Well, the end of May is upon us, and the energy of the world feels like a balance of two extremes. There has been absolutely loveliness — Meghan and Harry and their surprisingly inspiring wedding, the approach of summer, and so much to be grateful for in my personal life. And, there has been horror — another flippin’ school shooting, our dysfunctional and dangerous administration, and more bloodshed in the Middle East. 

So, how do we find a balance between these extremes?

Where is the gratitude when it feels like the world is imploding? 

For me, I find it in the people I love. I find it in art — words, music, visual arts. And I find it by going outside and connecting with nature, of getting myself grounded in the physical body of Earth. (Yes, even in New York City, this is possible.) 

To that end, I put together a list of some stuff that made me think, made me smile, or just made me feel this week.

What I'm Listening To

What I'm Reading

• Terese Marie Mailhot's Surviving Racism Through Storytelling for Pacific Standard  
• Ronit Feinglass Plank's I Can't Shake The Guru Bhagwan for The Rumpus
• Wendy Staley Colbert's The Ethics of Empathy for Brevity 

What I'm Watching