Community spirit
-
Breaking your silence
“Once you start to speak, people will yell at you….or put you down and suggest it’s personal. And the world won’t end. And the speaking will get easier and easier. And you will lose some friends and lovers, and realize you don’t miss them. And new ones will find you and cherish you. And at last you’ll know with surprising certainty that only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.” ~ Audre Lorde I thought of Audre Lorde’s words yesterday while I was typing my post about political lawn signs and the courage it takes to express our views. I remembered how difficult it has been for some people (especially women) to raise their…
-
Be a tourist in your hometown
“Home is everything you can walk to.” ~Jerry Spinelli We all look forward to summer vacations and road trips. Exploring new landscapes is the ultimate cure for boredom. Problem is, vacations typically don’t last more than a couple of weeks. When you’re back home, it’s back to the same-old business as usual. That’s when it’s time to rediscover the attractions in and around your hometown — and reboot your sense of community. Is there an outdoor cafe, farmers’ market, boutique, bakery, park, or nature trail you haven’t explored nearby? Being a tourist in your own town will shake up your routine and benefit your local economy. ~CL
-
Social studies
“The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” ~Esther Perel, author and psychotherapist Are you looking for ways to increase your longevity? Gathering with good friends on a regular basis should be part of your lifestyle plan. Medical experts report that people who socialize regularly are healthier — both mentally and physically. Loneliness can actually shorten your lifespan. That said, keep in mind that difficult or unfulfilling relationships are harmful to your wellbeing — and there’s plenty of research to support the fact. “Relationships that are defined by drama and conflicts all can add a boat-load of stress to daily life,” explains Frank Lipman, M.D. What’s the…
-
Small changes
“Few of us will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” ~John F. Kennedy Sometimes I’m completely stalled by the notion that I’d have to make a huge effort in order to make a change in this troubled world of ours. It’s so much easier to sit in front of the TV or my computer monitor while I criticize the current state of politics or complain about everything else that’s gone very wrong. But as today’s quote reminds us, each of…
-
Kindred spirits
“If it is true for you, it is true for someone else, and you are no longer alone.” ~Colson Whitehead If you’re a sports fan, one of the thrills of rooting for a team is the sense of unity you experience with your fellow fans. For me, reading books, magazines, and newspaper articles is another way to feel connected to humanity. Whenever I read a piece of writing that lifts my heart or gets me thinking, I believe the author and I are kindred spirits. This happened last week when I read a fabulous New York Times column by David Brooks, who beautifully explained why studying art and the humanities…
