The density of bad news is such that we can say a place name, and, just like that, the name conjures up for us the entire tableau of suffering that unfolded there. Columbine. Virginia Tech. Aurora. Ferguson. Maybe we say a person’s name instead. Islan Nettles. Jessie Hernandez. John Crawford. Sandra Bland. In the last two weeks, there have been […]
QOTW: Living Beautifully
“Keep doing whatever it is that you do to help the world be a more beautiful place to be. Try to stay in the moment. Learn how to give yourself compassion and then learn how to have compassion for others. If we all did these things—imagine!” —V. Kingsley
Where is the Love?
“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” —Erich Fromm The Fetzer Institute has just launched a video exploring the role that media and social connection can play in promoting love, empathy, and compassion. Is it as simple as where we focus our attention, the stories we tell, and […]
Reader Recommendation: Odd By God
We think we’re right. We almost always think we’re right, even when we’re wrong. When we suspect we’re wrong and think we have a chance to be right instead, we think differently, choose differently, live differently—all in pursuit of rightness. So what is it that rescues us from fundamentalism? We are each doing what we […]
Videos: Gabrielle Union & Dustin Hoffman
1. At the 2013 Essence Magazine Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon this February, Gabrielle Union received the Fierce and Fearless Award. Her acceptance speech is remarkable. (It starts at about 1:03 of 11:32.) “We live in a town that rewards pretending and I have been pretending to be fierce and fearless for a very long time. […]
Committing to Compassion
I’ve been aware of Compassionate Action Network International’s Charter for Compassion for more than four years now. Yet I only signed it today. I’m not sure why. No reason I can think of sounds right. But when I re-read the text of the Charter today, I was struck by how worthy of endorsement it is, […]
