Refuse Apathy. Embrace Curiosity.
The Five Hate Languages
I’ve been thinking that if there are five primary love languages (words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch) to build connection, then certainly there must be opposite forms of this to express or to feel hate and dissonance. And that also means that we may even be expressing in ourselves in a way that harms others without realizing as well.
Keep Swinging.
You never know where you'll end up in this life or who you'll meet along the way, but the most important thing is to remember: keep swinging. As Justice Thurgood Marshall once wrote, "You do what you think is right and let the law catch up."
Make Every Word Count
If your life could only be judged by your words, how would you be remembered?
It’s New Year’s Day Everyday
What does it mean when any day could represent the end of something old or the start of something new? What happens when any ordinary day could be used to commemorate something extraordinary?
Roads and Adversity
When you’re faced against obstacles (people or otherwise), just think about the ways that road builders can approach the problem.
Uses for Friction
For those looking to disrupt, to make good trouble, or to create social change, remember: movement creates friction.
What Makes a Successful Leader?
“As you met with world leaders, CEOs, and other people at the top of their field, what were 3 qualities you found to be in common with all of them?”
Why We Vote
One of my greatest joys this year was helping my father vote…when we began, we both decided that voting should be an act of generosity: it wasn't about ourselves or "our side," but rather, what decisions would help the most people, especially in these uncertain times of need.
The past is the past
Years ago, I came across this great quote: “Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.”
We’re Reading More But We’re Learning Less
You don’t really learn anything when you consume something that you already agree with.
The Waiting
If you are filled with anger or anxiety about the uncertainty of an election, just remember that there are many more who feel the exact same way as you - including those who would passionately disagree with you.
On Almost Giving Up
We often association “giving up,” with a bad thing, like failure, except in the cases of bad habits like smoking or chewing on nails. When that happens, giving up is a good thing. In those cases, we’re dropping excess - we are getting rid of something negative that is holding us back. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that we are letting go.
Invisible Problems
How we think about the roof is a lot like how we think about social problems: they are seldomly thought of by some but very visible to others.
Say Their Names
Just as a steam locomotive is propelled forward, not by a single piece of wood or lump of coal but rather the boiling point of its fuel reserves reaching critical mass, major movements in social change are driven by persistent voices who course their way through systems in order to change them and reach new destinations.
National Loving Day
Remember, justice isn’t arrived at because people want to uphold the status quo or because social order is prioritized over people. Sometimes, it takes troublemakers to bring about change. But always, without a doubt, it requires a generous dose of courage, empathy, and love. Here’s to National Loving Day, a reminder that it is always worth fighting for the people we love.
Statements are a start…but they are definitely not the finish
A more cynical person would probably respond by saying that talk is cheap. But a relentless optimist (like yours truly) would say it's a start. It isn't enough but if talking moves the conversation forward, if it shines the light of accountability, and if it helps change the culture, then it is often a good start. Even if some of the statements are clumsy or late - as people, this only seems natural - if they reflect core values or some inner intention, we can work with that.
Dismissing the Messenger
This idea of completely dismissing ideas because of who is saying something or how they are saying it is rooted in ignorance and insecurity. These days, people aren’t shooting the messenger – they don’t want to hear any views that don’t align with their own perspective so it is easier to simply dismiss the messenger altogether.