9.19.2013

A sad, wonderful personal essay. "Beauty Trap" by Harmony Nealon via The Toast.

This is amazing. So on point re: street harassment, rape culture, and just...selfishness. Amazing Missed Connection Takes Down Street Harassing Dickwads (And, as bonus, a great cartoon from the comments section: Street Harassment)

Really interesting: Who's Really Left Out Of The CrossFit Circle, by Gene Denby.

Image: source. DGU.

I went to a talk by Susan Piver last night, a Buddhist teacher who talks a lot about relationships. She was great, and I definitely look forward to reading more of her work. Here's one article that gives you a good sense of her down to earth, open way of writing: Vows, Shambhala Sun.

I've read a lot of books since I was last on here. The second in Denise Mina's Alex Morrow series - The End of the Wasp Season - was wonderful, however, the next in the series - Gods and Beasts - didn't stack up. I, like everyone else it seems, was completely entertained by Maria Semple's "Where'd You Go, Bernadette." Despite liking some of her other books, "The Magician's Assistant" by Ann Patchett never really worked for me, and I was underwhelmed by the much-celebrated "The Middlesteins" by Jami Attenberg. I'm now reading Alice Munro's most recent collection of short stories, "Dear Life" which has definitely gotten under my skin, although I'm still not sure what exactly to make of it....

Oh, and I've also been reading a Daily Devotional I got from the UCC national website, but not loving it. If any of you progressive Christians out there (or anyone else, really) has a daily devotional you like, I'd love suggestions.

“Spirituality without a prayer life is no spirituality at all, and it will not last beyond the first defeats. Prayer is an opening of the self so that the Word of God can break in and make us new. Prayer unmasks. Prayer converts. Prayer impels. Prayer sustains us on the way. Pray for the grace it will take to continue what you would like to quit.” - Joan D. Chittister