Edition #14: On Heartbreaking News and Perspective Shifts
Plus, a case for communal living, when a Google search lands you in jail, and a breathtaking poem
A Note from the Editor
I had a very different note planned for today, one that, at conception, felt important. But then I got some heartbreaking news and it made me rethink what I wanted to say. I pondered this sudden shift in perspective, how to in one moment things can feel so important and in the next, they become silly, frivolous in the wake of something real.
So instead, I'm going to share a list of things I appreciate about being on this Earth, in no particular order: Waking up before my alarm, the impossibly loud sound of school children squealing at the playground outside my bedroom window, receiving a handwritten note, eating all the popcorn during the trailers at the movies, observing a moment of quiet kindness between strangers, walking down the subway steps as the train arrives, the last page of a good book, when someone says I remind them of someone else, soft sheets, reconnecting with an old friend, sunny, cool days, phone conversations that last for longer than 30 minutes, yellow Post-it notes, remembering the titles scrawled on burnt CDs from high school, the satisfaction of feeding other people, a strong handshake (or hug), the sweet, high-pitched laughter of my nieces and nephews.
Hug a friend, call your mother, write your own list and remember how lucky we are to be here. Cheers my dears, and I’d love to read your list. What do you appreciate about being on this Earth?
Three Piece of Content Worth Consuming
Is it Time to Rethink Communal Living? In ever-polarizing times where so much feels out of our control, I often find myself asking what if we could do things differently? While communes tend to draw a dark mental image à la Manson family, this story inspects what life is really like in modern-day "intentional communities". When you strip away the possibility of culty killings and consider an alternate reality of living in a bubble that you helped create, it begs the question: could communal living hold the skeleton key to a happier future?
A Simple, Sweet Story to Make You Smile. I saved this story about a year ago, but it felt worth revisiting today. This sweet old lady sat by her window and waved to passing students on their way to school every day for 12 years-- and when it was finally time for her to vacate her home and move into an assisted living facility, the children showed up in a way that made my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Because sometimes a feel-good story is all you need.
When A Google Search Lands You in Jail. There's no skating around the fact that abortions are a hot topic, and as access to the procedure becomes more and more limited, the number of women partaking in self-managed abortions (through legal methods like the "abortion pill") is on the rise. That is the pretext for this fascinating piece exploring how women-- particularity women of color-- are being negatively affected by our current reality, and how their digital communication is often used as evidence against them.
Perhaps You Should...
Give Poetry a Fair Shot
After hearing a classmate read some of her work aloud a few weeks back, I've been inspired to take a second look at the mystery that is poetry. Make it a date by finding open mics in your area with this tool, and consider the power of this line from one of my favorite poems:
"If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master,
if you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster;
and treat those two imposters just the same."
(Strangely Addicting) **Bonus Content**
If you know me you know I've always had a soft spot for Abraham Lincoln-- not only for all the positive changes he made in America, but also because I think he's the most handsome former president there is (sorry, JFK), This 29-year-old artist uses Photoshop to show what historical figures might look like in modern times, from hot Abe to a millennial Marie Antoinette, and I've spent countless scrolling time hypnotized by these images.
A Quote From a Book You Should Read
"Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant."
-The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
This newsletter is best served with a side of conversation, so drop your opinions, reflections, and thoughts in the comments below and let’s get to talking.
Or, share the most thought-provoking piece from today’s edition with someone you love, then call them up to discuss, debate, and percolate. As a wise woman once said, “Great minds discuss ideas.”