the prompts, and the learning experiences that followed.
1. Random Wikipedia Article (read and share the weirdest fact)
In true Wikipedia roulette fashion, I ended up on an entry for The Kalender of Shepherdes. It was a 1490’s almanac that was reprinted all through the 16th century. The weirdest fact? Its first English edition (in 1503) was such a poor translation into a Scottish dialect that it was nearly unreadable, yet it still spread and became popular. If you want to try your own at the Wikipedia roulette, here’s the link.
2. Ted Talk Dive (Watch one less than 10 minute video and share one key takeaway).
For this prompt, I watched Andy Puddicombe’s TED Talk, All It Takes is 10 Minutes. The standout takeaway? Just 10 minutes of meditation a day can completely shift how you experience life. Reminding us that not everything is the way it first appears. By doing so, we can train our brains to focus, bringing calm and clarity into the middle of the chaos.
3. Online Quiz or Trivia (Discover something new about my interests)
Normally, I stick to naming countries, spelling them, and pointing them out on a map, but this time I tried a different Sporcle quiz called “Can You Name the Countries A to Z?” This quiz gave me 24 hints, one for each letter, and I had to guess the matching country. I ended up scoring 18/24.
Some were straightforward, like “Oceania, down under” (A=Australia). Others completely stumped me, like “Africa, Tutankhamun” (E=Egypt). A few clues challenged me, a few confused me, but all of them reminded me how much I love learning this stuff. And honestly? I can’t wait to play again and beat my score.
4. Google “How It Works” (Something I’ve wondered about).
For this prompt, the task was simple, Google “how it works.” I decided to look up something old-school and classic, such as the typewriter. According to Google’s AI Overview, a typewriter works through a system of levers. When you press a key, it triggers a typebar that swings up, striking an inked ribbon against the paper to leave behind a letter. Each time a character is printed, the carriage slides left, making room for the next one. The carriage return lever moves the paper up and resets the carriage, while the shifty switches between uppercase and lowercase.
5. Learn A New Word (Share meaning and use in sentence).
My task of the day was to learn a new word. While reading about The Kalender of Shepherdes, I stumbled across incunable. At first, I thought it just mean “a book or pamphlet,” so I tried it out in a sentence: “I have an incunable of Arkansas.” Not exactly right.
After digging deeper for this post, I realized I had missed the full meaning. An incunable is specifically a book or pamphlet printed before 1501, during the early days of the printing press. Which makes my first attempt pretty inaccurate. So, here’s a better sentence instead: “The library proudly displayed an incunable from the late 15th century.”
6. Youtube Deep Dive (Watch a random tutorial or random skill).
I took a YouTube deep dive to learn how to make my eye color pop. I ended up watching Glam Girl Gabi’s video, “Here’s the Secret to Making Your Eye Color Pop.” The biggest takeaway? It’s all about color choices. For my eyes, I should lean into orange and copper tones, warm browns, gold, and rose gold. Gray, silver, and even purple can also make them stand out. If you’re interested in learning about how to make your eye color pop, check out that video here.
7. Check A World News Headline (From a country rarely heard about).
I went with Tuvalu, partly because I love saying the name, but also because it rarely makes the news. The headline I landed on read: “The World’s Least Visited Country is Sinking into the Sea.”
Just the other day, I was talking with people, not about Tuvalu specifically, but about island countries in general and the risks they’re facing. Rising sea levels threaten so many of these places, and Tuvalu is one of them. It’s a country most of us with never visit, yet it could one day disappear entirely. It reminded me how even the smallest, most overlooked places carry stories that matter.
8. Visit An Online Art Museum (Pick a favorite piece and why).
I explored the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMOCA) and came across a stunning geometric, abstract work by Mauricio Ramirez called Antiguo (2016). At first, I was drawn in by the vibrant shapes and bold colors. But after looking closer, I realized it wasn’t just an abstract pattern, it appeared to form the image of a person.
Digging deeper, I learned that Ramirez created the piece to explore personal identity, particularly through Mexican and American headdress. That extra layer of meaning made me appreciate it even more. How something so modern and abstract can still carry such rich cultural history.
9. Listen To A New Genre Of Music (Share how it made me feel).
I chose to listen to New Age music for the new genre of music. And to my surprise, when I listened to Enya’s “Only Time,” I realized I’d heard it before. From there, I gave Yanni’s “In the Morning Light” a try.
All I can say is, I’m a fan. New Age music is calming, harmonious, and has this otherworldly quality that pulls you in. For anyone unfamiliar with (as I was), New Age blends elements of classical, ambient, and world music, often designed to inspire relaxation and meditation. It’s the kind of music that makes you pause, breathe, and just be.
10. Try A Language Learning App.
I decided to test out Lingvano, which is designed to help people learn ASL (American Sign Language). out of the different apps I’ve tried over the years, this one felt like one of the better options. It’s set up a lot like Duolingo with its repetitive style of introducing new words, letters, and phrases over and over to help them stick. The difference is that instead of spelling or listening, Lingvano uses visuals. You watch the hand signal and then choose the correct match. It felt more natural and practical for actually learning ASL.
11. Explore An Unusual Subrebbit (Share most interesting part).
With this one, I dove into a subreddit that feels oddly surreal. It’s r/HaveWeMet. A roleplay community where members pretend they live in the same quirky town. The most fascinating part? Everyone acts like they’ve known each other forever, weaving ongoing stories, gossip, inside jokes, and town lore as if it’s real. One user posted that they were looking for a new place to live with their list of requirements, and in true town fashion, someone replied they’d “put a bath out by public transportation.” (Yes, that’s as bizarre as it sounds). But I guess even in fictional spaces, the imagination, the sarcasm, and the collective overall feeling can feel very real, and strangely connective.
12. Generate AI Art Or Writing (Reflect on result).
Here is what came from ChatGPT AI writing: “The rhythm of daily life often feels rushed, like we’re all sprinting from one task to the next. But hidden inside those ordinary days are small, unpolished gems with moments of laughter, quiet, or discovery, that often slip past unnoticed. Writing, in many ways, is just catching those gems before they scatter. AI Can’t fully live the life we do, but it can help reflect the patterns we miss. Sometimes it highlights what we already know but haven’t said out loud. Other times, it surprises us by arranging words in a way that feels fresh, even if imperfect. At its best, it’s a mirror, not of who we are, but of what we might notice if we paused a little longer. And maybe that’s where the creativity begins, in the mix of the human experience and machine perspective.”
Using AI for this challenge reminded me that, like most tools, it has its strength and limitations. i’ve see errors pop up, but I’ve also noticed moments where it can highlight ideas in new ways. For me, it’s less about letting AI create full stories or art on its own, and more about how it can serve as a supportive tool by helping to edit, organize, or spark reflection while still leaving space for authentic human creativity. Because without it, it just feels like something is missing. The same can be said for the above paragraph. While it’s relatable, it’s more vague and less descriptive of an actual human, detailed experience.
13. Virtual Recipe Search (Find recipe never seen before).
For this prompt, I used ChatGTP’s help to unearth a rare and lesser-known recipe of “To Pickle Mushroomes” by For Newman. This recipe in particular is centuries old, taken from manuscript sources, and full of information of Marissa Nicosia’s findings.
Not only is this recipe a fun historical oddity, it’s a lens into preservation, flavor, and resourcefulness. If you want to see the post, you can check it out here.
14. Pinterest Rabbit Hole (Save three things that inspire me).
Here are three things that really struck me and I saved on Pinterest. 1) A quote by Whynotnow “Strength doesn’t mean you never struggle. It means you keep showing up anyway.” 2) A drawing from Homesthetics of a girl gazing at her reflection in a mirror, so detailed. And 3) A background by Fabio Varricchio showing clouds illuminated by sunlight as light is breaking through.
Three bits, words, images, light that fuel my creativity. If you want to see more of what inspires me, you can follow my blog’s Pinterest @inspire.those.who.inspire.you. It’s a recently new account so there are no followers yet and I’m not yet following anyone either. But I did save these three on there.
15. Read Short Personal Essay/Blog (Share one thought that stuck).
Upon searching through Google for a personal essay to read, I came across “The One With the Identity Crisis.” It is a reflection from a girl navigating life as an American-born Gujarati. What really struck me was how closely I resonated. Even I got tangled up in what I thought my identity was supposed to be growing up. In her experience, she compared parts of it to Pokemon evolution, something shifting. I found myself remembering moments where I felt unsure or disconnected from my heritage.
But what captivated me wasn’t just her story, it was how universal that tug-of-war feels. It reminded me that we are carry parts we hide, pieces we question, and the courage it takes to share that with others. If you want to read more of her posts, here’s the link: Ganges Gal.
16. Watch Short Documentary Clip (Learn fact worth retelling).
I ended up watching a short portion from the award-winning documentary Wild Connection and the part I did catch already struck me. I plan to go back and watch the rest of the documentary at a later time because it was that intriguing. I also highly suggest you do the same. The clip opened with Nick, a wildlife photographer, speaking about how isolated we’ve become from the natural world and how we’ve forgotten our connection to it. That brief moment felt like a call that if we don’t remember our roots, we lost part of ourselves.
17. Look Up World Holiday/Tradition (Reflect on what’s interesting).
Upon looking up world holidays or traditions on Google, I landed on something I haven’t heard before. It’s the Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Day. Each grape is eaten with each of the 12 clock chimes, and the idea is that each grape brings luck for one month of the year.
What struck me (beyond the challenge of nearly swallowing a grape every few seconds) was how symbolic it is. In a short amount of time, people hope to “earn” good fortune for an entire year.
It made me wonder, what small tradition could I adopt that feels powerful, tiny, and meaningful in my own life?
18. Try Personality or Strength Quiz (Share surprising result).
I took a personality quiz for this one. Specifically, the 16Personalities test, and unsurprisingly, I’m still an INFJ
(Advocate). What’s interesting is how consistent it has been. INFJ’s are said to be quiet visionaries, idealistic and deeply empathetic. They often feel driven by purpose and guided by their internal compass. I won’t day the test defines me but seeing the strengths and pitfalls tied to INFJs gave me something to reflect on.
19. Follow New Educational Page or Creator (Tag/note what I liked).
I followed educational creator Bob Pflugfelder, better known as Science Bob. He’s a teacher, maker, and presenter who shares fun, hands-on science experiments you can try yourself.
What I like most is how he turns things you think are “boring” into moments of wonder.
20. Listen To A Short Podcast (Share “aha” moment).
I’ll update you on this one. I’m not aware of any short podcasts at this time but will update once I find one.
21. Virtual Event or Livestream (Share key moment; 10-15 minutes long).
For this prompt, I watched a livestream. Honestly, I watch them often, usually gaming streamers. Sometimes podcasts or documentaries. Unpopular opinion though, I prefer the replay over watching live. The chat used to take over the whole screen on YouTube, but thankfully they fixed that. Recently, I watched a gamer play Water Park Stimulator. It was an experience. Sometimes the park was chaotic, sometimes funny, and sometimes intense.
Aside from that, I enjoy watching some of my favorite YouTube family or react channels reacting to “Boatlift - The untold tale of 9/11 Resilience,” “The tiny town that became a beacon of hope on 9/11,” amongst others.
22. Learn Three Facts About My Favorite Topic (Share most surprising).
For this one, I was supposed to learn three new facts about one of my favorite topics, Geography. So, I asked Google for the most random ones, and here’s what I found: 1) Australia is wider than the moon. The moon’s diameter is about 2,159 miles, while Australia stretches 2,500 miles across. 2) Antartica is the world’s largest desert. Perhaps not for the reasons you’re thinking but because of the minimal precipitation they get, not temperature. 3) This one I knew already but most of the world’s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Roughly 87% of people live north of the equator and we have the same seasons. Whereas, in countries in the Southern Hemisphere experience winter when we have summer and summer when we have winter.
23. Explore Online Museum or Zoo Cam (Describe what caught my eye).
I chose to explore the online zoo cam at the San Diego Zoo. More specifically, the platypus cam. Because really, how often do you get the chance to see one of those? And there are two different angles, as you to can check out here.
That little fella was quick. One second I thought he was crawling on a log (honestly mistook his tail for his head), and the next he launched into the water and swam out of sight. He kept doing somersaults under the water and swimming back and forth. I had no idea they were so active. I pictured them to be more slow and steady like beavers.
24. Watch A Historical Clip (Reflect on one thing I didn’t know).
The historical clips I’ve watched is old footage of the World Trade Center before 9/11. There’s something eerily yet fascinating about seeing the towers as they once were. Back when they were busy and alive with everyday life.
One thing I didn't know until recently? There was a restaurant inside. It’s not something that is often mentioned, especially since from what I’ve heard is that there were a lot of different businesses located within.
25. Read Science/Nature Article (Reflect on one thing I didn’t know).
I read Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk of early death. I already knew most dogs lived about 10-14 years on average, but did you know that “female dogs have a reportedly median lifespan of 18.6% longer than males” (from this article.
26. Find A Motivation/Leadership Tip (Apply it to my life).
I don’t remember where I first heard about it, but it’s stuck with me because I find it really does work. And that is, when you’re facing a big goal or long to-do list, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Whenever I apply it, the weight of the task feels lighter. While progress may come in pieces, each step forward builds momentum.
27. Discover A New Online Tool or App (Share what it does).
I tried out a new app known as Nextdoor. At first glance, it feels like the “What’s Happening in [town]” groups you see on Facebook, but with a tighter focus. Instead of just city-wide chatter, it connects you directly to your neighborhood. For instance, I live in the South West area. So, now I get notifications about local events, safety alerts (like today’s spotting of a big coyote), recommendations, even lost pets. It’s simple, but it makes the community feel a little smaller and clearer.
28. Follow A “How To” Video (Try something small and show result).
Since this is similar to a previous prompt, I’m going to let you [my followers] decide. I’'ll set up a poll with a few ideas, and whichever wins is the one I’ll tackle. If you want to help decide (and see how it turns out), make sure you’re following my blog’s instagram account of @inspire.those.who.inspire.you. I will share the poll and the results, so stay tuned.
29. Find A Random/Crazy Fact (Share what you find).
Did you know that the shortest war in history was the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896. It lasted only 38 minutes. to read more about it, click here.
30. Share Three Top Learnings (Reflect on what surprised me most).
My top three learnings so far, and why they matter beyond this challenge:
Small facts can leave a big impact - Discovering that Australia is wider than the moon or that Tuvalu is sinking into the sea reminded me that knowledge doesn’t have to be big to be powerful. Even the smallest bit of information can expand your perspective. Try it yourself, look up one random fact today and see how it reshapes the way you think. Even if it is only used to view the Platypus camera.
Curiosity grows when you feed it - The more I searched unusual subreddits or tuned into zoo cameras, the more my curiosity snowballed. The lesson? Follow your curiosity, no matter how small. It has a way of opening doors you didn’t even know were there.
Consistency matters more than perfection - I haven’t always been on time with every prompt (or even every post), but showing up, messy or not, has taught me more than trying to be flawless. And that applies anywhere: whether it’s art, fitness, or learning something new, progress is built on showing up, not being perfect.
Knowledge, curiosity, consistency are three small things, but together, they can change how we live and grow.
31. Issue My Own Seven Day Challenge (Invite followers to try something new).
Now it’s your turn. The rules are simple: for one week, try something new every single day. It doesn’t have to be huge. It could be reading a random article, tasting a food you’ve never tried, sketching something quick, or learning a single new word.
The point isn’t perfection, it’s curiosity. It’s proving to yourself (not others) that you can step outside your comfort zone, even in small ways.
So, here’s my call to action to you: Pick seven days. Commit to one new thing each day. Write it down, snap a picture, or just reflect on it before bed. And if you do, let me know. I’d love to hear what you discover along the way.
And just like that, the 31-day learning challenge comes to a close. Looking back, it feels fitting to call this journey Everyday Epiphanies because that’s exactly what it was. Small sparks of discovery, layered one after another, until they formed a bigger picture of growth. Some lessons were quirky, some eye-opening,and some simply reminded me that learning doesn’t stop once we leave a classroom. It’s something we can weave into our daily lives if we let curiosity lead the way.
As part of the Creative Creations series, this challenge pushed me to stay more consistent (than I am at times), explore new corners of knowledge, and share the process openly with you. I hope along thew way you’ve felt inspired to seek out your own everyday epiphanies because they’re out there waiting, sometimes in the smallest details.
Next week will mark the final challenge in this Creative Creations series. Any guesses on what that one will be? But after that, I’ll be sharing a big surprise announcement that I’ve been waiting to reveal. Trust me, you’ll want to stick around for it.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
