Coffee With Tanya - Vol. 22

Talking about: NatGeo Top Picks, Japanese Wisdom, Top Ted Talks for 2024, World Holidays, Best Christmas Ads, December in History.

Here is what's on our festive menu for today:

1. Photography - NatGeo's best shots of 2024 📸
2. Culture - Japanese wisdom for a quieter mind 🍵
3. Ted Talk - Most mind-blowing talks of 2024 🎤
4. Holidays - Global December delights 🎊
5. Advertising / Branding - Best Christmas ads 🧑‍🎄
6. Word bites - Yukio 🔡

Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art // Andy Warhol

National Geographic Best Shots of 2024 📸

They're here and they're insane!

Out of 2.3 million shots taken this year, NatGeo's photo editors picked just 20 that made the cut.

Here's why a few of these are mind-blowing:

• First up: A young emperor penguin straight up YOLO'ing off a 50-foot ice cliff in Antarctica 🐧. Not your usual situation - this is extreme penguin parkour, caught by photographer Bertie Gregory. Why's this happening? Climate change is forcing these absolute units to adapt in wild ways.
• The real showstopper? A mythical black tiger captured in India's Similipal Reserve. We're talking about a rare creature that even locals who've lived there for decades haven't spotted. Photographer Prasenjeet Yadav went full obsession mode - 60 days in the reserve, 24 camera traps - to get this one shot.
  • Only about 13 of these tigers exist, period. 🤯
• Here's the wild part: They also caught the first successful rhino IVF on camera. While the surrogate didn't make it (bacterial infection), this is history!!
  We're watching extinction get reverse-engineered in real-time.

The Bottom Line: While everyone's doom-scrolling about AI and tech drama, NatGeo's out here documenting actual insanity in the natural world.

This isn't just nature photography - it's a front-row seat to evolution and extinction happening in real-time.

Sometimes you need to look beyond Silicon Valley.

Nature's been running its startup accelerator for billions of years, and these photos are the pitch deck.

National Geographic unveiled its Pictures of the Year. Here are 7 of the most stunning wildlife photos.

National Geographic revealed its annual Pictures of the Year issue. The photos show wildlife, scientific innovations, and more.

Business InsiderPriyanka Rajput

Ancient Japanese Wisdom for a Quieter Mind 🍵

Overthinking keeps your mind spinning like a turbine.

But centuries ago, Japanese philosophers discovered the art of mental stillness.

They learned that peace comes not from grand gestures, but from tiny shifts in perspective.

Take Kaizen - the practice of small, daily improvements. Or Shinrin-Yoku, where forest walks become medicine for racing thoughts.

Most powerful is Wabi-Sabi: finding beauty in life's imperfections. I read this book a year ago and I highly recommend giving it a try.

And the most special one is Kintsugi, which transforms broken pottery into art, it teaches us that our flaws make us whole.

Want inner peace? Start small. Choose one practice. Master it slowly.

Here is the list:

• Kaizen: Small improvements 🧘‍♂️
• Shinrin-Yoku: Forrest bathing 🌳🛀
• Zazen: Mindful meditation 🪷
• Wabi-Sabi: Embracing imperfection 🫶
• Kintsugi: Helaing through acceptance 🥣
• Ikigai: Finding your purpose 🎯
• Oubaitori: Respecting your journey 🌄
• Misouri: Purification rituals 🧊

After all, even mighty bamboo grows inch by inch. 🎋

2024's TED Talks Will Make You Question Everything 🚀

Picture a ladder made of fireworks climbing into the night sky.

Impossible? Not anymore.

This year's TED lineup transforms the impossible into reality, one mind-bending talk at a time. From Cai Guo-Qiang's explosive art that confronts gravity to Katsuhiko Hayashi's achievement of mice with two biological fathers, each presentation pushes the boundaries of human potential.

But it's not just about spectacle.

Imagine a world where cancer detection requires just a simple blood test. Where your dinner wasn't grown in fields, but cultivated in labs. Where robots don't just move - they dance with the grace of professional performers.

These aren't just talks.

They're glimpses into tomorrow.

Check them out.

Most mind-blowing TED Talks of 2024 | TED Talks

Dive into this collection of awe-inspiring TED Talks, featuring innovative thinkers exploring the frontiers of art, science, technology and human potential — from dancing robots and hair sculptures to cultivated meat and transformative biological research.

TED Talks

December Delights: A Global Celebration of Holidays 🎊

Even though my favorite holiday is Purim, which is celebrated in March, I can't help but be drawn to December - a month filled with lights, glitter, and shiny decorations.

December brings a global celebration of cultures and traditions.

Let's explore ten holidays worldwide:

1. Christmas (Christian) Celebrated on December 25th, is a global holiday marking the birth of Jesus Christ. In many European countries like Germany and Poland, gift-giving traditionally occurs on Christmas Eve 🎁.
2. Hanukkah (Jewish) The Festival of Lights typically falls between late November and early January. Jews light a menorah 🕎 for eight days, commemorating an ancient miracle where one day's worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. Families enjoy traditional foods like latkes and play dreidel games.
3. Las Posadas (Latin American Christian) Celebrated from December 16-24 in countries like Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The name translates to "lodging," symbolizing Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. Celebrations feature processions, piñatas, and vibrant community gatherings.
4. St. Nicholas Day (Christian) Observed on December 6th, this holiday honors St. Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus 🎅. In many European countries, children leave shoes out to be filled with gifts, celebrating the saint's legendary generosity.
5. Bodhi Day (Buddhist) Honored on December 8th, this holiday marks the day Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment. In East Asian countries, Buddhists reflect on the Buddha's spiritual awakening.
6. Winter Solstice (Pagan/Universal) Occurring around December 21st, this is the shortest day of the year. Ancient traditions include lighting bonfires and candles to symbolize the return of longer days. Yule celebrations in Scandinavia involve decorating homes with greenery and gathering with family.
7. Kwanzaa (African American) Celebrated from December 26 to January 1, this holiday honors African American heritage and culture. It's a time for community, reflection, and celebration of shared traditions.
8. Omisoka (Japanese) The Japanese New Year's Eve celebration on December 31st is deeply significant. Families gather for a late dinner, visit temples, and have a tradition of striking a bell 🔔 108 times to symbolize the removal of human suffering.
9. St. Lucia Day (Swedish) On December 13th, Swedish girls dress as "Lucia brides" in white gowns with candle wreaths, waking their families by singing and serving coffee and saffron buns.
10. Yalda Night (Persian) A Persian winter solstice celebration that marks the longest night of the year. Families gather to eat, drink, and read poetry, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

The Most Brilliant Christmas Ads 🎄

Holiday marketing just got spicier 🌶️

Some Christmas campaigns always push creative boundaries and break traditional festive formulas.

From M&M's unexpected twist to Heineken's refreshing take on holiday spirit, these brands are redefining seasonal advertising. Durex even joined the conversation, proving that any brand can own the holiday narrative with the right creative approach.

What makes these ads work?

It's all about smart rebranding for the season.

Read more about the power of strategic rebranding here.

My personal favorite? The Erste Bank 2018 Christmas ad - a masterpiece that brought me to tears with every viewing 🥹. It perfectly captures the holiday spirit while staying true to the brand's essence.

Which one is your favorite?

Word Bites! 📚🌟

Today we have... Yukio 😴🚗

Ukiyo from Japan, means "floating world." It describes the urban, pleasure-seeking culture of Edo period Japan (1600–1867). In slang, it refers to living in the moment, free from life's burdens. Ukiyo-e is a woodblock printing style that thrived in Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, showcasing landscapes, daily life, and legends. These prints, known for vivid colors and intricate details, significantly impacted Western art and offered insights into Japan's cultural and social history.

December in History

Ready for some December magic? Here's a ride through history's most magical December moments! ✨

• December 1, 1955 - Rosa Parks Takes a Stand 🚌 Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking the Civil Rights Movement and changing America forever.
• December 3, 1992 - First SMS Sent 📱 The first text message ("Merry Christmas") was sent over the Vodafone network, revolutionizing how we communicate.
• December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor Attack ⚓ Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, changing the course of history.
• December 10, 1901 - First Nobel Prizes 🏆 The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, establishing what would become the world's most prestigious awards.
• December 17, 1903 - Wright Brothers' First Flight ✈️ The Wright brothers made history with the first powered, controlled flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, lasting 12 seconds.

• December 31, 1879 - Light Bulb Demo 💡 Thomas Edison demonstrated his incandescent light bulb to the public for the first time, illuminating a street in Menlo Park.

Did you know December was originally the tenth month in the Roman calendar? (That's why it starts with 'deci-'!). Deci = ten! (Thanks Duolingo for my Italian lessons 🇮🇹).

Which December milestone brightens your day the most? 🌟

That's all for today... Stay tuned for the next coffee with me in January.

Meanwhile, you can also check my brand new newsletter that will be focused on product management, business, tech, and productivity hacks called "The Product Palette", and check out my Linktree for extra goodies (Spotify playlists, Sketches, etc.).

You're one of 93 humans who love to feed their curiosity.

If you have any topics you want me to explore further, please send them to me.

Feel free to reply with your thoughts and insights! Ciao!