Happy Memorial Day weekend, friends! This weekend, I hope that you’re able to find some time to remember those who served, to consider what you want our nation to look like moving forward and how you can be part of shaping it, and to take a small action towards creating the kind of world you want to live in.
Lately, I feel simultaneously deeply hopeless and sad about the state of our world and also motivated to find a way to make a difference as opposed to sitting back and doing nothing. In her brilliant book, We Do This ‘Til We Free Us (Bookshop), activist Mariame Kaba writes that “hope is a discipline” and I’m finding that to be true in this era of what’s happening at home and in the world. It takes work, not just in my brain and heart, but also in my actions.
Let’s be about it.
If you have a long weekend ahead, I hope you find time for a good rest, some delicious food, and the things that bring you joy as summer comes rolling in.
• It’s absolutely time to start making flag cakes, and you know our girl Joy has you COVERED. She made this one with the Texas flag, but you can get creative with the berries, I believe in you! (Joy The Baker)
• The block button is the ultimate source of dopamine. A word on boundaries on the Internet. (joanwestenberg)
• As the end of the school year approaches, people often ask me what they should get their child’s teacher as a gift because I’ve been an educator for 20 years. My most honest suggestions are a sweet note from you and your child, an email to me that includes my principal with specific things you appreciated about the year, and gift cards. I throw away homemade food (sorry, I just can’t do it!) and I have many mugs, candles, and teacher-ish items. Gift cards. Or a nice note. Or nothing at all! Trust me. (Yahoo!)
• If you’re looking to get yourself a nice present (which you absolutely should be, you deserve), I put together a list of some summer survival favorites. (Substack)
• In high school and early college, I was OBSESSED with taking personality tests. Here are 13 worth taking, for a hit of nostalgia and some good self-knowledge. (Esquire)
• People have very strong feelings about the Thrifty ice cream scoop. I’m absolutely motivated to do my own research and give it a try, because it must be an improvement over my typical method (bending all of my spoons). Maybe with this coffee ice cream? Seems like a great plan. You know, for science. (Food and Wine, Joy The Baker)
• I went through and added so many books to my library hold list from this Atlantic summer reading guide! (The Atlantic)
• Eight techniques for evaluating character. (Honest Broker)
• Giving up the myth of the perfect wardrobe, and how to break the obsessive shopping cycle. (The Times UK, Substack)
• I loved my friend Olivia’s piece about digging deep for joy and thoughts on body image anxiety. It’s so real. (Substack)
• It’s the season of summer barbecues and I’ll be honest: my Virgo-rising, gold-star seeking self likes to win the potluck. My secret weapon is this bonkers good Goat Cheese and Roasted Corn guacamole. You’ll be a summer legend. (Joy The Baker)
• This profile of writer and artist Suleika Jaouad and her creativity despite suffering from terminal cancer was inspiring and heart wrenching. I have her book, Between Two Kingdoms, on my list for summer reads. (The Atlantic, Bookshop)
• How to turn around a blah day. (Substack)
• This article gave me something to think about, because I’m not sure I agree, but maybe I do? What do you think? Can shame make you a better person? (The Guardian)
• I’m a big fan of writer Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer challenge, where (just as it sounds!) you write 1,000 words for two weeks. If you’ve ever wanted to write (in any genre, just for fun, or to launch a practice or project) this community is incredibly supportive and it’s a wonderful challenge. Join me? There’s also a book with advice from some incredible writers so you can be motivated any time of year! (Substack, Bookshop)
• If you aren’t ready to dive into 1,000 words yet, how about Five-Minute Sprints of writing? Join me on Zoom at The Porch! (The Porch TN)
• The older I get, the sillier I feel for ever believing that there was an age when one could or should stop striving for personal growth. Loved these tips on how to be your best despite the passing years. (The Atlantic)
Sina
Love the list, Amy, as always!
The tests were just the right thing for my neurospicy brain – I love filling in tests. The career one was actually interesting, but I didn’t bother to buy my iq-test results…
And I feel the absolute weight of “the world” as well, politics wordwide and at home, uprise of extreme opinions in society – there’s just such a lack of nuance and compassion, life as a queer person has been tough lately, I’m so exhausted.
Wishing you a good end of the school year and all the gift cards you may wish for headed your way!
Penelope
Why through away food? Surely it could be shared with others.
Kat
Hmm interesting article from The Guardian on shame, but I don’t equate shame with their definition. To me, what the article describes as the “helpful” form of shame is what I would call conscience, which I agree can definitely be a helpful compass in life. Shame, however, I consider wholly unhelpful and linked to the conflation of your person/worth and the reason for the shame. It makes me wonder what has maybe been lost in translation (both linguistically and over the millennia since Confucianism) around these ideas.
Chrissy
I’m an educator on the east coast of Canada and I’ve never turned down a thank you gift of lobster or a liquor card. And yes, I don’t need another mug but thank you for the gesture.
Amy
Wow, I have never been offered lobster — definitely not something common here in California :) Sadly, I have a shellfish allergy, but if I didn’t, I’d say yes to that, too! I’ve definitely been given my fair share of wine over the years, too, but it seems to be more taboo these days? Being an educator is strange. I hope you’re enjoying the end of your year and feeling ready for summer!
Emily
I always love your incredibly thoughtful links list Amy! Thank you! I hope you have a smooth end to your school year. I’m not a teacher but I’m school adjacent (museum educator!) and every year the pace of May kicks my ass with how much schools try to cram in before summer.
Amy
I bet those end of the year field trips are a doozy, with everyone simultaneously exhausted and squirrelly! I’m sure the teachers appreciate your service!