March | 2023 | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

1. Let’s Talk Memoir, “a podcast for memoir lovers, readers and writers, featuring interviews with memoirists about their writing process, their challenges, and what they’ve learned about sharing the most personal of narratives. Hosted by writer, speaker, and memoirist Ronit Plank, each episode of this limited series highlights different aspects of the memoir writing experience, writing tips, and inspiration.”

2. The Case for Hanging Out. “There’s a growing crisis in our social lives. Could the cure be this simple?”

3. Permission: Time to Choose. “What permission does is remind us that we have choices, and what our limited life span means is that our choices matter.”

4. The book is here. I just preordered my copy of Maggie Smith’s memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, because, again, poets write the most beautiful memoirs.

5. Share Your Wisdom: What spiritual/life lessons have you learned from your pet? on Lion’s Roar. I think I might have to do this.

6. How to Not Burn Out on Lion’s Roar. “Sustainable activism begins with not calling yourself an activist, says Keisha Bush.”

7. Wisdom from Pema Chödrön: “Joy has to do with seeing how big, how completely unobstructed, and how precious things are.”

8. 10 Books By Living Black Women to Read During Women’s History Month.

9. The news ≠ your life by Oliver Burkeman. “You hear it said that it’s a marker of privilege to be able to back off from the news – to spend a pandemic planting bulbs in your backyard, or get absorbed in your creative work while democracy declines. But if it really has become a privilege to retain one’s sanity, I think it’s one the privileged need to exercise, not disavow. In an era when the news leaves half your friends paralysed by misery, it’s no indulgence to make time for whatever’s pleasurable or engrossing in your life. On the contrary, the world needs sane people more than ever.”

10. How to Deal With a Narcissist When You’re an Introvert. For about ten years, I worked for a narcissist and it was incredibly painful. I wish I’d understood then what was happening, been able to access resources like this for support and guidance.

11. 3 Things to Do When a Family Member Won’t Change Their Toxic Behavior.

12. An Open Letter To The Next Generation Of Artists by Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Really, this advice applies to any human of any sort. RIP Wayne Shorter.

13. Imperfect your memories from Austin Kleon.

14. Selected artwork from Sarah Graham. Gorgeous. sg05_2020_sarah_graham_paeonia_emodi_ii sarah_graham_paeonia_hillary_ink_on_paper_2019

15. I’m a nutritionist from Japan, home to the world’s longest-living people—here are 5 longevity foods we eat every day.

16. Restoring Dignity to Our Animal Kin on Tricycle. “Anthropologist Amanda Stronza reflects on death, grief, and the profound interconnections between animals and humans.”

17. Margaret Atwood Is Still Sending Us Notes From the Future on The New York Times. “Her new story collection, ‘Old Babes in the Wood,’ offers elegiac scenes from a marriage plus a grab bag of curious fables.”

18. Abstract Masses of Porcelain Consume Embracing Figures in Sculptures by Artist Claudia Fontes.

19. Artist Reorganizes Found Organic Objects Into Visually Satisfying Arrangements.

20. in praise of I don’t know, a poem from Maya Stein.

21. Video of Philly Teen Reacting to Being Accepted to Morehouse Goes Viral. (video). “Amir Staten from Germantown was jumping for joy in the rain after finding out he was going to Morehouse College. The video of the young man went viral after his mom posted his reaction to social media. NBC10’s Leah Uko spent time with the family, to learn more about the journey that led up to the special moment.”

22. FurtureMe: Write a letter to your future self. “Write. Pick a receiving date. Send. Verify. That’s it 😊 Your letter is safe with us – we’ve sent over 20 million letters in 20 years!”

23. Pep Talk: on Getting Unstuck from Maggie Smith.

24. Man sees frog living in his fence and builds ‘Frodrick’ a customized house with a fancy pool.

25. Puppy Plays Tug of War With Horse. (video)

26. Surpising kurt with fish. (video)

27. Thoughts from this morning from Susannah Conway.

28. 6 scholars explain what a real climate solution is.

29. Self-care is important – but we shouldn’t mistake it for feminist action. “As long as there is a big gap between the women who have the most freedoms, and those with the least, our work as feminists is not over.”

30. Everyone messes up. Here’s how to say you’re sorry.

31. “I don’t know” from Seth Godin.

32. The ‘inside magic’ of healing and growth.

33. Some people (we are all some people) from Jena Schwartz.

34. How Introverts and Sensitive People Can Finally Stop People Pleasing.

35. Somebody Somewhere Is Coming Back, and It’s as Lovely as Ever. “Bridget Everett and company preview the second season of their HBO cult favorite—a show that’s low-stakes in all the best ways.” I adore this show.

36. How to Feel Alive Again on The New York Times.

1. Morning walks. I took so many pictures that my first attempt to put them all on this page crashed my browser. This week the weather and my body cooperated and I got to do all our normal walks. But y’all, it was COLD. Beautiful light, gorgeous sky, and we got out early enough and at the right place to see an owl one morning. Eric said they saw a coyote this morning, and because of where they saw it I now know why Ringo gets so excited and starts tracking every time we walk along that one side of the back cement pond.

2. Being able to unload my junk. This could apply to a lot of things but what I’m thinking of in this moment is the load I just took to ARC to donate. There has been a huge pile in the middle of our garage for months that we hadn’t gotten around to loading up and taking, (this winter was rough, y’all). I really really need to clear out my office but without that space in the garage to unload to while I reorganize it’s almost impossible. I had a few errands to run today and since Eric was home, I had him help me load up the car. When I got to ARC, I was laughing at myself because the two cars in front of me dropped off ONE bag each and when they got to my car, I told them, “everything in the back seat, on the floor, and in the way back goes.” One of the kids unloading said, “all of it?” and I said, “everything but the seat cover.”

3. Naps. I need one so bad today. Hopefully I can take care of that once I hit “publish.” I got a set of flannel sheets, have never had them as an adult, and oh wow do I love them. My bed really is one of my favorite places in the world and it’s now even more cozy.

4. Reading. One of the biggest regrets of my life will be not getting to read all the books I want to read. I love it so much, always have.

5. My tiny family, tiny home, tiny life. I love it here, so much.

Bonus joy: two little beloved boys turning two on the same day, stickers, my favorite fork and spoon, a new notebook, ink refills for the pen I thought I’d have to throw out, reusable grocery bags, bird song, that corner of the couch, my infrared heating pad, a warm shower, a cold glass of clean water, peanut butter, sweet potatoes, wild-ish writing, training with Shelby and the gang, hanging out with Mikalina, texting with Chris and Chloe’, the promise of spring, crayons, other people’s dogs, all the ways Eric helps and supports me, watching TV with him at night, sitting on the couch together doing nothing, making each other laugh, the way Ringo will just show up at random times throughout the day asking for some love, documentaries, true crime, music, poetry and poets, massage, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.