t/h/a/n/d/e

14e Arrondissement | “Paris Je T’aime”

“Seulement, quelques fois, je pense que serait bon avoir quelqu’un avec qui partager quelques choses.”

One of my favorite stories from the film!

I used to love the idea of taking a solo trip to somewhere new. Of maybe doing exactly as Carol does and sharpening up my French with a visit to the City of Lights to walk, dine, and watch. To enjoy long stretches of introspective moments interrupted only by brief, but charming encounters with strangers. Strangers with impeccable, melodic French accents.

But now I realize how important it is for me to share experiences with people, especially those I love. My joy is in the connection.

I still love this woman’s adventurous spirit in flying off to Paris to be immersed in the language and culture, but I really empathized with her moments of veiled longing.

Especially in Paris.

Notes (See)

March 18

The Awesome Foundation (by CreativeMornings/Seattle)

Hey look. A picture with me in it.

4th wall. Broken.

Sometimes I ask questions about awesome stuff. Last month I went to a Creative Mornings lecture on The Awesome Foundation: The Gateway Drug of Philanthropy. Through its many chapters across the world, the Awesome Foundation gives out monthly grants to finance awesome things.

Really… that’s what they do.

I know. They totally have your dream job.

I had fun and I was especially excited to experience something that Tina Roth Eisenberg created, especially since I’ve been following her since forever. Ellen Chisa and Nikki Lee (Awesome Foundation trustees) gave a smart presentation and I love the way they choose the projects that they fund- finding a sweet spot between those that do direct social good and those that are fun and whimsical.

Here’s the talk.

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The Good, Racist People - NYTimes.com | Ta-Nehisi Coates

“The idea that racism lives in the heart of particularly evil individuals, as opposed to the heart of a democratic society, is reinforcing to anyone who might, from time to time, find their tongue sprinting ahead of their discretion. We can forgive Whitaker’s assailant. Much harder to forgive is all that makes Whitaker stand out in the first place. New York is a city, like most in America, that bears the scars of redlining, blockbusting and urban renewal. The ghost of those policies haunts us in a wealth gap between blacks and whites that has actually gotten worse over the past 20 years. But much worse, it haunts black people with a kind of invisible violence that is given tell only when the victim happens to be an Oscar winner.”

TNC nails it again.
This makes me incredibly thankful to belong to communities where we engage the tough issues of race and culture.

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March 12

Do you worry a lot?

Oh. Me neither…

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March 9

It's a beautiful world

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March 4

Seth's Blog: You already have permission

Just saying.

You have permission to create, to speak up, and stand up.

You have permission to be generous, to fail, and to be vulnerable.

You have permission to own your words, to matter and to help.

No need to wait.

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March 1

Avoir l’esprit de l’escalier

It’s supposed to describe that feeling when you think of the perfect comeback too late.

But is there a phrase for that feeling when you leave a conversation and think of all the things you should have said?

Now that would be a very helpful phrase for me.

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February 27

“ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

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“Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”
-Shirley Chisholm

Eunice Jones Gibson’s “Because of Them, We can’” photography series features 28 kids emulating notable figures throughout black history. So adorable and so smart!

Biological clock. Activated.

via

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February 21

Wisdom

Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

-Prov 8:10-11

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February 20

Kumbuka: Nairobi International School’s Yearbook, 1976

“Kumbuka” in Swahili means, “to remember.”

Did a little searching around last week @ Mom’s. I absolutely love looking through her old photographs and learning about her younger self (plus- lo-fi graphic design and layout from the ’70s. Win.). The best part: next to all the senior photos is the student’s name and a little bit about them, as told by other students. For Mom (in #4):

Salome

“A gal with a smiling face that is really appreciated… SALLY…

Sweet and kind…”A friend in need, is a friend indeed!”… An artist

…”HALLO!”… “Rot’s of Rove, Sarry”… QUIET, GENIUS AT

WORK… Cooperative.

She hasn’t changed much.

Still, makes me wish I had a time machine.

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February 19

The Disciplined Pursuit of Less - Greg McKeown - Harvard Business Review

The Clarity Paradox:

“When we have increased options and opportunities, it leads to diffused efforts. Diffused efforts undermine the very clarity that led to our success in the first place.”

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