Investing in Me

Elevate Your Drive

At Ford, we recognize the growing need to find tranquility in a world that often feels overwhelming. That's why we're thrilled to introduce the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, a remarkable addition to the midsize luxury SUV category. This vehicle exemplifies a new standard of sophistication and comfort, creating a personalized sanctuary for drivers.

From ambient lighting to crystal-inspired details, the Nautilus provides a multisensory journey that includes lighting, screen visuals, and even digital scents, all designed to rejuvenate and enhance the driving experience. The centerpiece of this innovative interior is the expansive display, the largest in its class, offering high levels of personalization and connectivity. This immersive digital sanctuary, with symphonic orchestration and high-resolution animations, is designed to adapt to your changing moods, offering a space that caters to your senses and enhances your driving experience.

The all-new Lincoln Nautilus is set to arrive in North America showrooms in early 2024.

The Power of Brief Encounters

According to a recent study led by Hanne Collins, a graduate student at Harvard Business School, the quality of our daily interactions with others impacts our overall happiness and satisfaction. Using data from eight countries, Collins' findings speak to the universal human experience of finding joy through connection.

Collins and her team discovered that individuals who have conversations with a diverse range of people, including strangers, acquaintances, friends, family, and colleagues, tend to experience greater levels of happiness. In contrast, those who predominantly connect with a limited circle — for example, chatting only with colleagues and friends —may not derive the same level of satisfaction from their interactions.

These everyday micro-encounters affirm an individual's sense of belonging and validation, demonstrating the significance of incorporating more social moments into our daily lives, whether through casual small talk or deeper conversations.

Going Retro

Gen Z is leading a resurgence in flip phone usage, seeking a respite from smartphone overload. These "dumbphones” prioritize simplicity and focus on essential communication via calls and texts, effectively sidestepping the distractions associated with smartphones.

Sammy Palazzolo, a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told The Wall Street Journal that she and her friends “were talking about how we [felt] like slaves to our phones, like robots who keep scrolling and scrolling, even when we're out at parties” — which led them all to buy flip phones. Sammy purchased hers for $40.

These 90s-era phones can easily be purchased for under $100 and are gaining popularity, with brands like Nokia selling tens of thousands each month. Modern flip phones maintain the classic design while offering contemporary features like 4G and higher-quality cameras, providing an effective balance between digital connectivity and essential communication.

Trading Screens for Greens

Finland has introduced the world's first "phone-free" tourist island, tree-covered Ulko-Tammio, to encourage visitors to disconnect from technology and embrace nature.

Located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, this initiative aims to improve visitors' mental health by promoting "digital fasting" by asking tourists to keep their phones in their pockets in order to enjoy outdoor activities and interact with others face-to-face. While participation is voluntary, the move provides an opportunity for people to break away from social media and smartphones, enhancing their well-being and promoting a deeper connection with the island's natural beauty.

The Cleveland Clinic summarizes the benefits of digital detox to include sharper focus, less stress, better social interactions, and improved time management. Combined with an immersion in nature, phone-free moments can be powerful. Speaking to the Harvard Medical School magazine, Susan Abookire, MD '91, explained, “We evolved in relationship with the trees…Having an opportunity to really become aware and embodied in our senses [by spending time in the forest] changes the neurobiology of our state of being” to let our minds experience a deep rest.