I am a voracious reader and every week I come across either a book, online piece or website I want to share with others. I’ve decided to curate these gems and highlight them on Friday. I hope you find these faves as insightful as I do.
- If you don’t read anything else today, please read 427:Ten Years Without Jen, Twenty-Six by Matt Zoller Seitz. It is about the messy revelations of this glorious and beautiful life. I learn a new truth with every read. A brief excerpt: “The only thing I can say for sure is that when you give yourself permission to just live—to fall apart when you need to, to feel whatever you’re feeling, to make mistakes and own them, to forgive yourself for what’s recognizably human, to make amends for egregious behavior to the extent that such a thing is possible, to let bad moments and bad days roll off your back instead of masochistically marinating in them—you get through it all with your sanity intact.”
- If you are smarter, are you happier? The Atlantic presents interesting points in the piece, Why So Many Smart People Aren’t Happy by Joe Pinsker.
- Are you worried about wrinkles, aging and the loss of beauty? Amanda Peet is too. Read her perspective in Amanda Peet: Never Crossing the Botox Rubicon. She articulates the obvious, but poignant point: “Since we’re all going to get wrinkly and die, maybe we’ve got to move in the direction of acceptance about that.”
- “The people I love the most are the ones who don’t disappear. They stay, steadfast, nearby. We all have full lives. We are all busy. Someone reminded me recently of how fiercely I believe that, and of the fallacy of the “I’m too busy” excuse. Regardless of that reality, the truest friends are the ones who make a point of saying ‘how are you? I’m here. Of not slipping off even when things are difficult.” I adore Lindsey’s writing and her piece Checking in, paying attention, and friendship resonated in the deepest way.
What were your favorite reads this week?
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Honored to be included in this wonderful round-up. Thank you. Also loved Amanda Peet’s piece. xox
Always a pleasure to feature your writing, Lindsey. Thank you so much for sharing your words. xo
Matt’s piece was hard for me! My father died when he was only 36 of a heart attack, maybe also from a defective, undetected valve. I was three, like James. I worry about it happening to me too.
Anyway, it made me cry.
Now onto Amanda Peet! I hope she doesn’t make me cry.
Tamara,
I can understand why that first piece was difficult for you. ((Hugs)) xo
Oh, that first essay was hard to get through, so painful, but such wisdom. I also enjoyed Amanda Peet’s article. I often adore those Lenny newsletters. And I adore Lindsey’s words, she always gives me something to think about, to take away.
Dana,
I agree. So much wisdom in the midst of such grief. I cannot even fathom it, but I am glad he had the awareness and courage to help us understand. I’ve read it three times and with each look, I learn something new.
Thank you so much for telling us about Lindsey’s writing. I just went on her site and LOVED what she wrote about friendship.
I adore Lindsey’s writing. Glad her work resonated with you.
Oh I loved Amanda Peet’s too! Shared it on FB the other day. So many of my friends liked it. (in town) And yet, I know we all feel the pressure deeply . . .
Such a great piece. I know it resonated with so many people.
Rudri, putting the Without Jen piece on my list, but I don’t feel as if I can read it right now. It looks good though . . . .
It’s a difficult piece to read, Luanne, but so worth it. xo
Ooh, bookmarking Lindsey’s piece… I so appreciate friends who check in, and try to do the same.
I believe checking-in with a friend is one of the simplest ways to affirm a friendship. People always appreciate feeling less alone.
Great post by Matt Zoller Seitz. Thank you for turning me on to that article. My takeaway is that you never know what other people are going through. Be kind and compassionate whenever possible.
His piece touched me deeply. In my opinion, it is a post everyone should read. Thanks for letting me know it resonated with you, Jackie.
I’m going to follow up reading the Atlantic piece on Smart People not being so happy. It fell deliciously into my sphere from you at just the time I’ve been researching this very thing…long story….husband involved…..topic we’ve bounced around.