Every week, I curate a list of the best links and articles to make you think and keep you informed. Enjoy!
Thoughts on this week:
Want to know why it's a rough week? Well, mostly because I'm still struggling with Mono and it's been a month. I'm exhausted and tired and achy and... you get the picture. Plus so behind on research, writing, and grading that I don't know what I'll do!
What I’m Reading in real life: Honestly, as much as it shames an English professor, I'm not. Blogs, I guess? Books I'm preparing to teach?
What I’m watching: I'm super addicted to vloggers right now, particularly Rowena Tsai and Kalyn Nicholson.
What I’m listening to: The Audiobook Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Webber. I adore her and love her voice. If you're a Christian who isn't following her, you're missing out.
What else I’m digging:
- Puppy Snuggles: Obvs.
- My Lavender Hair: Because I am a badass.
- Instacart and Uber Eats: Although it's been rough for my banking account, I would not have made it through Mono without being able to have groceries and food delivered. Once I get home, only Gary or Aki the Beagle will get me out of my apartment.
- Audiobooks on Audible: I finally broke down and signed up for Audible because I realized I was getting depressed from not reading book-length texts. I started with this amazing book, You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero--which I have since purchased for three of my bffs and will probably be giving it to more people soon.
What I read this week:
My favorite post: Why a conservative from Texas up and joined a labor union... (The Fire Within): My dear friend, Steph, tells it like it is. And let me tell you, this girl is one of my heroes. When she speaks (or writes), everyone should listen.
Runner up for favorite: Go Ahead, Millennials, Destroy Us (NYT): Reading this the first time, I almost cried. Thank you, Mr. Kreider, for seeing the power of this generation.
By Category:
Religion and Spirituality:
Women of Color Only: A Lenten Practice (Sojourners): Honestly, I wish I had paid attention to this at the beginning of Lent. But I think this is wonderful and the list includes so many texts I already love. I'm going to be checking out those podcasts, though.
Social Justice:
Blacks Were Enslaved Well into the 1960s (Vice): While I wasn't necessarily surprised when my friend told me about this article, after reading it I was devestated. I think that everyone should be aware that this continued to happen in the U.S. so late into the 20th Century and, quite honestly, still happens today.
Japan’s Prisons Are a Haven for Elderly Women (Bloomberg): On one side, I totally get this. I think that if I were an older, single woman, I would far prefer prison life to being along, probably dying in a one-room apartment only to be found when I didn't show up to class (this is legit my life fear). But on the other hand WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY THAT THE ELDERLY ARE THIS FUCKING LONELY?
Reading and Bibliophilia:
- These 5 Feminist Book Pairings Will Make You Feel Like A Literary Sommelier (Bustle): I have read, and even taught, many of these, but often not the books paired with them. I definitely want to check some of them out!
Mistress Velvet Is The Dominatrix Who Has Her Subs Read Black Feminist Literature (Nylon): I don't mean to scandalize my readers, but this lady is my new hero. What an interesting use of power in a positive way.
Octavia Butler’s science fiction made black girls heroes (Timeline): I adore Octavia Butler.
The difference between a snafu, a shitshow, and a clusterfuck (Quartz): Forgive me for the language, but this is an interesting etymological break-down.
“17”- A Poem Plus an Excerpt From “Good Cop, Bad Daughter” By Karen Lynch (Manifest-station): I had to share this poem, "17." So moving and so terrifying.
Writing:
How 3 College Friends Turned a Blog Into a Thriving Business (Entrepreneur): I had never heard of this blog before, but I'm pretty impressed with their gumption. What a great success!
Life in General:
If You’re Searching for Purpose, Ask Yourself These 5 Questions (Success): I know these articles are kind of cheesy, but I love this line: "Who you are becoming far outweighs who you are. If what you are doing today is not making you a better human being or the world a better place, you are probably on the wrong path."It's so easy to fall into a rhythm of self-doubt and to stay stagnant where you are. But instead, focusing on where I'm going and who I need to get there can help me get out of my own way.
11 Ways Emotionally Intelligent People Overcome Uncertainty (Medium): This is a great reminder of how to deal with spaces of anxiety and uncertainty.
This Mom Flew Across The Country Because Her Daughter's Head Hurt And People Love It (Buzz Feed): I have wished many times since being sick that my mom could just fly here and take care of me. So happy for this girl whose mama could make it to take care of her, clean, and meal prep. Sometimes, we all just need a Mama.
This Is What ‘Self-Care’ REALLY Means, Because It’s Not All Salt Baths And Chocolate Cake (Thought Catalogue): This is something on my mind lately. I've definitely been suffering from overspending and overeating as unhealthy coping mechanisms lately and I'm thinking about all the ways I need to really TAKE CARE of myself. It's such a challenge to do real self care. I've been talking with my psychologist about it a lot lately.
How to survive gaslighting: when manipulation erases your reality (The Guardian): The very fact that I consider gaslighting articles "Life in General" says something pretty awful about our society. I'm definitely looking at this and thinking about what's happened to me since the beginning of 2017, but also what happens in our country every day.
In Praise of Tender Masculinity, the New Non-Toxic Way to Be a Man (Electric Lit): While I don't necessarily know all the fictional figures in the list, I agree with this. And when I look at that checklist of characteristics, I can see specific things that have gone wrong with so many friendships and relationships with men because of toxic masculinity. It's time for a change, friends.
Success:
This Is How To “Work Smarter Not Harder”: 3 Secrets From Research (Barking Up the Wrong Tree): I have to admit that this article challenges me. I'm one of those people with like 10 different projects going at once and three side hustles in addition to a full time job and being a PhD student. So, of course when I read that I should "do less, then obsess" over what's left, I definitely thought "no way!" But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this author, and the many people he cites, are right. Focus is my word for 2018 and this article is definitely going to challenge me to follow through.
The 6 Steps to Turning Setbacks Into Advantages (NYT): Working on it.
Supporting Diversity and Representation:
A Call for Inclusion: I’m speaking to you white speakers, coaches and spiritual teachers (Medium): This article from my friend, Sharyn Holmes (her first on Medium! YAY!) calls out some important issues with the wellness and spirituality docket of speakers in Australia--and it's totally accurate for the States, too.
28 Women you Should Know In Celebration of Black Girl Magic (Therese Cator): I will definitely be following some of these badass women!
Drag Kings: In the so-called “golden age of drag,” kings are frequently notably absent from the narrative (Vogue): I'm not even sure what it means that Vogue and other mainstream media are referring to this as the age of drag, but I do think this was an interesting article with some great representation.
Trump Memo Disqualifies Certain Transgender People From Military Service (NPR): THIS. IS. BULLSHIT.
Model for Gap paused to breastfeed her toddler during a shoot. The moment became the campaign. (Chicago Tribune): This is amazing.
I’m Exhausted From Trying To Be The ‘Right’ Kind Of Black Girl At Work (Huffpost Personal): I think this is important for white people to read. We don't think about this.
Art and Other Pretty Things:
Real, or Too Real? A Dazzling Show Goes the Way of All Flesh (NYT Arts): This show looks fascinating. The juxtaposition of different 3 dimensional representations of human bodies brings attention to so many things.
Academia, Education, and Teaching:
Mental Health Crisis for Grad Students (Inside Higher Ed): As a current grad student, mental health patient, and trauma survivor, I can tell you--this is real. Of the people who have come through my graduate program during my four years here, only one that I know of hasn't been on anti-depressants, anti-anx, or both--and he needed them. The rates of mental health and suicide among graduate students are too high and the support from departments are non-existent (I say as someone currently meeting with HR about abuses in my department). This needs to be fixed!
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be teachers (Andre Wheller): THIS IS SO TRUE. We need to prioritize educators--but this person forgets the more important and more abused contingent faculty at the University level.
Environmentalism, Farming, Food, Health, and Nutrition:
- New Stanford course empowers students to cultivate positive relationship with land (Stanford News): This is awesome!
Parenting:
How to Raise a Sweet Son in an Era of Angry Men (Time): Important.
What to Say to Little Kids Instead of "Say Sorry" (Offspring.Lifehacker): I love this.