Dinner Party
I’m hosting a small dinner party tonight, and all day I’ve had Mrs. Dalloway on the brain. And so, I offer a quote, which perfectly captures the feeling of spring:
“To watch a leaf quivering in the rush of air was an exquisite joy…and the sun spotting now this leaf, now that, in mockery, dazzling it with soft gold in pure good temper; and now and again some chime (it might be a motor horn) tingling divinely on the grass stalks – all of this, calm and reasonable as it was, made out of ordinary things as it was, was the truth now; beauty, that was the truth now. Beauty was everywhere.”
May you find beauty everywhere on this April evening.
“It was a silly, silly dream, being unhappy.”
…a silly, silly dream…
Are You Having Fun?
Sad birthday
“If it’s not fun, why do it?” – Ben and Jerry
“If you aren’t having fun, it’s your fault.” – My friend Zack
Is life about having fun?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, especially in the context of my yoga practice — which, as I’ve said before, is a template for how I live. (more…)
Creative Philanthropy
Given Wednesday’s post about Food, Inc. and creative activism, when I came across this article this morning, I had to post it here: “Secret Society” Tests Boundaries of “Philanthrophy,” from the Idealist NYC blog. The article’s author, Putnam Barber, describes the Secret Society for Creative Philanthropy:
“Creativity may be more at the core of the Secret Society’s work than traditional notions of philanthropy. Participants get $100 (their own, or a gift from another member) to spend in some way on a “committed act of kindness” – whether it’s handing out umbrellas during a rainstorm, hiding $5 bills (with brief quotes about doing good works) in unlikely places, or sending the whole amount to help with relief efforts in Haiti, New Orleans or Darfur.”
I like the idea of extending people’s thinking about ways to serve their fellow man to include small acts of kindness. It’s like the person who thinks they can’t be a filmmaker because they don’t live in Hollywood, and never thinks to just pick up a FlipCam and start making films with friends (especially in this day and age, making movies is hardly the sole purview of official Hollywood). Translation: If you only have 10 dollars, you can still help someone. If you only have an hour, you can still help someone.
Of course, not all acts of kindness or generosity have the same impact (more…)
Live What You Love
A lovely sentiment, indeed:
Poster by Hijiri on etsy
I bought this poster yesterday after a rapturous browse session on etsy. It had been too long. As I browsed their blog, the Storque, for the first time in months, I felt that flush of happiness that comes from surrounding yourself with eye candy; I also felt the joy of savoring beautiful objects made by individuals, not Companies. And then I found this poster, and it said what I feel, and I can’t wait to hang it on my living room wall where it will emanate these good feelings, and remind me to focus on what matters most.
The artist, Hijiri, has a design blog in addition to her etsy shop. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Randy, and their dachsund, Maia. (I wonder, how many artists I like are also dog people?)
Do Something Weird: Smile
Beginning improvisers tend to do negative scenes – scenes in which people are fighting, or just generally have a negative worldview. This impulse comes from fear – fear of expressing something positive and having people laugh at you. Admitting what we like makes us vulnerable. That’s why “coolness” tends to rest on the rejection of something; if you like something, the cool way to like it is to act blase.
Well, as anyone who knows me will attest, I am not cool, and so I am not ashamed to tout this short, feel-good movie, called “Validation,” which I found on the Urban Mindfulness website. It’s worth the 17 minutes it will take you to watch it:
