Category Archives: Our better selves

We need h-i-s-t-o-r-y

We need calm, accurate, factual history to survive this moment. That history, American history, relies on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, 250 years of democracy.

Most of us, by a margin so large that we should not despair, ⅔ of we, the people support that long ingrained democracy. Yes, there are more Americans who stand on the pro-democracy side.

Our national pro-democracy historian is the calm, sane voice of Heather Cox Richardson.

Heather Cox Richardson is a national treasure: share her words and efforts as widely as you can.

Those are just two samples of the exemplary HCR offering her wisdom. Spread it. Far and wide.

Self congratulations

What do you do to be involved in the community?

Do you really believe in a humble brag? Really?

I love that it’s for “yard waste.” I mean, here in New York City

When my friend J told me she was placing all her “live food” [her vivid description] in one of these bins, I issued a grump. She, btw, was not bragging.

On her podcast activist-actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus had been acclaiming the merits of a home food compactor for a while.

Another grump from me. Too much earth-friendly virtue, I grumbled.

The compost pails are law in NYC now. They put up big centralized bins on the corners a few months ago.

Next, they required your landlord to make these accessible for us all.

You can hear my complaint over this new task as I carry my bag up the block.

Just a humble brag.

In the pod

Huddling with podcasts has become a source of comfort for me. I spend a part of my respite time under earphones and tuned to one of these specific three.

At the moment, that rotation is led by Julia Louis Dreyfus. I am caught up on Wiser than Me, which gladdens me (I have been enriched), and I can’t wait for Wednesday.

Anderson Cooper offers wisdom on grieving; perversely, I find tremendous uplift in listening to All There Is with…. I am far from done with the seasons of this series.

Somehow, Brooke Shields snuck on to my listening cycle. On Now What? she interviews people who have dealt with moments of transition. (Who hasn’t?) These shared pivotal moments are  enlightening.

I found myself listening to one of the most distinctive voices the other day. [Bebe Neuwirth has a special timbre when she speaks.]

I appreciate her work as a dancer and actress, but I love her for a moment at a Broadway Cares event some 4 years ago.

The audience was instructed “cell phones off.” A routine command in the theater. Within minutes, a phone went off. 

Ms. Neuwirth rose to the occasion in righteous outrage admonishing the offender.

I hate hearing ringing during a performance, don’t you?

Apparently, she and I are in sync on this one.

Journaling

Lately, my favorites have been those that specialize in Japanese paper goods; there are so many adorable, and useful, little amusements to discover. I recommend starting out in midtown, at Kinokuniya USA, a giant bookstore whose basement level is almost entirely devoted to notebooks, pens, and letter-writing sets. You can then trek to the East Village, to niconeco zakkaya, a cute-as-a-button spot that specializes in journals, sticker books, rubber stamps, and washi tape.

The New Yorker Daily                     By Rachel Syme

There are many platforms for the many disciplines of self-expression.

Journaling is a way to get control of your life or at least chronicle its natural disarray. Generally, the journal is used to report to oneself on oneself.

In my books, it’s separate from the  blog posts I share with others. [There is an intended pun in there.] My writing is often a chronicle of my life, but the one I post is more organized than it would be in a journal.

Here, I try to make some order of it all. My posts, whether poems or opinions, intend to make a point.

My preferred “journal” is Samsung Notes. I type, therefore, I can read what I wrote. In my long hand, yesterday’s entry would remain a mystery; well, not just yesterday’s but most days’.

Nonetheless, I am attracted to the paperback book journals Rachel Syme describes and recommends.

Greetings

Describe your life in an alternate universe.

I never noticed this before, but we oldies nod and smile as we pass on the street.

I was going to blame my lack of attention to this being a new phenomenon or to me being new to oldness.

Truly doubt either proposition.

It is kind of nice, a recognition of our cohort in a population of carriages or bikes.

Personal choices

Body art is puzzling to one of my generation. Tattoos were generally something a sailor acquired on leave on distant shores. 

Hi Tamara,

Thanks for reaching out!

Everyone’s motivation is different, so I can only speak for myself and from what I’ve heard. Some people I know get tattoos to improve their self-esteem, cover self-harm scars, or just to have art on their bodies. Tattoos have definitely relieved some body image issues for me, and all of the ones I have have meaning behind them, including the one I’m getting removed (it’s the birdhouse from my childhood backyard with a blue jay and local flowers to represent where I came from). I just can’t stand how it came out, for many unfortunate reasons, which is why I’m so grateful that tattoo removal is an option for people in my shoes. 🙂

I hope that answers your question, even if it’s just my own take. I appreciate you reading our newsletter!

All my best,
Morgan

Other folk,  ordinary folk would have generally avoided such decoration.

Today, the untattooed are in the minority. Or so it seems.

Among those with tats, many sport multiple colorings. Many others still have large areas of their bodies covered in drawing.

It’s a matter of aesthetic choice that has intrigued me for some time.

Today, I asked a perfect stranger why? Well, perfect, yes. She writes for Healthline Wellness Wire. That’s her response above.

Higher

What fears have you overcome and how?

There is a recommendation for fighting fear by leaning into it. Afraid of dogs, acquire a pit bull.

Fears tend to diminish who we are or who we can be.

My fear of heights had me cautiously approaching the railings of balconies.

Come to think of it, the rich fellow (Richard Gere) in Pretty Woman gets the penthouse suite “cause it’s the best.” He stays off that balcony til much later when it becomes necessary for winning the titular girl (Julia Roberts).

We do what we must.