On Fighting for Redemption

This is the essay that John Lewis wrote shortly before his death on July 17th. Having fought (non-violently) his whole life for the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement and served three decades as a public servant, his death comes as the country grapples with systemic racism and violence against African Americans. In his last words, Mr. Lewis emphasizes, “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.” He writes that change comes from action, that democracy is an act that we have to fight to preserve. He quotes MLK, “Each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something.” Give this one a slow read. And if you are an American citizen, please vote. New York Times.

On Healthy Unproductivity

There has been a lot of anger, grief, and uncertainty lingering in the air, as the country mourns a heroic Civil Rights leader, and as we mourn our loss of control over our lives as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on families and on our economy. It is normal to be feeling lost and unproductive. In this piece, Peter Bregman shares his personal story of grief and how it is ok to allow yourself to grieve and to be unproductive. You don’t have to be reading, writing, listening to a podcast, or even talking to your friends all the time. You can just let yourself be. “Courageously feel everything without running or repressing or denying or distracting yourself by doing. Give room for your body, your mind, your spirit, to reorganize. Trust that something important is happening — that there is something good on the other side — even if you don’t know what.” Sometimes giving up control is the first step to releasing pain and becoming more free. Harvard Business Review.

On Experts’ Views on the Coronavirus Pandemic

In this video, six experts across industries — from evolutionary geneticists to professors and authors — reflect on the science behind the virus, the history of epidemics, and our interconnectedness and social responsibility in dealing with this global challenge. We must not forget that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that requires individual and collective effort. Here’s to gaining more clarity and patience as we all weather through this storm together. New Yorker.