Kerry Washington has a new book out, Thicker Than Water. She was recently interviewed by Krista Tippett on On Being and I have posted a quote worth keeping in mind. It is so true and so hard to remember.

Do You Take the High or the Low Ground?

Jim Dethmer, founder of the Conscious Leadership group, wrote a good article on the difference between arguing above the line vs. below the line, i.e, arguing from the point of view of curiosity vs. needing to be right.

For many, the word “argue” signals conflict, but the dictionary offers other options: to reason, dispute, indicate, or discuss.

In any case, Dethmer’s particular “argument” about being above or below the line is a decent tap on the shoulder re how we listen and respond to others.

Toodles, for now…

Vicki

 

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I “found myself” in Erik Davis’s column, “Doom Scroll.”

I have been pulling back on media. No TV news, only reading… and now? Often just reading the headlines. Because the media walks me into a living hell.  

Later in the day I participate in conversations that start on a high note only to trail into “informed” doom. But what good are these informed conversations? Talk’s cheap.

I am trying to be a responsible citizen. I just wish the media moguls would join me. 

Vicki

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Doom Scroll

Erik Davis

As far as I can make out, the term “doomscrolling” started making the rounds in 2019, and became, for obvious reasons, far more infectious in 2020. We’ve had two more years of pandemic, and a yearish of whatever this next thing we are in is, and the term does not seem to be losing much luster. (…)

I suspect you know it well: whether over breakfast or on the metro or during a procrastination break at work, you dip into your newsfeed, which is largely distressing of course, but you keep at it, heading deeper into the gloom. You might start out with some of that old-school newspaper-reader attitude, a mix of curiosity and responsibility and self-concern, under which lies a more basic and unspoken mimetic impulse to keep up with the pressing narratives of a group, a region, a nation, a species. But then the bottom drops out, and the feed starts to feed on you. The number, scale, and wickedness of the problems served up by crisis media—wicked not only in the sense of being nasty and often nefarious, but of being hairy beyond all possible resolve, and therefore ripe for dissension—rears up like, well, a wicked monster, consuming hope, potential, and whatever modicum of feel-good you started your sesh with. (…)

Morgan Housel again got my attention, again.

What he says is so true. Yep, I really admire people who drive a car into the ground!

Enjoy your Sunday.

Love,
Vicki

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Respect and Admiration

By Morgan Housel

I like the idea of the reverse obituary: Write down what you want your obituary to say, then figure out how to live up to it.

Everyone’s will be different, but I suspect most people would want their obituary to say: You were respected. You were admired. You were helpful. You were a good parent, and good spouse, a caring friend. You were an asset to your community. You made a contribution to your industry. You were wise, funny, and smart.

Now realize what’s not in there.

THIS ONE YOU SHOULD PRINT OUT

Ryan Holiday, who wrote “The Obstacle is the Way” and 9 other great books, also writes a blog. Today’s was particularly good. Enjoy my friends! Print it out and tape it to your wall…

Vicki

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The Power of Your Imagination

Hello Readers,

I am taking off a week. Hug yourself and be grateful.

Vicki

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The power of what you conceive…

You can imagine a safe place and then you can imagine that you’re not imagining it.

~Milton Erickson, Therapist and hypnotist