Let's do the ridiculous
Helping Friendly Newsletter, 10.29.21
GM! ☕️
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s email:
Who we are without work
Let’s do the ridiculous
Grief support
Tiny book reviews
October blessing
1. Who we are without work
A viral Reddit forum is prompting tough questions about who we are without work. What would it mean to take them seriously? For one answer, see “A Career Kondo,” written by Hawa Arsala from the vantage of her first sabbatical. I admire how she weaves her personal wellbeing with the common good—and stays honest to the tension between them.
2. Let’s do the ridiculous
I can’t decide whether I’m more enamored with Dominic Wilcox’s wacky inventions or his parents’ loving befuddlement. Either way, I dig this energy: “So what. Let’s do the ridiculous. And by doing the ridiculous, something else might come of it.”1
3. Grief support
You may be familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In addition, grief experts have named a sixth stage—finding meaning. While this can be a helpful framework, it’s important to understand that these “stages” are not linear. There is no prescribed path or expected timeline. Grief is unique to each person and loss. Here are some resources I trust for grief support + advice on helping a grieving friend.
This is the final installment of October’s death education series. See the full collection here.
4. Tiny book reviews
See my ratings and reviews for these books.
5. October blessing
This week holds many holidays—including Halloween, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and Diwali. May it be a time of connection and belonging for all. Blessed be. ✨
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 ➔ 💥voter guides💥 from Vote411, WAMU Virginia, and Cville Tomorrow | how a small town silenced a neo-nazi hate campaign | “your ideas are not your identity” | the myth about having children as an artist | how to do 50 things | infographic: what makes you abandon a book? | kid, this is october | sign me up👇🏼
Have a great weekend! I’ll see you again soon.
Jenny
Via Josh Spector.