What a week. Actually, what a month, year, couple of years it has been for the world. Longer for some, a lifetime of bullshit, idiocy, violence and fear.
The laundry list of horrible things recently is overwhelming, and I am a privileged white lady, I have it pretty good. Saying that things are rough in the world right now, is sort of like telling me that I looked “tired” after my 21st birthday; we all know it’s far worse than that.
I can’t handle the “focus on yourself and ignore the world” attitude when terrible things happen. A lot of people do it, and I think it’s selfish. To me, things like racism, sexism, violence, and a specific “mangled apricot hellbeast“, deserve anger. But if we spend all our time being justifiably angry, it’s hard to contribute anything good to the world. Festering in anger is also selfish and unhelpful.
So instead of talking about how frustrating, angry, and disappointed I feel, I am sharing a few things that have helped lessen the weight of the world. They are things that remind me of the good, the kind, the beautiful and the real. It might look a little like a dream board an 8 year old would make, but I think 8 year olds are cool.
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda, doing anything, but especially this.
2. This quick and dirty piece on why you are always allowed to leave.
3. Netfix’s gorgeous show, Chef’s Table. I fell into the first season hard, and watching the first episode of season 2, with Grant Achatz of Alinea, I am in love again. The curiosity and awe he has for food and the desire to make something expected into something new, is the most damn delightful thing in the world to me. (This is a bad YouTube copy, but it’s worth downloading Netflix for this show alone.)
4. The Wilderness Culture Instagram. If you are into mountains or nature or looking at beautiful things, this is one of my favorite places to find beautiful photos of the world still looks like. We haven’t screwed it all up, yet.
5. The trailer for the 2016 Paralympics is probably the clearest message that you can do anything you want, and it’s charming as hell.
6. This cockatoo dancing to Another One Bites the Dust. I wish I looked this awesome dancing to Queen.
7. Watching Misty Copeland dance to Cynthia Erivo is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a while.
8. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, being Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
oh wait this one too!
9. I saw this in the corner of a Bonnie Tsang Instagram, and I love it.
10. Man Repeller has always been a great voice for fashion, but I am loving the reach into other important things, like self love and how to talk to yourself. It’s real and wonderful and kind and good.
Hope these things bring a little perspective, and remind you of some of the things that are great in the world. Have a wonderful weekend.
cait +tiff 