Life is hard and full of problems to be solved. How do we handle those obstacles? We keep a toolbox handy. Not one full of hammers and drill bits - though that’s totally cool to have - but one full of tools to help us get through the day. Whether that’s in the form of media, coping strategies, role models, or beliefs.
Here’s what’s in our toolbox this month:
Podcasts:
Rookie: Tavi Gevinson, creator of Rookie Mag, hosts with interview from famous folks (Winona Ryder and Lorde have both been guests so far!) with advice on life and growing up as a girl.
Streaming:
Dear White People (Netflix) - based on the movie, this Netflix series is absolutely incredible. Every episode will have you laughing while keeping you woke. DWP is here to tackle injustice, and is a great way to start a conversation about privilege. With ten half-hour long episodes, it’s totally binge-able.
Books:
milk and honey by Rupi Kaur - a gorgeous collection of poems and illustrations. She started on Instagram, and her voice has since become the voice of a generation.
Music:
Harry Styles - Sign of the Times (single): PSA, don’t discredit musicians just because they’re in a boyband.
Head and the Heart - Stinson Beach Sessions (album): Get your fix of indie-folk goodness from the band’s latest album, which features previously unreleased demos of some of their best songs.
Jamila Woods - HOLY (single): The singer, who has been featured in the likes of Macklemore’s White Privilege II, has released a gorgeous, soulful self-love anthem.
Icons:
Sally Yates: The former acting AG was fired by Trump for standing up against injustice. She recently testified in a Senate hearing regarding Trump’s ties to Russia, and was the definition of empowered. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia’s School of Law, and became the first woman to serve as a US Attorney in Georgia’s Nothern District when Obama appointed her in 2010. She’s not on social media, but be sure to follow her story in the news - she’s going places!
Life Skills:
Hospitality - as summer approaches, things are beginning and ending. But we’re not talking hospitality as in hotels and travel. Radical hospitality is the notion of extending invitations and welcome beyond the usual. Maybe that means taking the time to invite the new girl to hang out with your friend group this summer. Maybe it means opening up a spare room to someone who needs a place to stay. Maybe it’s as simple as helping someone feel a little less lonely. In times where it’s easy to exclude others, be the sort of person who welcomes them in. And allow others to do the same for you.