Something Good

When we practice meditation, we are doing something useful for all beings. . . . With the experience of greater clarity, we learn how to bring happiness onto our pathway and can engage in meaningful actions for ourselves and others. ~Dza Kilung Rinpoche

1. 28 Days of Black History, “A virtual exhibition of 28 works that celebrate Black legacy in the U.S.” In related news, Honoring Black Agency & Black Joy. “Here at Facing History, we know that Black history is central to all of American history, and should be part of a robust teaching curriculum year-round. Alongside the lessons of Black history, it’s also critical to honor the resilience, creativity, and vitality of Black people in the face of inequity and violence, past and present. That’s why, this year, we’re celebrating Black History Month by honoring the themes of Black Agency & Black Joy.”

2. Inclusive Life Podcast, “for anyone who is interested in transforming their lives to be more inclusive, equitable and just.”

3. Jamie Ridler talks with Natalie Goldberg.

4. Living with the Dark Winters in Sweden, a gorgeous video.

5. Black Archivist “believes in the power of the Black narrative and that Black artists are best suited to tell the stories of our community. We provide the tools and resources for Black people to document the life around them, both triumphs and tribulations. We believe access to equipment should not be a barrier to entry for documentation or compensation.”

6. *Marketing Without Social Media* 21 ways to find clients and customers without using social media from Alexandra Franzen.

7. Wisdom from Abe Osheroff: “When I was younger, I acted because I hoped to achieve a certain something. Now I’m path-oriented. I act to get in contact with the best part of who I am. I do the work whether we win or lose.”

8. Belief and knowledge from Seth Godin.

9. PBS American Masters Archive Releases 1,000+ Hours of Uncut, Never-Before-Seen Interviews: Patti Smith, David Bowie, Neil Young & More.

10. Find Original Poetry Hiding in the Pages of Your Paper on The New York Times. “Creating an erasure poem means finding your voice lurking in another’s words. It can be a way to start writing when words fail.”

11. Black Lives Matter Nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

12. If You’re Feeling Isolated on The New York Times. *Spoiler alert*: write a letter.

13. Regular afternoon naps linked to improved cognitive function. “Researchers find that afternoon snoozes may help your brain function, but not all naps were created equal.”

14. An Unleashed Dog, Sentenced to Death After an Attack on The New York Times. Be aware that this is a hard read. In happier news, Women influenced coevolution of dogs and humans.

15. Here’s Why Introverts Make the Best Writers.

16. This little dude and all the good food he eats makes me so happy. (video)

Gratitude Friday

1. Morning walks. This week they were dark and cold, but also quiet and beautiful.

2. Practice. I’ve been feeling some big grief around losing my Buddhist sangha, am trying to find my way back in to the Open Heart Project Sangha, missing my yoga sangha, and feeling deep joy and gratitude for my writing sangha.

3. Naps. In the afternoon, it’s been my habit to go into my dark bedroom (blackout shades are the best) to rest, reset my nervous system. This week so far, there were two days I didn’t get to and today isn’t looking good either, and it is making me realized how absolutely necessary that time is for me, for now.

4. Kitchen counter love notes. Sometimes when your tender little heart is feeling raw, the smallest thing can comfort you.

5. My tiny family. Eric has been going in to his office on campus to work and even though I miss him, it also feels nice to have the dog and the house all to myself.

Bonus joy: soft chewy fresh bread, dog sighs, how sweet Ringo can be, what a punk Ringo can be, hanging out and writing with Mikalina, texting funny memes to Chloe’, texting with my mom and brother, snow, how the birds keep on coming even though we have to keep moving the feeder because of the greedy squirrels, clementines, having all the laundry done, payday, clean sheets, graphic novels, good books, good TV, good movies, podcasts, sunshine in the deepest part of winter, the sound of the dishwasher, the hum of the furnace, a warm shower, a big glass of cold clean water, gummies, having my car paid off, massage, getting in the pool, sitting in the infrared sauna with Eric, making Eric laugh, reading in bed at night while Ringo and Eric sleep.