Things I Am Liking

Leadership during the times of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, Bob Dylan, chores, and The Great British Baking Show.

Hi,

I hope everyone is settling and finding something of comfort, after last week’s elections.

This week, for me and Catherine (Ben is still on tour), has been all about comfort: community, books, scents, food, self-care.

Just a few months ago, as a result of any thing not going my way, I would not have been able to notice what you are about to read; I would have harbored anger, poisoned all that was around me, painted it so dark to make it an impossible task to find introspection, critical thinking, strength, or a smile.

The other day, as I prepared for our Monday live, and had not planned on starting the bookclub and read Pema Chödron’s Start Where You Are with all of you, I found myself walking in the kitchen whispering: “Thank you, Mo”.

I find it hard to comprehend how, with dying, someone can ignite the beginning of new life in someone else. But Mo did it nonetheless, when she died, this past February.

So I savor it; I pay gratitude every day that in the midsts of something not going my way I am able to pause and not react, to look around and see purpose, nuances, beauty, and even hope.

As always, half of the beauty of this column is reading what you have all been liking. So I look forward to it very much.