1. Philip A. Robinson Jr. Adeptly Welcomes You To Portland, Oregon Via Distinctive Sculpture, the artist and story behind the artwork pictured above.

2. we can rest our way through things: rest is required from Abigail Rose Clarke.

3. How You Can Donate and Help Support Maui Communities Right Now. “We’ve compiled a handful of community funds and nonprofits you can contribute to right now. In such dire times, truly anything can help and make a difference for those affected by the fires, and we will continue to add more donation centers to this article as the situation continues to evolve.”

4. Handsome, a new podcast from comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin. “Every week, the handsome hosts field a question from a friend and attempt to answer it together, covering every subject you could think of. Along the way, Tig, Fortune and Mae tell plenty of stories and just generally have a ridiculous time.”

5. 10 Books to Read for Fat Liberation Month.

6. 8 Things We’ll Regret When We’re Older If We Don’t Stop Now from Courtney Carver on Be More With Less.

7. Weight-Neutral, Non-Restrictive Blood Sugar Management Strategies.

8. If you feel better near salt water, you’re not making it up. It’s called thalassotherapy.

9. A woman in Mexico City turns her apartment into a clinic for dozens of ailing hummingbirds. (video)

10. The art of Felicia Chiao on Instagram. This is the best kind of sweet + strange.

11. NPR’s Book of the Day podcast. “In need of a good read? Or just want to keep up with the books everyone’s talking about? NPR’s Book of the Day gives you today’s very best writing in a snackable, skimmable, pocket-sized podcast. Whether you’re looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we’ve got an author who will speak to you, all genres, mood and writing styles included. Catch today’s great books in 15 minutes or less.” One book they shared I’m currently reading: In ‘Soul Boom,’ Rainn Wilson calls for a spiritual revolution, and another I am going to read next: ‘Soil’ weaves together a poet’s experience of gardening, race and community.

12. Andy Grammer talks about taking grief into your own hands. (Instagram reel) Three of my other favorite Instagram reels I watched this week: Absolutely loved watching the meteors flying in the night skies, and That green color makes my heart skip a beat, and This guy is determined to keep the cuddles flowing.

13. Elaborate Flower Arrangements by Lewis Miller Design Cascade From Fixtures of New York City Streets.

14. Karen Kilgariff’s Midcentury LA Home Gives a Fresh Take to ’70s Decor. “Laun Studio brought layers of color and warmth to the My Favorite Murder host’s Studio City house.”

15. A Tiny, Weightless Thing from Karen Maezen Miller. She posted this on her Facebook page and I can’t figure out how to link to that and it’s not on her website either, so I’m going to share the full text here and hope she doesn’t mind.

“Many years ago, when my life seemed to take a radical and inexplicable turn, people would sometimes ask how I decided to make that happen. The truth is, I didn’t make anything happen except in the smallest ways. I didn’t decide to downsize, for instance, although it looked that way. I didn’t become a minimalist, although my needs diminished. I didn’t decide to pursue a spiritual path, I just put one foot in front of the other. I didn’t resist, reject, or refuse anything, I simply made different choices. They are the kind of choices we are presented with all the time.

Instead of more I chose less. Instead of that I chose this. Instead of later I chose now. And instead of me, well, I didn’t choose me.

If we are lucky, we are given a great deal of time on this earth, time enough to get a good look around. And eventually, after enough upheavals, disasters, and disappointments, we might realize the point of it all.

It’s not just to be kind, although that’s part of it. It’s not just to be tolerant or generous, although both of those will become easier. It’s not really about gratitude either, although you will be grateful for all the opportunities given to you.

We are here, together, now to serve one another. Let’s not make that complicated. It’s really simple, and a lot simpler than serving yourself. Serving yourself is an endless, exhausting, and futile endeavor. It perpetuates dissatisfaction. It multiplies desires. But serving others, helping others, and caring for others is a tiny, weightless thing. It’s instantly satisfying and gratifying. In other words, it’s good.

This is the secret to happiness. Let’s not keep it a secret.”

16. On: Why We Cry When Things Are Beautiful, a beautiful and heartbreaking post from Marlowe Padilla about losing his best friend Maria.

17. How drawing changed this artist’s life and led to a $45K paid newsletter. “Danny Gregory triumphed in the advertising world before tragedy struck. But his resilience and passion for creating helped him bounce back to scale his newsletter to 20,000 subscribers and inspire artists around the world.”

18. 3 signs you might be a toxic person, from a therapist who realized she had harmful behaviors she needed to change.

19. It starts here from Susannah Conway. This would make a great writing prompt.

20. Birthday cake box donations. I love this idea!

21. Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer & Laurie Wagner: Writing Into Paradox, from the A La Carte series from 27 Powers. I love that you can join live, and also have a video to watch as many times as you like.

22. These Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookie Bars Are Perfect for Fall. 

23. 7 cheap foods that will boost your gut health faster than probiotic supplements — from a doctor who has stopped prescribing them.

24. Artist Leaves Stunning Handmade Pottery in Unexpected Places for People To Find and Keep. Check out the artist’s website to see stories of people finding her art.

25. Amazing Grace from Gretchen Schmelzer. “Our hearts break open and our mosaics, the world’s mosaics, get bigger. First, let yourself grieve. And then, let yourself grow.”

26. Meeting Suffering with Gentleness on Gentle Buddhism.

27. 64 Things I Know For Sure: Celebrating my birthday with a list. As one does. From Patti Digh.

28. How to Avoid Overscheduling Yourself as a Sensitive Introvert.

29. On My Way to the Conscious Dance Circle: Allow Yourself to Belong from Mindy Tsonas Choi.

30. The Art of Digital Minimalism: 5 Steps to Detox Your Digital Life from Tammy Strobel on Be More With Less.

31. Origin Story from Jami Attenberg. “I’m sorry this newsletter today has nothing to do with writing. It only has to do with a dog. But having a dog is part of what makes me happy and steady and alive, and those things help me to be a writer and a better participant in my community.” Amen!

32. Good stuff from Austin Kleon: Patience with everything unresolvable in your heart and Be a good date.

33. Three Songs at the End of Summer, a gorgeous poem from Jane Kenyon.

34. A Self-Care Guide For Teachers (From A Teacher).

35. Tips for Building a Writing Routine.

36. The Joy of Missing Out.

37. Choice points from Patti Digh. “Use your active voice, make a choice, change your verbs.”

38. Papier-Mâché Critters Traipse and Trot in Delighful Sculptures by Diana Parkhouse.

39. On Death and Love. “As Melanie Challenger examines the belief in human exceptionalism that has devastated life on this planet, she wonders if our desire to outrun death is hindering our capacity to love.”