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.
- “Her Loss” by Lindy West is an important and must-read piece this week. This line resonated on a deep, guttural level: “Whatever your personal opinion of the Clintons, as politicians or as human beings, that dynamic is real. We, as a culture, do not take women seriously on a profound level. We do not believe women. We do not trust women. We do not like women.”
- Are you feeling stressed? Listen to music. Melanie Curtin in Inc. explores this phenomena in “Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent.”
- Brain Pickings highlights one of my favorite poets, Naomi Shihab Nye and her poem, Kindness.
- “Mother as Witness” by Melissa Uchiyama is a beautiful essay on mothering and letting go featured in Brain, Child.
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.
Yes, listen to music, especially this week! I am listening to “Hallelujah” by KD Lang. RIP Leonard Cohen, master poet and songwriter.
I love the rendition by KD Lang – Leonard Cohen will certainly be missed.
Wow! That poem on kindness takes my breath away. So close to the bone.
Her poetry always pushes me to pause. Glad it resonated with you.
Ohhhh.. to “Mother as Witness.” And now I’m going to hear about the song to reduce anxiety. I need that more than ever!
Music is always a great way to unwind and temporarily try to forget about stress.