This is an image of a hand-drawn, three-tiered birthday cake sitting on a round serving plate. Each tier is decorated with different icing patterns, including dots, scalloped lines, and large rounded frosting dollops that circle each layer. At the top of the cake is a large candle shaped like the number 40, indicating a 40th birthday celebration. The drawing is simple and whimsical, using bold black lines with no colour or shading, giving it a playful, cartoon-like appearance.

40 for 40

April 5, 20258 Comments

40 lessons from 40 years of life, shared in 490 words on The Davis Daily.

F*ck your feelings

March 23, 2025Leave a comment

Issue 57 of Life Under Construction, a fortnightly newsletter by The Davis Daily. Join the crew for 15 interesting things about growth and creativity, wealth and wellness.

This is a hand-drawn illustration of the Grinch, a fictional character from the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The Grinch’s face is green with a fuzzy texture, reflecting his fur. His expression is sly and mischievous, with a long curved smile, upturned eyebrows, and half-lidded, slightly narrowed eyes. He looks cunning and smug with a calculated demeanor. He is wearing a bright red Santa Claus hat trimmed with fluffy white fur. The hat's floppy end is tipped with a white pom-pom, leaning to the left side of his head. The Grinch's head is slightly tilted, as though he is plotting something.

Bah, humbug: why I (used to) hate Christmas

December 19, 2024December 22, 2025Leave a comment

From grief to gratitude. A holiday reminder that the best gift is time with your loved ones. In 680 words on The Davis Daily.

The illustration depicts a traditional time clock and a time card in a simplistic, hand-drawn style. The clock is rectangular with rounded edges and sits on two small, black feet. It has a circular clock face on the front. The two clock hands show the time of 5:32. In the upper-left corner of the clock are two small buttons, indicating when someone punches in their time and punches out. A rectangular time card is in mid-motion, being inserted into the top slot of the time clock. The card has several horizontal lines drawn across it, representing times where work hours are recorded.

Your life’s work

December 9, 20243 Comments

Are you working to live or living to work? Read 663 words about loving your job but hating to work.

This image is a hand-drawn illustration of a blackbird in mid-flight. The bird has its wings spread wide, as though gliding through the air. The bird's body is primarily shaded in black, with hints of subtle red and yellow highlights visible on the underwing. The bird's eye is small but clearly defined, and its beak is thin and slightly curved. The pose of the blackbird suggests a graceful motion, as if it’s soaring effortlessly through the sky.

For Mom

October 30, 2024October 30, 20247 Comments

A 565 word memorial of Jacqueline Jane Davis and the life lessons she left behind.

This image is a hand-drawn illustration of a human eye. The iris is light blue, shading gives it a sense of depth. The pupil is solid black, centred within the iris. Two small white circles suggest light reflecting off the pupil. The sclera, or white part of the eye, has sporadic red, jagged lines, indicating the eye is bloodshot. Short, thin eyelashes extend outwards from the upper and lower lids of the eye. The lashes are more prominent on the upper lid.

The heart, the head, the hockey stick in the eye

September 1, 2024Leave a comment

923 words about the purpose of adversity, post-traumatic growth, and how to see the silver lining.

The Davis Daily

A blog about life: under construction

Tag: mental health