Below is an article from The School of Life… “How to Choose a Good Present.”

The essence of the article? Gifts are important. That thought is ingrained in childhood and isn’t likely to go away. But what does an adult need when it comes to a gift?

Excerpt from article:

Anything our friends are likely to want, they buy for themselves – or we won’t be able to afford to buy it for them. This isn’t to say that (our friends) don’t have any (needs); it’s merely that what they seek from us is largely psychological rather than material in nature.

Nick Cave is an Australian singer-songwriter, actor, novelist, and screenwriter who played a prominent role in the postpunk movement as front man for the bands the Birthday Party and the Bad Seeds. He is also the author of the blog, The Red Cave.

Someone recently wrote to him, asking how he deals with the loss of his son, who died from a fall during an LSD episode. Cave’s response gives light to how he survived the loss: he allowed his son to help.  

This year’s holiday season is difficult to celebrate without physical contact with friends and family, but especially hard for a person whose heart has been broken by a loved one’s death.

“I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.”
— Mary Oliver

The VIA Institute of Character in Cincinnati, Ohio has suggested a back door path to understanding the power of gratitude. I tried it and found it powerful. Shook me out of wanting to complain about COVID and get back on board for Thanksgiving. Try it!

Virtual hug to you all,

Vicki

Something in me softened after watching this. Bittersweet, indeed.

by Award-Winning London Rapper Kate Tempest