"...when you're my age, you'll find out it's the little savors and things that count more than the big ones. A walk on a spring morning is better than an eighty-mile ride in a hopped-up car, you know why? Because it's full of flavors, full of a lot of things growing. You've time to seek and find. I know--you're after the broad effect now, and I suppose that's fit and proper. But for a young man working on a newspaper, you got to look for grapes as well as watermelons..."
{Grandpa in Dandelion Wine}
"I don't remember anyone winning anywhere any time. War's never a winning thing, Charlie. You just lose all the time, and the one who loses last asks for terms. All I remember is a lot of losing and sadness and nothing good but the end of it. The end of it, Charles, that was a winning all to itself, having nothing to do with guns. But I don't suppose that's the kind of victory you boys mean for me to talk on."
I love connecting travel to art and poetry. Both powerful forms of expression harness how a new destination touches the mind, body, and spirit...how an unfamiliar environment invigorates the senses...how the intellect is stimulated and the heart transformed.
In high school, despite my social tendencies, one could typically find me secluded in my room. Bedroom door shut, stereo on, and a stack of magazines at my side. Glamour and Rolling Stone were among my favorites.
When I went away to college my magazine stacks slowly disappeared. My academic classes urged me to think critically about the world. And I soon felt disillusioned about the way in which the media presented "information" and portrayed women.
Within the past year, magazines have made a resurgence in my life. My ottoman yields stacks of The Atlantic, Runner's World, and Yoga Journal.
And after my Australia travels, I've added one more magazine to the decor of my ottoman; Frankie Magazine. The narratives, art work, photography and cultural insights are fresh, fun, and original. If you've never had the pleasure of flipping through this publication check out the website, or try to find a local store selling this Aussie gem.
What magazines are sitting on your ottoman these days? What magazines did you read as an adolescent? I would love to read your thoughts! Please leave your lovely comments below.
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I am three weeks removed from my Australian adventure. And with the passing days, my current case of writer's block only seems to intensify. To break myself free of my struggles to contribute to the written word, I am giving myself a blogging challenge. Hooray!
The Challenge:
For 26 days {the length of my travels}, I will continuously post reflections, photos, and insights from my trip on Underlined and Bold. With a little outside accountability, I hope to regain my sense of creativity with words, and rekindle my love of snapping photos.
Do you ever experience writer's block? What strategies do you use to break away from it?
I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave
comments below!
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Picks to Ponder is officially a new weekly post appearing on Underlined and Bold. The weekly posts will include a few notable items I've found to be thought provoking, and/or a positive influence on my outlook on life. My hope is twofold:
The first is to spark conversation and dialogue, in order to increase my exposure to varying thoughts and opinions. Therefore, please leave comments after clicking on links and reading each post.
The second is to maintain an organized and accessible record of items I've found to be notable, or have illuminated new ideas. In effect, I hope to better assess my interests as I continue to pursue different paths in regards to lifestyle, religious and political affiliations, and career.
This weeks Picks to Ponder
In Journalism:
A Good Man is Harder to Find
Katie Bolick's cover story "All the Single Ladies," in the October 2011 issue of the Atlantic, is stirring conversation across the country. I, like many others, am fascinated by this piece, and feel it's helping to fill a void in dialogue surrounding modern day relationships.
When I arrived to nanny a young girl a few weeks ago, I was instructed to play the 1967 Disney Classic, The Jungle Book. "It's her new favorite movie," the mother explained. As the opening credits appeared on screen, I was consumed by nostalgia. Midway through the film the "Bare Necessities" blared loudly through the speakers. Closely listening to the lyrics, I discovered a new relevant anthem for myself. It's poignant and speaks clearly to my current outlook on life. Thus, I've been playing the song on repeat ever since.
{Look for the bare necessities/The simple bare necessities/Forget about your
worries and your strife/I mean the bare necessities/Old Mother Nature's recipes
/That brings the bare necessities of life}
In Chicago:
Story Lab Chicago
Do you love reading or listening to stories? Are you a storyteller, performer, artist, and/or writer? If so, Story Lab Chicago is for you. Last night I attended my second performance, to support friend and former co-worker Jonas Simon. Simon and fellow cast-mates delivered powerful performances, presenting pieces filled with suspense, humor, truth, and wisdom.
Click here to learn more about the monthly performances, and how you can get involved.
In Blogs:
Unconventional Living
In need of inspiration to change your current circumstance in life? Elizabeth Hudson at Story Wrought quit her secure "grown up" job to explore what she's truly passionate about: travel and writing. Click here to read her story.
A Tutor's Observation
Click here to read about a short thoughtful reflection about students and school work, and the timeless dilemmas of adolescence. The ending warmed my heart. Thanks Chris!
I would love to read your thoughts on this weeks Picks to Ponder.
Please leave comments & questions below so we can discuss.
I was skeptical about this months's book club choice.I had never heard of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. When introduced to the book, I was assured it was a New York Times Bestseller. I was assured a friend highly recommended it. And then I was assured it was an interesting book about science and cells.
"Science? ...Cells?" my inner monologue chimed. Science was my sworn enemy throughout my school years. Why as a grown up, who takes great pride in having choice about the pages I turn, would I entertain reading something that sounded more like a text book?
My head littered with unfounded judgement, I couldn't bring myself to buy the book. Soon reminder e-mails popped up in my inbox about our meeting. Staring at my calendar, I realized I had one remaining week until our date for juicy discussion, and gorging myself on wine and scrumptious vegetarian treats. My judgement was quickly pushed aside, as my stomach realized it may miss out on such a gluttonous occasion. So I finally scrambled to the nearest bookstore. A few days later, I began digesting the 328 page narrative. And as I turned the last page, thirty minutes before our meeting (in true procrastinator fashion), I found the corners of my mouth turning up.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksis a book about cells and science. It is also a book about Henrietta Lacks and her family's journey of grappling with her death, as well as her cell's enormous contribution to the medical world. It's a book about ethics, scientists, the role of the media, law, and research for monetary gain. It's a book about understanding our rights concerning cell research and informed consent.
Author, Rebecca Skloot's ten year journey to produce a narrative with layers of information weaved through each chapter is extraordinary. Skloot illustrates that the production of something great takes time, discipline, and a team of supporters ready to roll up their sleeves with feedback.
View the video below to learn more about Rebecca Skloot and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. (The video visually scrambles a bit at times. So if you cannot see it, no worries! The audio is what's important!)
A big thanks to Emma, Kristen, Jason, and Julie for putting together a wonderful evening filled with laughter, "couchlates", and thought provoking questions.
Click here and here for other books our book club recommends.
Tuesday evening I made my way downtown to the Gene Siskel Film Theatre to see the documentaryThe Interrupters. I had initially heard about the film during my attendance of a lecture at the Harold Washington Library. The lecture featured one of the film's producer's Alex Kotlowitz. Kotlowitz spoke about non-fiction storytelling and approaching all research with an honest sense of curiosity. He spoke clearly and passionately about the importance of narratives; that narratives affirm histories, introduce audiences to people and ideas they wouldn't otherwise encounter, and elicit empathy. He referenced fictional work like The Grapes of Wrath and To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as non-fiction works like Johnathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities, and his own work There are No Children Here to illustrate his point. He also reminded the audience comprised of aspiring writers, that our purpose for writing is not that we will immediately change the circumstances in which we find the world. Rather, our writing can (at least) challenge assumptions, and nudge the rigidness in how one may think about people and ideas.
Leaving the lecture, I was left with a strong sense of respect for Kotlowitz and the messages he conveyed. I yearned to understand his ideas about writing and relaying compelling narratives more fully, so attending his film seemed like the next obvious step.
His film co-produced with Steve James, did not disappoint. The Interrupters, a documentary featuring the violence prevention organization called CeaseFire, was compelling and moving. The film's success is driven by the richness in which they develop the narratives of three key conflict mediators ("interrupters"); Ameena Matthews, Eddie Bocanegra, and Ricardo "Cobe" Williams. Matthews, Bocanegra, and Williams are all former "gang banger's" who were heavily involved in drugs and violence. Their willingness to be candid about their pasts and their journey toward changing their behavior, becoming positive role models in their Chicago communities, is inspiring. It moves the audience beyond "shocking" six o'clock headline news stories, painting a more dynamic picture of Chicago street violence. Their past's also provide them the credibility needed to steer youth away from solving conflicts with violence and death.
If this film and the topics in which it explores seems to be of interest to you, you're in luck! The Interrupters will be playing in downtown Chicago at the Gene Siskel Film Theatre for one more week. The film has been showing to sold out audiences, so get your tickets in advance!
Don't live in Chicago? Check out this schedule to see where else the film will be showing.
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