A colleague made a confession of sorts to me this week. You see, he and I have very different viewpoints on so many things. We have a difference of opinion on God, economics, and, well, a very long list of subjects. But in getting to know me, he found I am not the – insert horrible noun here – he predicted me to be.
I must confess I also prejudged him. Had I gotten my way initially, we would have stayed on frosty terms. Thankfully, God encouraged me to get over my self-righteousness on this matter, and I now place this colleague in the “work friend” category.
Today, people are on edge. Some are making T-shirts to wear downtown. Some are waving flags. Others are staying home. In some countries, home includes a bunker. It is so tempting to give into anger and despair. I urge you to resist.
The world has always been a difficult place. If today has you thinking we are living through the darkest chapter of history, I encourage you to look back. Read about The Circus of Nero, the rise and fall of Cyrenaica – particularly their gruesome acceptance of human sacrifice, or read a refresher on Stalin’s Great Purge. You’ll soon remember there are no awards for the darkest chapter of history because history is cyclical and relative.
That said, it is important to cling tightly to the reality that the world can also be a remarkably wonderful place. I doubt you’ll need to search books to experience this truism. The warmth of a familiar voice over the phone, the heaviness of a baby asleep on your chest, the adoration of a beloved pet, or the satisfaction of a job well done. The freedom of an afternoon drive, the thrill of a surprise party, the joy of being welcomed by a friend, the delight of watching a new couple proclaim their love over rings and cake. These things give us a shared perspective and joy.
There are those who would encourage you to withdraw and despair. Choose community and joy instead. There are those who claim to have all the answers and categories. Keep asking questions and seeing the dignity in every living person.
I’ll leave you with one more story from this week and then let you go.
Every afternoon, a janitor comes into our suite of offices to empty the trash bins and tidy up. This man has a physical condition that limits his mobility. I’ve seen that he is often overlooked and brushed past, as though he is contagious.
The other day, I saw him in the hallway enjoying a donut after a kind colleague had invited him to help himself to the box of Dunkin’ Donuts in our kitchen. He was trying to sneak a bite, but his enjoyment was so much that he couldn’t help but smile as our eyes met.
I went to comment on the fact that he was enjoying my favorite variety of donut – plain with chocolate icing – when I choked on a lump in my throat. There in that dingy hallway, this man’s humanity radiated. His joy was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. This memory causes tears to stream down my face even now.
Every single person you encounter has dignity. Even your enemies. Even you on your worst day.
I stumbled across this small business that sells fantastic gift boxes. Bookmarking for future reference!
Yesterday, I shared a new gift guide to help elevate your outdoor space. The guide featured items that weren’t too terribly expensive. If I had created a gift guide for those with mountains of money, I would have included this chic love seat. Ah, it’s lovely!
And now I want to throw a July 4th party.
Would you hire a virtual assistant? Duckbill promises to tidy up your personal/professional life by combining AI with a “human copilot” to manage your calendar, finances, whatever else needs managing. Influencer couple extraordinaire Julia & Thomas Berolzheimer are offering this 50%-off code for two months of the service via their Substack, Trade Offs.
Eleven great family-friendly films.
Would (or could) you live without a computer? I must admit I feel slightly envious of the freedom August Lamm found once she parted ways with her computer after reading her essay for The Free Press.
“I have lived without a computer for over two months now, and it is everything I thought it would be. I no longer feel distracted, manipulated, ranked—forcibly wrenched out of finite reality and thrust into the infinite realm of the internet. These days, my real life is all I have, and it’s more than enough.
Looking back at my lengthy preparations for the switch, I see now how anxious I was. It turns out that I had nothing to fear. My social life is more active than ever. I feel wide open to the world, and I meet new people everywhere—at concerts, on train platforms—all of whom are happy to communicate via text. Friends tell me about events the old-fashioned way, person to person, and I do the same. I’ve also had my fair share of meet-cutes, and am going on better dates than I ever had through the apps. In my free time, I don’t feel alone, or not nearly as alone as I did in the shadow of the internet. My apartment is a closed ecosystem, a chamber of presence. It has everything I need. On quiet evenings, I read books, write postcards, and practice guitar. I am where I am.” (Source)
One of my favorite jewelry stores in Charleston, SC is having a sale! While not currently on sale, my Okra Drop Earrings might be my favorite pair of earrings. I wear them often, and each time I get a little giggle when I think about me sitting wherever I am with beautiful gold and pearl okra earrings on my ears.
If you have a lot of summer birthdays in your life (like I do!), you may enjoy these wonderful birthday essentials from Joy Creative Shop.
I can’t believe this book is a true story!
Grace Atwood has another list of what to wear to a wedding for this summer. Very pretty things, but TBH I wouldn’t wear a-one of ‘em! Does this mean I am set in my ways/old/hard-to-dress? Maybe! Depending on the time of day, I’d probably reach for something from J. McLaughlin or an Abbey Glass dress if I were to be a wedding guest this summer. What about you?
I want all of this pottery in my life. (Luckily for my bank account, everything is sold out.)
This might be the weirdest dress I’ve ever seen.
Pasta candles? Kinda cute!
Considering reading this novel next week when I travel to NYC to see a friend.
Take gentle care of yourself and be warned there are Amazon Affiliate links lurking in this post! If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Thank you if you do make a purchase!