A million years ago, we used to use Microsoft Encarta for “online” research (please tell me you remember this?). One of its most exciting features was a sound clip library (as YouTube was not a thing) and for fun and relaxation I used to cycle through the entire library on a Sunday afternoon (national anthems, etc.). That is how I know a random assortment of poems and such: “Us Too,” by A. A. Milne, “Harlem,” by Langston Hughes, and the supposed Latin inscription on King Arthur’s tomb. But a line from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 comes to mind today: “And summer’s lease hath all too short a date…”
Here we are in the second half of summer! Halfway points are a nice place to regroup, so might I suggest that if you haven’t yet designed your summer, you do it here?
A catch-up from my week:
I did a Big Training (25 hours), which was truly an amazing experience for a few reasons. I learned a lot and think it really helped me develop as a clinician. I also met amazing people and got tons of time off work which felt like a mini-vacation. I must share that the frum community has so many committed, humble, able, kind clinicians. I feel like only a small percentage get a lot of publicity between social media etc., but I met so many people with so much to learn from.
Synchronicity: There was a reference to Eugene Gendlin in the training. Third time in two weeks! And a woman in the training mentioned that she had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Maybe I will ask her about it one day. (It is on my list after all).
Artist Date: I went to Scandinavia House one evening after work and saw an exhibit of Nordic-inspired art from the Upper Midwest, and (this was really what the evening was all about) a screening of a documentary called Folktales. This was beautiful and life-affirming and made me laugh and cry (a lot). Afterwards, the filmmakers answered questions and it was fascinating, I just love hearing about the creative process and wish I could have stayed until the very end but had to catch a train.
I’m currently reading Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Oof.
Substack fed me a few posts this week and they must be shared with you: First, social connection is one of the most important ingredients for mental health and happiness, and this essay with accompanying spreadsheet really warmed my heart. (I would love to keep this on the back burner for one day, one day trying to replicate this streak.)
And these two adorable links to make you smile: ladies’ swim and enterprising seagull (seriously, both very much worth the click).
Thank you for reading! Have a beautiful Shabbos!
(Photo credit: Engin Akyurt/Pexels)
