Writing this newsletter, I spent hours searching the internet, reading texts, listening to iPods, and looking at videos. So I come across a lot of interesting stuff. Sometimes I use it in my posts, sometimes I don’t. Here are 10 finds from the last weeks I thought might be interesting to you. Enjoy!
#1 - Video: Poem “The House of Belonging”
A poem by Anglo-Irish poet-philosopher David Whyte, recited by himself. “The House of Belonging” is about “seeing endless horizons in the confounds of a very small house”, as he explains. David Whyte is one of my favorite poets. I don’t know many people who can express complex insights into what it means to be human in such beautiful words.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1415152545321592
#2 - Article: How to know what you really want
Each of us is occasionally overwhelmed by a multitude of competing desires, notes entrepreneur-professor-philosopher Luke Burgis in the online magazine Psyche: Pursue job offer A or B? Start a new relationship or stay single? Sign up to run a marathon, or enjoy not getting up early to train?
“Life is full of marathons, and they don’t necessarily involve running,” Burgis writes. “It’s good to know which desires to pursue and which ones to leave behind – to know which marathons are worth running.” In his guide, he tries to show how. Referring to the theory of mimetic desires, he explains the differences between desires and needs, gives step-by-step instructions on how to analyze your desires and provides links to many additional resources (articles, books, videos).
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-know-what-you-really-want-and-be-free-from-mimetic-desire
#3 - Video: Why art is a tool for hope
In a TED talk, French artist JR talks about his project in a high-security prison in California. What really drew my attention – besides the art project as such – is JR’s reaction to the question by a prisoner: “What is the purpose of your art?” His answer: “I don’t know before trying a project.” His openness to how a project will develop and where it will lead him is something we all should embrace, I think, because being fixed on a certain outcome can be so restricting and even paralyzing. As JR said: “Art is in the process.” That’s true for non-art activities, too. So celebrate the process!
https://www.ted.com/talks/jr_why_art_is_a_tool_for_hope
#4 - Article: Can reading fiction make you a better person?
A great overview article by journalist Markham Heid on the effects of reading fiction. Studies show, he writes, that reading fiction is linked to empathy, social cognition, and psychological richness (which will not surprise those of you who have read my posts on this topic). So dig up this novel you bought the other day!
https://medium.com/@mheidj/can-reading-fiction-make-you-a-better-person-3ba5fa1a612b
#5 - Newsletter: On reading better
Staying with the topic of reading: In his newsletter, former spy Shawn Parrish who now hosts the podcast “The Knowledge Project” presents some helpful tips on how to get most of your reading in terms of retaining and applying. For example, he encourages us to “start books quickly and give them up easily”. This advice very much resonates with me. When I was younger, I hardly ever abandoned a book because I felt I should finish things I’d started. But this is self-defeating as I learned over the years. “Once you realize that you can quit bad books without guilt, everything changes,” Parrish writes. “You will never read a great book if your time is consumed with poor books.” Yes! Also, great advice on which books to read and note-taking.
#6 - Video: On feeling lost and belonging
Short illustrative meditation with sound bites from the On Being podcast (one of my fav podcasts with journalist Krista Tippett). Storyteller Kevin Kline talks about the power of sharing a story. Poet Sarah Kay offers insights into the give and take of poetry.
https://onbeing.org/the-summer-of-the-pause-issue-3/
#7 - Newsletter: On the human resistance to change
In her poetic and inspiring newsletter, The Marginalian, American-Polish writer Maria Popova discusses the book Journals (2010) by pop-art-artist Keith Haring. She particularly focusses on what Haring had to say about our resistance to change, the dangers of certainty, and the root of creativity. Wonderfully illustrated!
https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/07/04/keith-haring-change-creativity/
#8 - Article: Guide to Authentic Pride
Great article by psychotherapist Leon Garder in Psyche on how to feel more pride. He explains why we should get comfortable owning and enjoying our achievements, big and small, the difference between pride and self-esteem, and how to develop a sense of authentic pride. Links to books and other resources.
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-feel-more-pride-in-your-hard-earned-achievements
#9 - Website: Bloom - For late blooming authors, and readers who are interested in them
A literary website “devoted to highlighting, profiling, reviewing, and interviewing authors whose first major work was published when they were age 40 or older”, as is explained on the About page. And further, “Bloom is also a community of artists and readers who believe that “late” is a relative term, not an absolute one, and who are interested in bringing to attention a wide variety of artistic paths — challenging any narrow, prevailing ideas about the pacing and timing of creative fruition.”
The feature section has great interviews, essays, and book excerpts. I also love to browse the list of authors.
https://bloomsite.wordpress.com/about/
#10 - Video: A creative diary
In this video, author Austin Kleon walks us through his spring diary. You see a fascinating mix of text, drawings, and collages. I find this very inspiring! (I fashion my own travel diary in a similar way, and I have a lot of fun doing it!) You only see 2 ½ minutes of the walkthrough and then a paywall kicks in, but you get the picture.
Logo & Banner Design by Judy Higgins