1. No Sparklers for These Folks on The New York Times. “Whether because of crowds, politics or a loss of patriotism, some Americans are conflicted about celebrating the Fourth of July.” I feel this — it’s hard to celebrate “independence” and “freedom” when there’s so little of it, so many without.

2. The Work of Happiness: May Sarton’s Stunning Poem About Being at Home in Yourself. This is so gorgeous and true.

3. NYT Ethicist’s Weight Stigma Problem from Ragen Chastain. 

4. “July Had Tried to Kill Them” from Robert Jones. Jr. “That is what I believe my smile and my happiness are: a tiny form of resistance; a kind of healing. Despite all of the energy expended by the powers-that-stole to guarantee my imminent destruction, here I be: finding moments to escape their treachery and dodge their tyranny to fully remember and fully embrace who I am and who I come from such that my lips can’t help but part and frame my teeth with love. As long as I’m alive, there is a chance to do something that eases, that improves, that inspires, that loves.” Also from Robert Jones, Jr. Please Help Adanne Bookshop Relocate: “A Black woman-owned bookstore is in need of our help.”

5. Epiphany 4: Blessing in the Chaos.

6. Drawing This Changed My Life. It can change yours too. from Danny Gregory. (video) “For 25 years, I’ve been drawing the same subject. It’s expanded me in so many ways. You should try it too. I’ll explain why and how in this video.”

7. Lucian James on weirdness: “Weird is often a controlling label to pathologize those who depart from conformity, a marker to tag them as problematic. But when you own your own weirdness, you become yourself. When you dare to be your full weird self, you’re fully original, and that’s what leaves a legacy.”

8. (Zen Garden) Raking wave patterns in the sand at the garden of Ryoan-ji Temple. (video) “I had the opportunity to film the raking wave patterns in the sand at Ryoan-ji Temple, the most famous Zen Garden in the world.”

9. Becoming a Buddha – A Shingon Buddhist 10-step Program. “Kūkai returned to Japan in 806 to found Shingon Buddhism and to spread his teaching of “becoming a Buddha in one’s current body” (Jpn. sokushinjōbutsu). ..Here, I would like to focus on his outline for becoming a Buddha in 10 steps described in his ‘Ten Mindsets’ (Jpn. Jūjūshinron). In this text he uses his system of ‘ranking the doctrines’ (Chn. panjiao) to map the way from ignorance to wisdom, from suffering to liberation, and from hiding to manifesting Buddhahood.”

10. On Unlearning. I was reminded of the Mary Oliver poem Just as the Calendar Began to Say Summer because Hugh Hollowell shared it in his recent Life Is So Beautiful newsletter. I Googled to find the text, a post where I could link to the poem, and came across this lovely blog entry from Rachel Ishiguro Yoga Therapy and loved what she had to say. Hugh’s newsletter also reminded me of the You Are Not Alone Murals project.

11. Cognitive Dissonance from Jena Schwartz’s Monday Dispatch. “The planet may be on fire, but that doesn’t mean what we do and who we are doesn’t matter. If anything, it means it matters even more.”

12. At the Market, a poem by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, which reminds me of Small Kindnesses by Danusha Laméris.

13. The Power of Unplugging with Tiffany Shlain, the latest episode of The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet. “What does technology amplify in your life, and what does it amputate? In her book, 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, Tiffany Shlain shares how her family unplugged one day a week and how you can achieve digital wellness. Terms like ‘digital detox’ and ‘internet addiction,’ were developed to identify the problem a device can play. In addition, Tiffany explains what her family calls a ‘technology Shabbat.’ So, where do you want to place your time and attention?” (podcast) 

14. Signs you’re a ‘highly sensitive person’ — the missing personality type, according to some researchers. “When you understand that your brain processes the world and stimulation around you differently, you can do everything possible to give yourself compassion and also set up your life in a way that enhances your traits instead of challenging it.” In related news, Being a Highly Sensitive Person Doesn’t Make You Weak.

15. Why Introverts Might Get the ‘Weekend Blues’ — And How to Cope.

16. Oh, your heart from Patti Digh, “what having a heart attack taught me about heart health.”

17. From Lion’s Roar: The Healing Power of Feeling (“‘The way to find freedom from difficult emotions is to find it right within the feelings themselves,’ writes Andy Karr in his new book, Into the Mirror. Here, he shares a practice for locating and working with difficult feelings in the subtle body to ultimately heal them) and The Life-Changing Words of Mary Oliver (“The beloved late poet Mary Oliver Oliver was known for her poems that contemplate the relationship between nature and spirituality. Rick Bass looks at Oliver’s poem ‘The Summer Day,’ which asks, ‘What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?'”).

18. For Whites Only: Affirmative Action from Frederick Joseph. “The Supreme Court continues to be a tool for white supremacy.”

19. Wellness Didn’t Save Us. Neither Will Productivity. “Dr. Pooja Lakshmin explains why ‘life hacks’ are actually part of the problem.”

20. The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders. (video) “A story about an unusual Japanese pop-up restaurant that serves a lesson along with food.”

21. The Beauty of a ‘Walk and Talk’ on The New York Times. “Taking a stroll with someone is a wonderful way to strengthen your social connections.”

22. 19 Creative Ways to Get a Little Self-Care Outside.

23. Deciding to Let Go. “What misconceptions hold you back from releasing what hurts you?”

24. Being With Loss, a practice and teaching from Upaya Zen Center. (video) 

25. ‘Choose drugs?’ 30 years after he wrote Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh says life is tougher now. “People can’t get jobs. People will never buy a house. They can’t buy nice things. Everything is fucked even if you’re not on drugs,” he says. “It [the book] almost becomes some kind of inspiring clarion call: let’s do fucking drugs, man. We’re fucked anyway. Let’s just go for it.”

26. A new start after 60: I was devastated by divorce at 70. But at 102, I know the secrets of a well-lived life.

27. It’s never too late to become a strong swimmer. Here’s how to start.

28. ‘There is no trust now’: Student loan borrowers respond to Supreme Court decision.

29. Is gun violence an epidemic in the U.S.? Experts and history say it is.

30. 4 tips to help you cope with climate anxiety.

31. 50 Wholesome Memes And Posts That Remind Us The World Isn’t All Bad. A large percentage include cats. Coincidence? I think not.

32. Does Everyone Have An Imagination? “How do you know if you have a ‘mind’s eye’ or not, and is it good or bad if you don’t?” Eric has this, so I’m always interested. 

33. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Great ‘Indiana Jones’ Adventure on The New York Times.

34. “Yes, But”: 35 Illustrations That Depict Our Society’s Contradictions.

35. In ‘Soil,’ Colorado poet Camille Dungy embraces the beauty of an ‘unruly’ yard.

36. Social media can be a tough place for diet choices. (video)

37. Bighetty & Bighetty. “Four brothers — and their Cree-speaking puppets — show the joyful side of Indigenous life.”

38. Murray Hill is ready for drag kings to finally have their crowning moment. “The ‘Drag Me to Dinner’ host shines a spotlight on drag kings.” In related news, Murray Hill Is Ready to Share His Personal Life on The New York Times. “‘I’m really inspired by the younger generation to be more open,’ said the famous drag king, who shared photos from his very busy Pride month.”

39. Recipe I want to try: Blackberry Loaf. In related news, The Best Veggie Burgers ranked by America’s Test Kitchen. My favorite is still the original Gardenburger. 😦

40. 75 Years Ago, ‘The Lottery’ Went Viral. There’s a Reason We’re Still Talking About It. on The New York Times.

41. Incredible ‘bird feeder’ photos give a whole new perspective on our feathered friends.

42. 35 Times People Went Out Of Their Way To Make Their Gardens And Yards Unique But Ended Up With These.

43. New photography exhibit puts a century of queer men in love on display.

44. Maps, Everyday Ephemera, and Watercolor Drawings Record José Naranja’s Travels with Fantastic Detail.

45. Alison Bechdel: ‘The Bechdel test was a joke… I didn’t intend for it to become a real gauge’. “The US graphic novelist on having her landmark comic strip, Dykes to Watch Out For, turned into an audio series, ​growing up in a funeral home, ​and ​​her famous women-in-film test.”

46. The Hobbies I Tried During Lockdown | Bobby Dazzler | Sarah Millican. (video) I love her so much. 

 

1. Finding a Way Forward When the Path isn’t Clear. “The gift is, that in struggling along our own trail, we become the trail makers. Each of us makes it possible for the next person coming along, the next person who can’t see a way forward, to make it to the next cairn. And the next one. Making their journey forward possible.”

2. Which team? from Seth Godin.

3. You should sign up for Hugh Hollowell’s Life Is So Beautiful, “a weekly email handwritten, non-AI-generated, personally crafted, and curated by Hugh Hollowell, devoted to the idea that our hope for survival in this brutal world is rooted in finding the beauty that is everywhere, but sometimes hard to find.” If you need a reason, here are three from his most recent newsletter: Eternal Spring (video), and Still Life (video), and So, About This HAIR… (video).

4. Honoring Juneteenth on PBS, a collection of videos, a link shared by Omkari Williams in a recent Activist Micro Action Dispatch, (“Have an action you can do in 10 minutes or less delivered to your inbox each week”), in which she says, “My relationship with this holiday is complicated. On the one hand I celebrate that slavery was abolished. On the other I recognize that abolishing slavery is one thing while freedom, freedom is something else entirely. We don’t fix anything by ignoring it. We can address our issues of injustice and racial harm if we choose to do so, but it’s a choice we must make each day. Educating ourselves and our children is one step towards building the world we want to see.” You can also preorder her new book, Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World (Without A Bullhorn). 

5. The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, “a groundbreaking series of one-on-one interviews featuring candid conversations with women and non-binary individuals…for raw and honest discussions on topics that need to be addressed right now. Each week, these incredible guests share their personal journeys, the insights they’ve gained and often hard lessons they’ve learned along the way.” I bring it up because her most recent episode sounds really interesting — As Sick As Your Secrets: Recovery From Addiction with Jamie Lee Curtis.

6. Doing Water Aerobics in the Senior Living Community with Janie Bird from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. I love aqua aerobics.

7. Xinyue: Delight in the Everyday. “Are you seeking to make your daily life more joyful without spending too much effort or money? Xinyue Wu’s thesis project, Xinyue: Delight in the Everyday, offers simple, affordable solutions for 24-35-year-old workers. By transforming ordinary experiences into delightful ones and using everyday products as emotional intervention tools, Xinyue aims to bring joy into people’s lives in a more accessible and sustainable way. With this approach, individuals can unconsciously infuse their daily lives with new-found vitality and happiness.”

8. Parker Posey Doesn’t Know If She Can Live Here. “The actress on aging in the city, terrible boyfriends, and why she doesn’t read her press.”

9. The Food Expiration Dates You Should Actually Follow on The New York Times.  “The first thing you should know? The dates, as we know them, have nothing to do with safety. J. Kenji López-Alt explains.”

10. Good stuff from Lion’s Roar: Cultivating the 5 Powers (“Faith, diligence, mindfulness, concentration, insight: these are faculties found within us all. It’s up to us, of course, to develop and bring them out. In this conversation with Buddhadharma, author, medical doctor, and Plum Village monastic Sister Dang Nghiem — a.k.a. ‘Sister D’ — talks about how her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh taught the ‘five strengths,’ and how we can transform and harness them into powers that drive and deepen our dharma practice”) and Grow Your Mindfulness in the Garden (“Cheryl Wilfong on how to practice the four foundations of mindfulness in the garden”).

11. Why Gardening Is the Perfect Summer Hobby for Introverts.

12. “Everything Rots,” Thank God, “in defense of half-assing it.”

13. When Words Fall Short from Summer Brennan.

14. A Commencement Speech For Us from Frederick Joseph. “Sharing a few words many of us might need.”

15. Compassion becomes you from Patti Digh, who asks that we “resist dehumanizing people, no matter what.”

16. Let Kids Get Bored. It’s Good for Them. on The New York Times. “A reminder to parents soldiering through the summer: Boredom has its virtues.” I’ll add to that: boredom, it’s not just for kids.

17. 5 Painfully Obvious Truths We Tend to Forget When Life Gets Messy.

18. Everything Must Be Paid for Twice.

19. There’s No Such Thing as Getting Ahead.

20. The Man Behind Nature’s Driftwood Creatures // 60 Second Docs. (video) In related news, Slinky Artist Felix Semper // 60 Second Docs. (video)

21. CBS Sunday Morning Featuring Replacements, Ltd. (video) “Correspondent Nancy Giles visits Replacements, a North Carolina-based company that is the world’s largest supplier of active and discontinued tableware.”

22. Recipes I want to try: Rhubarb Butter and Favorite Rhubarb Recipes.

23. The White Woman Whisperer. “In 2019, I moved my life to the Midwest for my first ‘well-paying job’ and, through some painful experiences, found out that racism is not only still pervasive, but can be presented as allyship. To make things worse, those who DO want to advocate for racial equity are not equipped to do so without causing further harm. So… instead of succumbing to the dehumanizing nature of ‘professionalism’ and screaming into the abyss of Diversity & Inclusion initiatives, I am choosing to believe that we can, and will, break this cycle.” 

24. 36 Random Animal Facts That May Surprise You.

25. Already Very Queer Comedy “The Lake” Gets Gayer in Season Two.

26. Dr. Sanjay Gupta: It’s time to rethink what we call ‘old age.’

27. A Heartwarming Short Film That Pays Beautiful Homage to Role That Dogs Play in Human Lives.

28. Powell’s Q&A: Gail Tsukiyama, author of ‘The Brightest Star.’

29. 6 Key Figures of the Harlem Renaissance’s Queer Scene. “Harlem in the 1920s and ’30s offered the Black creative class a sense of pride and possibility. It also had cross-dressing blues singers, extravagant drag balls and literary and artistic salons.”

30. People Are Sharing What Forced Them To Cut Ties With A Former Best Friend Of Theirs, And It’s Truly Toxic.

31. What to Do If Your House is Overflowing with Books. “Emily Grosvenor Offers Some Interior Design Tips for the Struggling Bibliophile.”

32. Unlikely Hikers is Making the Great Outdoors Way Greater.

33. Jack Hanna’s Alzheimer’s has progressed to the point he no longer recognizes most family members.

34. Winners of the 2023 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition Embrace Our World’s Biodiversity.

35. I’ve written 10 books on happiness—here are 5 tiny habits that make me feel happier and healthier every day.

36. Artist Reimagines Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ with Adorable Dogs.

37. Quote from a current read: “I rediscover a few key facts about friendships: They take time. They require attention. They need nurturing. Not the friends, necessarily, but the friendships. The quality and durability of any friendship reflects all that is put into it by both parties. Honest conversation. Availability. Sensitivity. Care. Compassion” (from Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas, and Found Happiness, which I’m not sure yet if I’d recommend, especially considering the reviews).

38. Why does everything have to be Flamin’ Hot? a hilarious rant from the always hysterical Roy Wood Jr. (video)

39. New to me music: Pamela Machala. We saw her in concert last night with one of my favorites, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, and she was SO good. One of the friends that went with us said, “I could listen to that voice all day.” Pamela also has two ADORABLE cattle dog mixes so I did the most me thing ever after she played and showed her a picture of Ringo Blue.

40. I Asked AI What The Typical Person From Each State Looks Like, And Here’s What It Came Up With.