Hello! Welcome to my weekly habit of sharing.

I’ve been sending out a weekly newsletter now for over four months.  I started just after lockdown began in March, each week sharing good and true works on the internet about almost anything that strikes me as important.  There’s been plenty about the pandemic, given its primacy in all of our minds, with a host of reliable sources of information that consult science and actual experts. (Beats all the unreliable and expert-light-drama-heavy “news” you might be consuming on that topic ).

There’s also been lots of articles on social issues from people who think deeply and do their research. Some of them long form, I know (but I hope my readers know it’s worth their time to invest in long form reading because the good writers took time to apply their expertise, unlike most of what you find on social media). And now and then I throw in fun things that lighten my world and hope lighten yours as well—especially in these dark times. If you missed any, you can find all past newsletters here.

For the next couple of weeks I’m going out of town so you won’t be hearing from me. After that? I’m not sure if I’ll continue with this newsletter project.. Maybe this format has run its course for me—and for you. Maybe I’ll set out on a habit of sharing project 2.0. I’m not sure right now, but do feel free to share your thoughts by email if you’d like—and I’ll definitely let you know when I return.

In the meantime, this week I have a few SUPER special pieces I hope you won’t miss. I guess I’m super emotional these days—you’ll see why!

And then following those, you’ll find a few more links for your reading pleasure—I wouldn’t miss those either because like all my links they’re super informative and enlightening!

FIRST, another video from Tomfoolery. Why does this make me cry?

AND THEN—this is an amazing treat! The New York Times has been running a weekly series called The Diary Project. Each week, different artists write and draw about the pandemic.  This one by one of my favorite graphic novelists, Eleanor Davis, also makes me cry.

(I highly recommend reading all of the pieces in the project (I did). Iif you like to read or draw, I’d especially recommend Lynda Barry’s Documenting the Small Things that are Easily Lost and Ebony Flowers’ My Last Encounter with Pandemic Parenting as a couple of my other favorites. I want to be these artists when I grow up.)

 Finally, if you missed it – give yourself the gift of listening to watching Obama’s eulogy for John Lewis. Also made me cry—for John, yes (he was an amazing human and hero who led an incredible life) but most definitely for us.

 Okay – and now for other things you shouldn’t miss either—but I don’t think you’ll shed tears for most of them:

Finally, the World Health Organization is listening to the scientists.  Covid-19 is definitely spread by aerosols. What, it took an open letter from 239 scientists to warrant official acknowledgement? WE already knew because we listened to the scientists much earlier than now (see newsletters). Wear your masks!

Doctors prescribing walks in nature. When will we silly western humans figure out that we NEED Nature. Hopefully not before it’s gone.

This was lovely: a lesson about life—and learning to swim. (His link to swim lessons is also really good).

5 Steps to Becoming …Insanely Successful…or Whatever. Mark Manson is one of my favorite irreverant and wisewriters—who has way too much fun and uses A LOT of cuss words.  His links in this article are ALL great too. 

This former teacher has moved her classroom to the farm—maybe that’s where all the kids should be going!

This is how to get the Great Reset right – so true.

Peace and joy—

Denise

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