April Finds
Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability
I listen to this talk every time I feel a little lost or misunderstood––over the past year I think I've listened six or seven times. Dr. Brene Brown considers how vulnerability through shame can lead people to a further sense of community and belonging. She also talks about how creativity and play are integral to happiness. Full Audiobook
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
-Dr. Brene Brown
New Yorker: It's Earth Day––and the News isn't Good
This post from the New Yorker considers the history of Earth Day––a holiday established in 1970 that the author argues "has devolved into a rote (and often ill-attended) exercise"––in the context of widespread glacial ice melt and sea temperature rise. It reminds us that earth warming has compounding effects.
"As the world warms, the [Greenland] ice sheet is shrinking, and, as shrinks, it’s losing elevation. At lower elevations, the air is warmer, so it shrinks more, and the cycle continues."
New York Times: In Taiwan’s Waters, a Hunt for Tiny, Wriggling ‘Gold’
This is a profile about fishers in Taiwan who fish for tiny glass eels that are sold for $40 per gram. The eels are raised to maturity and then sold.
This article resonated with me because the woman interviewed explained how the climate crisis––specifically warming waters and estuary destruction––caused a significant decline in the eel catch throughout her lifetime. Unfortunately, her story isn't unique. Here in Kerala, my interviews with fishers recount, with eery similarity, fish decline and uncertainty about their future livelihoods.
Explained Podcast from To Be Magnetic: Pings
This podcast reminded me of the blog post I wrote a few weeks ago titled The Playing Card Theory. It introduces how signs could play a role in following your intuition. If you read my post and it resonated with you, this podcast might be another interesting insight!
Taylor Jenkins Reid: Maybe in Another Life
I finished this book on April 30 and needed to include it because it felt very relevant to my life. The book considers how small decisions can impact the course of our lives. She plays out how one decision impacts the protagonist, Hannah's, life. This book reminded me that although the decisions I make might change my trajectory, that doesn't have to be a bad thing and that decisions can be seen as opportunities rather than obstacles.