Quit or grit?
Helping Friendly Newsletter, 10.22.21
GM! ☕️
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s email:
Quit or grit?
Orwell’s roses
How Van Gogh found his purpose
Every. Body.
1. Quit or grit?
If you’re wrestling with Great Resignation angst, consider this advice from Lindsay Crouse and Kirby Ferguson at the NYT. They emphasize:
Exploring the opportunity costs of leaving and staying.
Not getting stuck on sunk costs—be they financial, time, emotional, or ego.
Patience and perseverance will always have a place, but neither fixes everything. “Don’t be a martyr to grit.”
2. Orwell’s roses
In her new book Orwell’s Roses, Rebecca Solnit shares her encounter with a garden planted by George Orwell in 1936. In this extract, she explains that Orwell saw plantings as small acts of redemption and legacy. Well done, gardeners.
It might not be a bad idea, every time you commit an antisocial act, to make a note of it in your diary, and then, at the appropriate season, push an acorn into the ground.
—George Orwell, A Good Word for the Vicar of Bray
3. How Van Gogh found his purpose
Anyone who feels misunderstood in their life path or career choices will feel a certain kinship with Van Gogh here. It’s a process. Take good care. ❤️
4. Every. Body.
Death comes to all; however, experiences vary. At its best, the end of life can be affirming, connective, and meaningful (even as we grieve). At its worst, it can be dehumanizing and cause unnecessary suffering. Though some differences are simply tragic, others are unjust. Death and dying are yet another arena where equity work is ongoing. Everybody should know gentleness, comfort, respect, and belonging when their time comes. Every. Body.
Thank you for reading
This newsletter is a labor of love. 💌 If you would like to show your support, you can forward to a friend, venmo me a coffee, or engage my services. If you’re seeing it for the first time, you can access the archive or subscribe here.
Treasure chest
I bet you find a gem ➔ “twerking is a deep, soulful, spiritual practice.” | on Shatner, Bezos, and deciding whether we live in heaven or hell | how to create psychological safety in a hybrid work world1 | it’s never too late to publish a debut book and score a Netflix deal | quiz: your greatest sources of pleasure in life2 | if a book can be summarized, is it worth reading? | somebody give this angel their wings | and now we breathe👇🏼
Have a great weekend! I’ll see you again soon.
Jenny
Via Corporate Rebels.
Via Tiny Revolutions.