Understandably Incapable

Posted on Nov 25, 2023 in Uncategorized

Quote from Sapiens author Yuval Harari’s op-ed in TIME Magazine:


Most Israelis are psychologically incapable at this moment of empathizing with the Palestinians. The mind is filled to the brim with our own pain, and no space is left to even acknowledge the pain of others. Many of the people who tried to hold such a space… are dead or deeply traumatized. Most Palestinians are in an analogous situation — their minds too are so filled with pain, they cannot see our pain.


But outsiders who are not themselves immersed in pain should make an effort to empathize with all suffering humans, rather than lazily seeing only part of the terrible reality. It is the job of outsiders to help maintain a space for peace. We deposit this peaceful space with you, because we cannot hold it right now. Take good care of it for us, so that one day, when the pain begins to heal, both Israelis and Palestinians might inhabit that space.

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Kerry Washington Quote

Posted on Nov 18, 2023 in Uncategorized

Kerry Washington has a new book out, Thicker Than Water. She was recently interviewed by Krista Tippett on On Being and I have posted a quote worth keeping in mind. It is so true and so hard to remember.

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Arguing

Posted on Nov 11, 2023 in Uncategorized

Do You Take the High or the Low Ground?

Jim Dethmer, founder of the Conscious Leadership group, wrote a good article on the difference between arguing above the line vs. below the line, i.e, arguing from the point of view of curiosity vs. needing to be right.

For many, the word “argue” signals conflict, but the dictionary offers other options: to reason, dispute, indicate, or discuss.

In any case, Dethmer’s particular “argument” about being above or below the line is a decent tap on the shoulder re how we listen and respond to others.

Toodles, for now…

Vicki

 


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Doomscrolling

Posted on Nov 5, 2023 in Uncategorized

I “found myself” in Erik Davis’s column, “Doom Scroll.”

I have been pulling back on media. No TV news, only reading… and now? Often just reading the headlines. Because the media walks me into a living hell.  

Later in the day I participate in conversations that start on a high note only to trail into “informed” doom. But what good are these informed conversations? Talk’s cheap.

I am trying to be a responsible citizen. I just wish the media moguls would join me. 

Vicki


Doom Scroll

Erik Davis

As far as I can make out, the term “doomscrolling” started making the rounds in 2019, and became, for obvious reasons, far more infectious in 2020. We’ve had two more years of pandemic, and a yearish of whatever this next thing we are in is, and the term does not seem to be losing much luster. (…)

I suspect you know it well: whether over breakfast or on the metro or during a procrastination break at work, you dip into your newsfeed, which is largely distressing of course, but you keep at it, heading deeper into the gloom. You might start out with some of that old-school newspaper-reader attitude, a mix of curiosity and responsibility and self-concern, under which lies a more basic and unspoken mimetic impulse to keep up with the pressing narratives of a group, a region, a nation, a species. But then the bottom drops out, and the feed starts to feed on you. The number, scale, and wickedness of the problems served up by crisis media—wicked not only in the sense of being nasty and often nefarious, but of being hairy beyond all possible resolve, and therefore ripe for dissension—rears up like, well, a wicked monster, consuming hope, potential, and whatever modicum of feel-good you started your sesh with. (…)

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Fancy Stuff Isn’t Where It Is…

Posted on Oct 28, 2023 in Uncategorized

Morgan Housel again got my attention, again.

What he says is so true. Yep, I really admire people who drive a car into the ground!

Enjoy your Sunday.

Love,
Vicki


Respect and Admiration

By Morgan Housel

I like the idea of the reverse obituary: Write down what you want your obituary to say, then figure out how to live up to it.

Everyone’s will be different, but I suspect most people would want their obituary to say: You were respected. You were admired. You were helpful. You were a good parent, and good spouse, a caring friend. You were an asset to your community. You made a contribution to your industry. You were wise, funny, and smart.

Now realize what’s not in there.

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Tape It to the Wall

Posted on Oct 21, 2023 in Uncategorized

THIS ONE YOU SHOULD PRINT OUT

Ryan Holiday, who wrote “The Obstacle is the Way” and 9 other great books, also writes a blog. Today’s was particularly good. Enjoy my friends! Print it out and tape it to your wall…

Vicki


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What You Conceive

Posted on Oct 14, 2023 in Uncategorized

The Power of Your Imagination

Hello Readers,

I am taking off a week. Hug yourself and be grateful.

Vicki


The power of what you conceive…

You can imagine a safe place and then you can imagine that you’re not imagining it.

~Milton Erickson, Therapist and hypnotist
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