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.

• I believe in books. They hold the power to transform and alter our perspectives. I love that my belief in reading and libraries were confirmed in Brain Pickings, “How Libraries Save Lives.” 

• David Whyte’s poetry often brings me to tears. His words are so powerful and relatable. I adore his poem, “Midlife Woman.”  The opening line to this particular poem resonates:

 Mid life woman
you are not
invisible to me.
I seem to see
beneath your face
all the women
you have ever been.

• When my father died, people either responded with silence or awkward conversation starters –  “He’s gone. You should sue the company he worked for.” (My father was a chemist and worked with mercury). I didn’t need to hear this advice, but I also understand people don’t know how to talk about death, dying or anything associated with it. I found Bruce Feller’s piece in the New York Times, “The Art of Condolence,” particularly compelling.

• Do you believe the Twitter, Facebook or Snapchat highlight reel of your acquaintances or friends? Don’t always believe the curated versions of what you see. . . There is always a story behind the story. Take a few minutes to read, “Instagram Star Isn’t What She Seems.” 

What were your favorite reads this week?