Whenever I read an article or see a headline that says, “The surprising racist history of…” I think, wait, this shouldn’t be surprising because the United States and much of the colonial and Western worlds were built on the backbone of slavery, oppression, and racism. There is racism in everything. Including ourselves. This should not be a surprise. There is racism everywhere, in everything.
If you’re finding it hard to remember what day it is, what time it is, or how to even get started—you’re not alone. Finding a new sense of normal is critical for me right now. Here are four short conversations to help you get out of that zoned-out, spaced-out, fatigued place of mental exhaustion.
Does self-discipline work? Sometimes yes, but lately for me, and especially during the pandemic, it’s not cutting it. Hustle culture, burnout, and heaping more “discipline” on top of me like an overactive bootcamp coach isn’t getting me to do any of the things I want to do. Here’s what’s working for me instead.
One of the questions we’re all asking about—begging for, really—is what the future might look like. Where are we going, and what does the next year look like? I find myself searching for writers who have thought about this—people who have imagined it, who are dreaming about it, or have studied it. It turns out, there are definitely a few people who have written things like this, from winding forays into five-year futures, to epidemiologists and pandemic researchers thinking through so many of the layered consequences of viral diseases. Here are the people talking about what the future looks like, and a few ways to begin thinking about what’s next.
When things get uncertain, we crave stability and certainty—whether that’s something we can do, something we can buy, or something we can depend on. Shopping is a way to pretend to have certainty. I’m really curious: What have you bought recently that’s made your life at home a little easier?