When you survive a shocking loss your world comes to a screeching halt. There is the pain, dealing with the aftermath of the pain, and dealing with the pain’s return as it cycles through. But other people don’t stop wanting things from you. I saw that happen today when someone asked a person who had…
Excerpt from “Letters to a Young Artist”, by Anna Deavere Smith. “I’ve been thinking about Miles Davis, and the birth of cool,” I said. (Miles Davis did a famous album called Birth of the Cool.)…”I’ve been thinking this idea,” I said hesitantly, “this idea of the death of cool.” “It’s time for it to be dead,”…
The blatant double standards of many pentecostal or fundamentalist churches regarding women’s behavior versus men’s behavior fill women with unnecessary shame while allowing men to shake off their perceived discretions without a backwards glance. That discrepancy does serious harm to faithful women’s self-esteem. Whenever I encounter a woman suffering under that burden I do my…
People are sometimes accused of feeling sorry for themselves when they express grief or anger over wrongs (real or perceived) that were done to them. They are told, “You are only feeling sorry for yourself!” as though that is a bad thing. But when they feel pity or empathy for someone else, that is not…
Last night I ended the day by coloring in the next letter. I’m glad I chose this page to color. It’s reminding me to focus on the good in the world. The bad and disappointing is overwhelming at time.
