Every week Nerd in the Brain does a Three Things Thursday post – “three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude” and invites others to play along as well.
I, of course, think this is a brilliant idea – you know I’m all about sharing what delights me and how important I think gratitude is. But it feels especially important this week when so many feel so wobbly. For so many people I’ve talked to, the mass shootings in Orlando feel like some sort of collective tipping point. There’s no doubt in my mind that we can all benefit from some deep breaths and time spent amongst things that bring our hearts joy. So here are my three things this Thursday…
A Book
Arika Dickens of Librarian Arika has a beautiful and simple idea – that building acceptance and tolerance is teachable, and that literature can help. And so she’s suggested a project – committing to read, promote, share, and purchase books that promote tolerance of race, gender, identity, religion, ability, and sexual orientation. Read more about her project here.
Arika’s focus is on children and young adult books, and here’s my contribution to growing list:
Larry and Friends, written by Nat Jasper and illustrated by Carla Torres. I love this book about Larry the American dog, and all his multi-national, multi-cultural friends who come by to celebrate his birthday. Each character has a little back story, like Rosita the Mexican Coyote, who “survive(d) the tough trip from Mexico guided by some chicken people that dared called themselves coyotes. She’s now the best luchadora in New York.” There’s Laila the Iranian Cat, and Sumita the Indian Elephant who was left behind by a traveling circus, but didn’t cry because she knew “life sometimes takes mysterious roads to land you in the right place at the right moment;” and so many other wonderful friends. This is such a delightful book about immigration, diversity, friendship and acceptance. Go read it, and share it with all the kids in your life.
Some Sweetness
I think I mentioned last week that one of the books on my summer reading list is Ink and Honey by Sibyl Dana Reynolds. It may well end up being my summer project as it’s 500+ pages and my available time to read seems to have diminished exponentially. But that’s okay. Any time spent amongst bees and book, honey and ink is a delight.
The book is a novel following the life of a medieval community in the French countryside, the sisters of Belle Coeur who are visionaries, mystics and artisans. I was delighted to find a multi-floral honey from Michigan called Les Cadeaux (the gifts) de Belle Coeur. It comes in a wonderful Muth bottle, cork sealed in red beeswax, and with a bronze bee charm. Muth jars are replicas of the original square-sided glass honey jars, embossed with a wonderful image of a skep hive used by Charles Muth, one of the largest honey sellers in the 1800s.
It’s my belief that whenever we’re experiencing a personal or collective sadness, a touch of sweetness is a good balancing point, and I look forward to using this honey and adding the bee charm to something wonderful as well.
A Little Love Letter
Are you as big a fan of love letters as I am? I think we should all be writing love letters to one another – in fact I think love letters should be our world’s currency.
I have this little book, The Book of Hearts by Francesca Gavin that’s filled with images of hearts from a variety of artists along with a few interspersed very short essays.
After having it for quite some time, last year I decided I’d turn it into a journal and add my own words and images to the mix and make it my own book of hearts. And although I did do a few spreads in it, the truth is the book has been languishing in my studio untouched for way too long. But this week, as I talked to so many folks feeling so sad, so discouraged, so unsettled and so angry, I thought one of the things I could do to contribute to the love quotient in the world is write more love notes. And it occurred to me that I could start mailing out altered pages from this little book and head them out around the globe. I always delight in imagining that when I’ve put something in the mailstream its energy is dispersed all over the place. So what’s not to like about the idea of dispersing love note energy wide and far?
If you’d like to receive a note from me, feel free to pop me an email with your snail address if I don’t already have it. My address is deborah at deborah hypen weber dot com. I’d love to send a little heart love your way.
There you have it – my Three Things Thursday. I hope you consider playing along as well. But regardless, I’d certainly love to hear what’s making you smile and what you’re grateful for today. What sweetness have you noticed? What books are calling you? What makes your heart a bit happier? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
What an inspiring and kind message, Deborah! I might send you a request as I could certainly use a kindness gesture to treasure right about now. Larry and Friends sounds like an interesting read. So good to see you getting back to prolific on this blog.
Do send me your address Nanette – it would be a delight to visit your mailbox.
Ink and Honey sounds like the kind of book I like, I just read the reviews on Amazon so I have it on my list for the near future.
I’ve been trying to think how the world can heal and wonder if the answer lies in nature…but how to guide people to even want to be out there in it, I don’t know. I guess I feel grateful that I do appreciate it and revel in it since I don’t think I was really brought up that way, I somehow just stumbled upon it.
Oh yes, I bet you’ll enjoy the book. Although I’m not far enough into it to swear to it. 🙂
Nature is such a healing, restorative, grace-filled place, and it certainly would be wonderful if everyone could welcome that energy into their lives more fully. I’m so glad you found your connection – it’s clearly so deep.
Hi Deborah – Ink and Honey sounds fascinating … and as I’m moving and am always writing letters – then you may well get an email from me … Larry sounds a great read for children and others … we need to embrace all cultures and learn from them.
Cheers Hilary
Wishing you lots of ease and an entirely grace-filled and challenge-free move Hilary!
Catching up on all your recent blog posts Deborah and enjoying all the uplifting energy of each and every post and of course I’m taking away a little goodness from each post as well =)
I’m now looking into the Inks app you suggested and it looks like a lot of fun!
Thank you for sharing about the kindness project and sharing your observations on the positive energy of gratitude and how it seems to multiply goodness when you observe all that you have to be grateful for – I have witnessed this sweet ‘magic trick of the universe’ myself and can attest to the truth of it
And I love love LOVE your idea to share the pages from the heart book with others in the world! Perhaps you could mail one to someone I know who could use a lift? I will email you soon to make my request and provide an address =)
Thank you for sharing your own light in this world Deborah! It is good to know that there are pockets of goodness and love and warmth to bask in during difficult times in the world and you certainly provide that here in your blog <3
Oh Monica – your kind words really touch my heart – thank you! And of course I’d be delighted to send out a little heart message at your request. wishing you plenty of joy and peace and ease!