A collective lack of empathy and critical thinking is tearing our country at the seams. We can and must do better. Empathy and critical thinking reinforce and strengthen one another. The lack of either undermines the other as well. Empathy is the ability to recognize the emotions or feelings of another person, even if you […]
Writers are influenced and shaped by the literature of other writers. And while the books of one’s youth and young adulthood are most prominent in this formation process, writers continue to grow and evolve across a lifetime as they discover additional literature. These are the authors who have especially shaped me and continue to do […]
My favorite female writers span several genres, and each woman has distinguished herself as a master of her craft. If the ones who are still living got together to form their own literature faculty, the school would be without rival: Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance, True Refuge, and Radical Compassion Toni Morrison, author of Beloved […]
As you ponder your obligatory 2019 “New Year Resolutions,” consider a helpful alternative from Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Work Week. In his latest newsletter, Ferriss advises readers to embrace a “past year review,” or “PYR,” instead, which he asserts is “more informed, valuable, and actionable than half-blindly looking forward with broad resolutions.” Here’s […]
2018 gave us a record number of women getting elected to higher offices. It also gave us some incredible books that will help generations of women for years to come, as women and their male allies continue to fight back against a persistent patriarchal culture. Here’s five of the best: Good and Mad: The Revolutionary […]
Did you catch the news this week? The plea deal for Baylor University fraternity president Jacob Walter Anderson is another egregious example of how our country continues to enable rape culture through its leniency on those convicted of this type of violence against women, especially if they are young white men of privilege. Despite decades of education about […]
One of the most important steps toward becoming an effective ally to people of color is recognizing and accepting our existing white privilege. This is not something to feel defensive or guilty about; more helpfully, it’s an awareness that can cultivate gratitude and a determination to help others receive the benefits of this privilege. Here’s […]
It’s tough to sort through all the reports and sound bytes concerning climate change. Therefore, anyone who wants to make specific choices related to this issue needs objective facts and data to fall back on when emotional rhetoric makes everyone more overwhelmed and frustrated. There’s so much wisdom being overlooked in this discussion. For example, […]
TED Talks are not only filled with incredible content, but they’re a model of what effective public speaking and presentation can look like. I’d recommend that you watch 2-3 per week. Meanwhile, here’s a link to all of the best TED Talks on inclusion and feminism. And from this list, three of my favorites: Chimamanda […]
What does it mean to be a “mindful ally” to women? Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of “paying attention on purpose” to what’s happening inside of you and around you, moment by moment, so that you become progressively more deliberate, compassionate, and effective in the choices you make. I believe that men who practice mindfulness […]