Essential

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupery

To Fall in Love, Do This

While I am not convinced these 36 questions lead to love, they sure will make for a deep moment amongst friends. The podcast episode is worth a listen.

This Question Stopped Me In My Tracks

“Who are you without the doing?” What a powerful and humbling question.

Listen to reflections on this in Jocelyn K. Glei’s latest Hurry Slowly Podcast episode.

Illustration by Timo Kuilder

Friday Link Pack (on Saturday)

I had the chance to experience Crush Club live yesterday. Instant new favorite. Impossible to sit still.

– I always love this list put together by the Do Lectures team: 100 Must-Read Books Of 2018

– In this mini-episode of Hurry Slowly, Jocelyn asks this one question: “Who are you without the doing?” I will have to think on this.

– These food puzzles are delightful.

– Loving these prints by Zach Lieberman.

– Helpful rules to follow in times of crisis, for leaders managers, or any human really.

– This bookstand made me look.

– How to Make and Wear Medieval Armor: An In-Depth Primer

– The Man Who Turns Back New York City’s Clocks, Hand by Hand

– I just discovered my Sparketype, a discovery tool created by my friend Jonathan Fields. You can do too. It’s free.

– These rugs would look good in my bathroom.

– Maria Popova wrote a book.

– Intrigued by these Shoe Skunks

– Worth a listen: Debbie Millman in conversation with Pete Souza

– Geo Guesser – A Goole Maps Game (via Seth)

– Blocked from the ballot – Stories on Voting in America

– A perfect print for a kids room: Animals by Oliver Jeffers. (A lot of these animals are available as Tattly.)

– This monkey tea bag holder made me laugh.

– Fly hummingbird, fly.

Cool jobs to apply for: There are over 1,200 jobs listed on the new CreativeMornings job board. Search full time, part time, contract, remote, freelance, internships.

– Sproutel in Providence is looking for a designer.

– Mailchimp in Atlanta is looking for a Director of Marketing Operations.

– Herman Miller in Hollan, Michigan is looking to hire a Writer/Editor Intern.

See all of the jobs.

Life

It’s been quiet on here. I realize. I spent the past few days with my dad in the hospital, in Switzerland, holding his hand and telling him over and over how much I love him. Wish I would have done that more often sooner. Maybe you can?

Also, what’s a word that describes both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time?

“Leftover Woman”

Single women in China are courageously standing up against the pressure of being labelled “Sheng Nu”, or “leftover woman”. This hit in the heart.

(thank you Matt)

Meet Scott Harrison – Charity Water Founder

I really enjoyed this honest and vulnerable conversation between Chase Jarvis and Scott Harrison, founder of Charity Water.

Erase Hate

The Way You Live

“Attract them by the way you live.”
– Saint Augustine

Chiune Sugihara and Moral Heroism

“Day and night he wrote visas. He issued as many visas in a day as would normally be issued in a month. His wife, Yukiko, massaged his hands at night, aching from the constant effort. When Japan finally closed down the embassy in September 1940, he took the stationery with him and continued to write visas that had no legal standing but worked because of the seal of the government and his name. At least 6,000 visas were issued for people to travel through Japan to other destinations, and in many cases entire families traveled on a single visa. It has been estimated that over 40,000 people are alive today because of this one man.”

The Japanese Man Who Saved 6,000 Jews With His Handwriting

Nobody-But-Yourself

“A lot of people think or believe or know they feel — but that’s thinking or believing or knowing; not feeling. And poetry is feeling — not knowing or believing or thinking.

Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.

To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

– E. E. Cummings

Enormous Smallness: The Sweet Illustrated Story of E. E. Cummings and His Creative Bravery

Just Help

“Don’t be fancy, just help people.”
– Glennon Doyle

Surfing Life Force

“Going with the flow is responding to cues from the universe. When you go with the flow, you’re surfing life force. It’s about wakeful trust and total collaboration with what’s showing up for you.”
– Danielle LaPorte

Your Desire to Succeed

What I Can Control

Good reminder.

Your Relationship

“Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have.”

This hit home.

Mr. Fred Rogers Documentary

I watched the newest Mr. Rogers Documentary last night and it was just what my heart needed. It’s like a wave of kindness and love washing over you and restoring all faith in humanity. Watch it!

Deep Listening

Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh says listening can help end the suffering of an individual. Watch as he explains how to practice compassionate listening.

Screen Blocking Glasses

IRL Glasses are the answer to screen overload and digital fatigue, putting people back in the driver’s seat to control when and how they interact with screens. Wearing IRL Glasses makes screens that are “on” look like they are “off.”

Brilliant! Hat tip off to the creator Ivan Cash!

The Story of Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K is one of the most popular exercise programs in the world, created by my office mate Josh Clark. He created the program in 1996 after getting over a relationship break-up by running. His system builds from a few seconds of running, to longer distances, over a series of weeks. I really should give this a try.

And, if you want to hear more, here’s a longer audio-podcast version of the story. And here is Josh’s own write up.

The Neuroscience of Perception

(via Hiut)

Does it Have Heart?

Simple Truths About Parenting

For the past 70 years, scientists in Britain have been studying thousands of children through their lives to find out why some end up happy and healthy while others struggle. It’s the longest-running study of human development in the world, and it’s produced some of the best-studied people on the planet while changing the way we live, learn and parent. Reviewing this remarkable research, science journalist Helen Pearson shares some important findings and simple truths about life and good parenting.

The Truth

“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
The world would split open.”
—Muriel Rukeyser