Say hello. Small steps. Truth vs. Convenience. Creativity as antidote. Not all stories are true. Lean into aging. Am I enough?
All empty souls tend to extreme opinion.
—W. B. Yeats
1. “I’ve seen so much grief, I just don’t want to see it anymore.”
Can Saying “Hello” Save a Life? – Tom Greene – (Wit & Wisdom of Tom Greene)
Greene tells the story of Yukio Shige, a retired police officer in Japan who watches over a popular suicide spot, daily. His goal? Simply to make contact with those considering ending their lives.
In many cases people are just looking for someone to talk to.
Shige is that person. He’s saved the lives of over 750 people.
In a recent Harvard study, researchers found that the amount of social interaction in an individual’s daily life is one of the most consistent predictors of psychological well-being. We derive intimacy, support, and emotional richness from human interaction. People tend to feel happiest when they interact with partners, friends and family workers.
The lesson here is simple: not just to avoid isolating yourself, but also to check in on those around you. Yes, saying “Hello” (or “Konnichiwa“) can definitely make a difference.
Do this: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
#kindness #connection #suicide
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2. “If nothing is good enough, then everything is equally bad”
On Ideological Purity – Joan Westenberg – (blog)
I think this is something we all struggle with. The most obvious example is this: does cancelling my Washington Post subscription still matter if I still have Amazon Prime? Both feed the same beast, albeit in different ways. Am I making any kind of statement? Any kind of difference?
Every step you take in the direction of your values matters. Every time you make a choice that reflects what you care about—even if it’s small, even if it’s incomplete, even if it feels incremental, marginal, unimportant—it reinforces something. Not just in the world, in yourself. And that’s what counts.
Being unable to do things perfectly, many give up trying to do anything at all. That’s a mistake. Small steps still matter.
Do this: Take steps, however small.
3. “And yet, we fall for it. Again. And again.”
How Much of Your Reality Is Fake? Chomsky’s Chilling Truth About Everyday Lies – Foteini Ntelopoulou – (Medium)
A fascinating reflection on lies, how we accept them daily, and how politics and the media take advantage of that.
Sounds like a bad Netflix dystopia, right? But consider this: from political spin to corporate marketing, from social media manipulation to the carefully airbrushed realities of influencers — we are constantly swimming in a sea of distortion. The trick is, most of us don’t notice the current pulling us under.
Don’t notice, or apparently, don’t care.
As with most of these “things are bad” articles, I look for “here’s what we can do” follow-through. There are several items listed. Some may not be new, but all are worth being reminded of.
So, the next time you hear something that sounds “official,” ask yourself: Is this true, or just convenient?
Do this: Be skeptical.
4. “We are all walking repositories of buried treasure.”
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert – (ebook)
I’ve been looking for slightly more inspiring sources of late, and stumbled into an episode of the Working It Out podcast with Mike Birbiglia. That lead me to pick up Big Magic for a re-read.
No, when I refer to “creative living,” I am speaking more broadly. I’m talking about living a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.
We are most certainly being driven by fear these days. While I think it’s often justified, it’s pushing some more constructive approaches to the side. Curiosity, awe, empathy, and yes, creativity, and more all suffer.
Do this: Look for your creativity, whatever it may be.
5. “A man is always a teller of tales”
Your life is not a story: why narrative thinking holds you back – Karen Simecek – (Psyche)
As the title implies, the essay discusses how and why we use narrative — the stories we tell ourselves — to try to make sense of the world around us. Sometimes, though, they mislead, or even do more harm than good.
In some cases, narratives can hold us back by limiting our thinking. In other cases, they may diminish our ability to live freely. They also give us the illusion that the world is ordered, logical, and difficult to change, reducing the real complexity of life. They can even become dangerous when they persuade us of a false and harmful world view.
Further on in the essay, the author begins to discuss the effect of perspective on how we create and apply the stories we tell ourselves.
… by loosening the grip that stories hold over our lives – by focusing on the perspectives of ourselves and others – we can begin opening ourselves up to other possibilities.
Sounds to me like they’re talking about empathy as a way to both question, and shape, our narratives.
Do this: Pay attention to the stories you tell.
6. “Lean into every gray hair, every laugh line, every inexplicable new ache”
Ancient Wisdom Reveals 6 Secrets To A Long Awesome Life – Eric Barker – (Barking Up The Wrong Tree)
A very entertaining post, loosely based on “tips from the ancient Roman statesman and scholar Cicero.” Don’t let that premise fool you. It’s full of practical commentary and humor (not that Cicero wasn’t practical or funny … in his day).
On aging being a wonderful part of life:
It’s the one time in your life you can look completely feral, and people will just smile at you like you’re their favorite character in a Wes Anderson movie.
On exercising your mind:
Learn how to swear in ten different languages because, let’s be honest, that’s always useful.
Clearly, humor also plays a large part in Barker’s approach.
One item I had a little difficulty with is the mention of young people needing mentors, and that being an opportunity. I don’t disagree with the premise, but while they might need mentors, I find it’s rare young people want them. Most already know it all, right?
Do this: Age. Doing it gracefully is optional.
7. “Don’t we all suffer from self-doubt?”
This Is the Worst Enemy to Creativity – John P. Weiss – (Blog)
This hits close to home at times.
Well, it seems that the more I improve my craft, the fewer people want to read it. The more I sharpen my prose with an eye to literary finesse, the more readers unsubscribe. They want cartoons and entertainment, not literature. And how can writers compete with all the mindless entertainment on social media, YouTube, and NetFlix?
There are many curated newsletters like this one. There are dozens of technical support sites. There are plenty of sources of positive news. How can I possibly compete with all of them? Self-doubt says I cannot.
It’s a struggle every creator, online or off, faces. Are you doing it for yourself, for the recognition, or for the money? All three play a role, and it’s a balancing act that only makes those internal objections so much louder.
Adopt high standards, find where you need to grow, and put in the time and effort. … if you really want it, you’ll find a way.
Do this: Set self-doubt aside and create.
Random links
- How to hide a painting – “Has it always been this bad or is the bad stuff just more exposed now?”
- Inside Elon Musk’s ‘Digital Coup’ – Wired
- Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines? How to thrive in a ChatGPT World.
What I’m reading now
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert (re-read)
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and It’s All Small Stuff – Richard Carlson
- Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life (Audio)
My Reading List – everything I’ve read since 2021.
My Sources Page – the common sources I scan/read regularly.
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-Leo
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