United States of America eSeries: Your weekly inspiration

Your weekly inspiration

Posted by :

In this week's newsletter, we take a second look at an often overlooked vegetable... learn why those lazy days of summer could be an important mental health break for you and your kids... and explore all the different Mars space missions and what they've uncovered about life on the red planet.

Why this school year's end feels like a miracle

Trying to fit a whole lot of activities in this summer, now that things are starting to open up? You might want to reconsider that plan, warns author David Perry. "What I worry about, in part because I feel the instincts myself, is that we'll try to fix something that can't be fixed with overscheduling, overplanning and filling up the days with the kinds of activities we had to eschew last year," Perry writes.

5 reasons to put okra on your shopping list

Okra is one of those vegetables that, if you've eaten it at all, has probably been cooked by someone else -- and most likely fried or in a gumbo. But this nutrient-packed vegetable is more versatile than you might think. Here are some tips on how to prepare okra -- or even add it to your backyard garden:

Check it out

Hate the sound of your voice? You're not alone

If you've ever heard the sound of your voice, you've probably wondered, "Do I really sound like that?" There's actually a scientific reason why most people hate hearing themselves speak.

Read it here

Was there ever life on Mars?

This year, expect to see Mars in the news a lot: Both China and the US have rovers that are currently exploring the red planet, sending back amazing images and SpaceX is moving ahead with its plans to bring the first humans to Mars.

How much do you know about all the efforts to find life on the fourth planet from the sun? This bookmark-worthy interactive will get you up to speed:

Explore more