I can’t think of a better year to celebrate International’s Friendship Day! No doubt our friends have helped us keep our heads above water in these difficult COVID times. Be sure to let your friends know how much you appreciate them today.
Melinda
My journey continues as I look for reasons for the ongoing hair loss and what can be done to slow the process down. Here are the steps taken since my last post.
I started taking a Bioton supplement on July 26th after reading the number of positive reviews on Amazon. People mentioned stronger nails and less hair loss, even brighter skin after a month’s time. Stay tuned for my results.
I’ve bought a new flexible hairbrush at Amazon to help massage the scalp, you’ll read later how massage can help with hair growth. Now when I brush my hair, I can feel the hair coming out and have a better idea of the hair loss area, the upper back part of my scalp seems to be the area of most loss which is a common area for hair loss.
I have been using Flower Crown Hair Oil to massage into the scalp before washing. It contains Safflower, California Poppy, Violet Flower, Elder Flower, and Calendula infused Apricot Oil. The tonic can also be used on the ends of hair for nourishment. Rosemary also worked well to stimulate the scalp as well.
This pile did not sit well either, one week of picking up all that I could to show you how many hairs. It looks like more than 100 per day to me but I’m too impatient and frustrated to count.
Here’s what WebMD had to say about Biotin
Other Name/s:
Biotina, Biotine, Biotine-D, Coenzyme R, D-Biotin, Vitamin B7, Vitamin H, Vitamine B7, Vitamine H, W Factor, Cis-hexahydro-2-oxo-1H-thieno[3,4-d]-imidazole-4-valeric Acid.
Biotin is a vitamin. Foods such as eggs, milk, or bananas contain small amounts of biotin.
Biotin is used for biotin deficiency. It is also commonly used for hair loss, brittle nails, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
I’ve also found some interesting although unproven natural ways to keep hair healthy and to prevent hair loss Healthline.
Natural remedies for hair growth
Your hair is said to be your crowning glory, and it’s normal to want to improve your hair if it’s not to your satisfaction. If you’re trying to regrow hair that you’ve lost or would simply like to improve the hair that you have, try some of these natural remedies. Their proven benefits can help to stimulate growth and enhance the hair that you have.
Massaging the scalp can help to restore hair growth and can be used in conjunction with hair oils and masks. This stimulates the scalp and can improve hair thickness. Taking the time to massage your scalp each day can also help you relieve stress and tension. It’s thought that stretching forces during the massage encourage hair growth and thickness in the dermal papilla cells.
Aloe vera has long been used for treating hair loss. It also soothes the scalp and conditions hair. It can reduce dandruff and unblock hair follicles that may be blocked by excess oil. You can apply pure aloe vera gel to your scalp and hair a few times per week. You can also use shampoo and conditioner that contain aloe vera.
Coconut oil contains fatty acids that penetrate inside the hair shaft and reduce protein loss from hair. Coconut oil can be used either before or after you wash your hair depending on your hair type. If your hair tends to be oily, you can do a leave-in treatment overnight or for a few hours before you wash it. Massage coconut oil into your scalp and all of your hair. If your hair is dry, you can also use it as a leave-in treatment. There needs to be more research on coconut oil as a promoter of hair growth, but it’s been shown to improve the health and luster of hair and has been used for centuries.
Viviscal is a natural hair-growth supplement that promotes hair growth in people with thinning hair. It contains a marine complex known as AminoMar C. This is made of minerals, vitamins, and shark and mollusk powder. These ingredients help to regenerate new cells and strengthen existing cells. You have to take the pills twice a day for at least six months in order to see results. Viviscal also makes a shampoo and conditioner.
Consuming omega fatty acids can help to improve your hair from the inside since they are filled with nutrients and proteins. Taking an omega supplement along with antioxidants helps to improve hair density and diameter. It also reduces hair loss. Omega fatty acids help your cells to work correctly and can boost immunity, leading to better overall health. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.
Taking ginseng supplements can promote hair growth by stimulating hair follicles. Ginsenosides are the active components of ginseng and are thought to be responsible for its positive effect on hair. Always take as directed and be sure to check for any possible side effects.
If you can handle the smell of onion juice, you may find that the benefits are worth it. Onion juice has been shown to successfully treat patchy alopecia areata by promoting hair growth. Onion juice is also thought to improve circulation. Animal studies show improved keratin growth factor and blood flow to the cuticles. You can blend a few onions and squeeze out the juice. Apply the juice to your scalp and hair and leave in for at least 15 minutes. Then shampoo normally.
Rosemary is one of the first essential oils people choose to promote hair growth and reduce hair loss. Rosemary oil stimulates new hair growth and can be used to treat androgenetic alopecia. Mix a few drops of rosemary oil into a carrier oil and massage it into your hair and scalp before rinsing. Do this a few times per week. Add a few drops of rosemary oil into your shampoo and conditioner on a daily basis. Do not use essential oils directly on the skin. Always mix them in a carrier oil or shampoo.
You can use geraniumTrusted Source oil to promote hair growth and boost circulation. Mix a few drops into a carrier oil and use it to make a hair mask. You can also add a few drops to your shampoo and conditioner. Geranium oil can help to strengthen, hydrate, and restore your hair.
You can use fresh lemon juice or lemon oil since they are said to enhance hair quality and growth. Lemon oilTrusted Source can help you to maintain a healthy scalp and encourage hair growth. Apply fresh lemon juice to your scalp and hair 15 minutes before you shampoo. You can use lemon essential oil diluted in a carrier oil as a hair mask.
If you want to improve your hair, come up with a plan, and stay consistent. Remember that the treatments may take a few months to yield noticeable results. Be creative with the remedies and mix them up as much as you like.
It’s important that you take time each day to focus on nourishing your hair to get the luscious locks you want. Taking this step and practicing self-care will be extra beneficial if your hair loss is related to any emotional or stress-related issue. Stay positive and do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will complement your hair treatment plan.
I’ve used Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Conditioner in the past for the scalp but not sure how Tea Tree fits in with hair growth or loss. I know it keeps the scalp clean which can open hair follicles and help hair grow. Apple Cider Vinegar can also help clean the hair of build-up and clean the scalp, that’s an old trick I learned from my granny.
I would love to hear what you’ve tried and what has worked. Next week I look at specific conditions for cause hair loss like alopecia.
Melinda
Vacuumed kitchen and dining room.
Mopped kitchen.
Applied cuticle cream twice.
Vacuumed part of the living room, still need to clean the floor.
Potted two house plants.
Enjoyed a candle for a few minutes.
Emptied dishwasher.
Woke up 4:00 A.M. with the puppy.
Haven’t taken a nap.
I cleaned up but no shower, those hospital towelettes sure come in handy, hair still in a ponytail.
Took my morning meds.
Washed face twice.
Emptied bathroom trash.
Brushed teeth twice.
Played with dogs, felt like forever!
Went to Starbucks for a cold coffee with my husband.
I’m exhausted at 2:30 P.M.
This is an exceptional day! I set my goals at a realistic level this week and am working at breaking them down. Today is Tuesday and I’m ahead of schedule. The new puppy is exhausting but he brings so much joy and laughs.
I don’t always give myself credit for all the little tasks and tend to focus on the bigger things which make me feel like I haven’t accomplished much. All task add up even on the worst days, everything adds up to an accomplishment.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Melinda
Happy Wednesday! So glad you stopped by today I appreciate you. Have an awesome day! This week I share some photos from around the back yard. The birds and bees are loving the flowers and seeding basil, the rosemary has grown so much this summer and the tomatoes are wrapping up their season.
Melinda
Get to know some of the speakers and presenters at next month’s official WordPress.com conference from August 11-13.
Industry Experts and Pro Bloggers Come Together to Inspire, Teach, and Help You (and Your Site) Succeed — The WordPress.com Blog
Survivors Blog Here is celebrating our six anniversary with a big celebration! Come by, say hello, browse and read a few posts while enjoying the refreshments. We could not have made this journey without the thousands of guests on our site. I want to thank each of you and let you know you’ve made an […]
Survivors Blog Here Celebrates Six Anniversary With Open House! Stop By For Refreshments — Survivors Blog Here
Stacey Chapman has this great page she put together of her favorite chronic illness Bloggers and I’m so humbled to be on the list. I want to call attention to her blog and to the other great writers you may not have discovered yet. Please check out the bloggers she has listed and most of all follow her. You will not be disappointed, Stacey is a shining light in life.
Stacey is positive about life, no matter how many things are stacked on her plate outside of her own health concerns. Right now she is helping her son who had a terrible accident and had to move home for assistance. I know her well enough to know, she will not take time for self-care because she is so dedicated to her family.
Please send her a note of good wishes and encourage her to take five-ten minutes for herself, just to smell a candle, take a hot bath that smells out of this world, or just go outside by herself to think of her life. To think of life after this chaos, to her normal level of living.
Stacey holds a special place in my heart.
Melinda
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Long before I began blogging, I was following Blogs about Chronic Illness, Fibro and CFS/ME. Over the years, I have come across some really great Blogs and met some really great Bloggers. So I wanted to introduce you to them. I am so grateful to have found a plethora of information and encouragement, over the years, from great people like them.
**UPDATE**: The great thing about the blogging world is the support that comes with finding people who live with similar challenges. We know and understand what it is to live like this, when often, others cannot. We may have experienced the same symptoms and can offer advice or suggestions. Sometimes, it simply comes down to the ability to make connections again, after many of us have had to abandon our careers. After nearly a year of being part of this blogging world, I am happy to have met even more awesome bloggers and friends than when I originally wrote this post. As such, I felt it was a great time to add a few names to my already awesome list:
Jayne, at See Jayne Run, holds a special place in my heart. She is full of life and personality and happens to swear as much as I do! Despite all she has lived with and endured, she still keeps a positive and hopeful outlook on life. Which, as we all know, can sometimes be super challenging. Jayne writes a super eloquent Blog at: https://seejaynerun.com/
Terri writes at: https://reclaiminghopecoaching.com/ Terri has been living with Fibro since 2012 and has been writing for nearly three years. I really love hearing from Terri through blogging. She writes positive, helpful posts and takes ownership of having once lost hope in her battle; something we can pretty much all, sadly, relate to.
Pamela Jessen writes about Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue and Invisible Illnesses on her Blog; which covers alot of territory! She is a prolific volunteer and is incredibly involved in the chronic illness community, offering a voice for those of us so often underrepresented. Find Pamela’s blog here: https://pamelajessen.com/
Meet Caz at InvisiblyMe-you will absolutely love her!! Caz is 30, has been sick for 11 years and blogs about a myriad of conditions and living life positively with them. You can feel that same positivity and warmth in every exchange you have with Caz. You can check out her Blog here:
https://invisiblyme.com/
Kim at I Tripped Over a Stone was one of the very first Bloggers that welcomed me to the Blogging world with open arms and really encouraged me. Kim is a veteran spoonie and aside from writing her blog, maintains a Facebook page and has written a book about Fibro. Please find Kim here, I’m sure she’ll be just as warm to you:
https://itrippedoverastone.com/
Melinda is another Blogger who has been super welcoming and supportive. The thing about Melinda is this: she’s fiesty!! Watch out!! Despite Melinda suffering from multiple health issues, she still finds the time to be positive and occasionally silly. Melinda blogs in a couple places. You can find her here:
https://lookingforthelight.blog/ and here:
https://survivorsbloghere.wordpress.com
Lee Good was my very first Pinterest follower and every exchange I’ve had with her has been really great! She has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to Blogging. Lee has her own Blog:
http://www.fibrofiles.net/p/about.html but Lee also manages The Fibro Blogger Directory here:
http://www.fibrobloggerdirectory.com/p/directory.html The great thing about Lee’s directory is that you can find great Fibro Bloggers from around the world conveniently listed in Lee’s directory.
Claire Saul writes at PainPals Blog. Claire has an award winning Blog and does a great roundup of inspiring weekly blog posts on Mondays. This Monday Magic gives one an opportunity to check out other great blogs, besides Claire’s. But make sure not to skip over her great content! Find Claire here:
https://painpalsblog.com/
Michelle writes at The Zebra Pit. What I really love about Michelle’s Blog is that it is super diverse and covers not only Chronic Illness, but also touches upon Mental Health, recipes and health and wellness. Michelle is also super personable and sweet!! Check out Michelle’s Blog here: https://zebrapit.com/
While I haven’t had any specific interactions with the Bloggers who write these Blogs, I have found their Blogs to be very informative! I imagine these Bloggers are just as awesome as their content. Check them out!
If I have forgotten you, please forgive me, this is a dynamic page and will be updated and added to accordingly! I find and meet great Bloggers every day! ❤ Stace
June 3, 2020
CBD has revolutionized modern medicine by transforming the way human illnesses have additional treatment options. However, a common question persists on everyone’s mind, whether the same applies to animals or not. To the question posed above, the answer is yes. Let us explore how CBD has been able to enunciate its potential benefit on animals.
Similarities between pets and humans
Apart from both being mammals, many physical similarities are prevalent between a human being and an animal.
Several studies have supported the strong impact of CBD on several pets, including cars, dogs, birds, and horses. The effects have resulted in benefiting animals in a similar manner in which it has helped us, humans. Moreover, it is entirely safe for pets as most of the animals have an Endocannabinoid system which facilitates a safer CBD consumption. In addition to being safe, it also benefits the regulatory system in the body.
Do cats feel apprehensive?
Contrary to what our normal perceptions might seem like, reports say that cats do experience anxiety. One of the common reasons for anxiety accounted for them being separated from their owner when they go through separation anxiety. CBD is a potential healthy alternative to several conventional methods that aid in controlling this stress. It helps to be far more effective as compared to other drugs that can further lead to causing side effects.
Do dogs experience anxiety?
Dogs, one of the most common pets across households, have also been reported to experience anxiety. The last century has witnessed countless studies completed to evaluate the impact of stress on dogs. Results confirm that dogs, too, feel stressed, similar to that of human beings because of the presence of cortisol, the same component causing stress in humans.
Cortisol further imposed an increasingly harmful effect with ‘Cushing’s Disease,’ a disease that became prevalent among K-9s at a high level. The growing passage of time has been able to introduce CBD towards regulating bodily functions that have reduced cortisol levels among dogs. CBD assists by relaxing the brain out while incorporating a balanced diet.
Nauseous horses
Similar to cats and dogs, horses too can experience nausea, which can weaken their daily functioning ability. Nausea is primarily caused due to several gastrointestinal problems that lead to several physical concerns, such as the following:
One of the best ways to treat the concern is through initiating CBD that aims to relax the gut microbiome while regulating the gastrointestinal tract.
Treating inflammation
Each animal tends to experience a certain degree of inflammation. Massive animals, such as horses and cows, can experience painful joints. With inflammation being the primary cause of arthritis, it links to several single diseases.
CBD has the potential to combat the inflammation caused and has also managed to reduce it with repeated dosage further. Arthritis can be treated efficiently with the help of CBD, as compared to severe pain medications that had caused dampening long term side effects.
Cancer: The Key Murderer
Cancer is another common disease among individuals that have also worked its way to affecting animals. It works by multiplying the cells of the body, which gathers in a specific location that spreads eventually throughout the body.
As a result, the functioning of the motor skills tends to slow down with the insides beginning to deteriorate with time and exacerbating the issue, especially if not diagnosed and treated early. There have been a million researches conducted on cancer with the help of science, and CBD has proved to be one of the essential components showing a direct impact on removing cancer cells efficiently. It gets attached to the cells receptors while altering the mitochondria that results in the cell breakdown.
Pets affected with cancer treatment
While the strategy might not be a 100% proven one, however CBD mixed with other treatments has the potential to eradicate the cancer cells. Moreover, pets have also shown fewer side effects because of the component’s potential ability to regulate the functions in the body.
Does it sound way too dreamy?
Everything that is trending might not be accurate. However, occasionally a fundamental discovery might come in the way that has the potential to redefine the present. The statement made is what CBD stands for, which brings along the potential to treat humans, animals, and pets with a varied array of ailments with little or no side effects. Bid farewell to see your pets suffering from illnesses such as anxiety, stomach pain, stress, and others.
Dawn of a new beginning
CBD, with its tremendous physical benefits, have been able to alter the landscape of medicine within a shorter time. Although the previous studies limited due to backward regulations, there is still an abundance of knowledge waiting for us to explore. With the help of legalization incorporation across the US, scientists have been able to test CBD along with individuals treating themselves and their furry members suffering from several health diseases.
A Celebration for animal kind
Animals cases reported showing extreme signs of depression that has further made them lazy and de-motivated to be the cheerful self they are. Extreme examples of elephants hurling themselves on the floor while feeling low, pigs, seen crying due to the death of their siblings or friends.
CBD, in addition to revolutionizing physical health, also has been able to combat depression, not just limited to humans but also animals. With medicines proliferating the depression, even more, CBD has managed to offer a sigh of relief to animals without posing dampening side effects.
There’s a grave in Dozenhem military cemetery where the inscription on the headstone reads: “G. Blacker. Somerset light Infantry. 9th August 1917. Age 39”. This man existed, and he mattered. This man was a member of our family. He died for his country in World War 1. And like the others who are buried there […]
You Matter — Don’t Lose Hope
So glad you joined me this weekend, I hope you’re doing great! I’m sharing a new tune from Kenny Chesney called We Do. It’s a great anthem and has a great summer beat. I like the line “Who gets to live like we do?” No one gets to live like we do!!!!!!!
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Happy Friday! I am so glad you stopped by today. Covid-19 is increasing in numbers in many countries, we are depending on the actions of each other to survive this pandemic. Please wear a mask. Have a great weekend!
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
The photo I’ve been using was old, back when I was younger and believe much prettier, but reality can burn sometimes. Fifteen years, anti-psychotic medications and chronic illness has changed my looks.
I have always been comfortable with how I looked. That is until three years ago when I gained over 40 pounds from taking a new medication for my Bipolar Disorder. Anyone who takes medications for mental illness can relate to this amount of weight gain in a month’s time.
I write openly, honestly, and from my heart. I have taken many photos over the past couple of months looking for one I could live with. This is the best one so far. It will probably not be the last one. I want you to see the face behind the blog.
Re-energize, Re-generate, and Seek Wellness
Melinda
I’m reviewing Aromalief Hemp Pain Relief, Hemp 1000MG as a member of Chronic Illness Bloggers.
I was thrilled to find the product is cruelty-free, vegan, PETA approved, and in a relaxing Lavender scent. I have not tried Hemp cream products before because of the smell and was eager to see how well the cream worked.
This post may contain affiliate links in which I earn a small commission. They don’t cost you extra to use and help fund my coffee habit.
Here’s some information about Aromalief
What about the safety of the product?
Aromalief is made in an FDA registered facility and each ingredient has a Safety Data Sheet and Certificate of Analysis. We buy only high-quality ingredients from reputable suppliers and do our own internal testing for everyone’s peace of mind.
How do you make sure Aromalief is Vegan and Cruelty-free?
Every ingredient that we source comes with a written letter from the ingredient manufacturer that the product does not contain any animal ingredients and that they do not test it on animals. The manufacturing line also has a strict vegan-only policy. Aromalief is proud to have PETA’s Vegan & Cruelty-free designation.
What type of pain is Aromalief good for?
Pains of the body and the soul. This includes muscle, joint, nerve, and chronic pains PLUS stress, anxiety, and sadness. Our ingredients are the best in the market to help relieve pain due to arthritis, back pain, herniated discs, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and more. If your type of pain isn’t listed here, we still encourage you to try it. If it doesn’t help you, then simply return it. Have a little faith and try Aromalief.
The cream has a subtle lavender and menthol scent, not overpowering. I have slightly sensitive skin and the cream didn’t cause any sensitivity. There are other scents available that I have not tried. I love this one and keep buying this scent, I need to give another scent a try.
It rubs in quickly, no greasy fingers on the keypad. It has a warming sensation that eases inflammation. I focused on three areas, neuropathy in my feet, sore shoulder muscles, and arthritis in my hands.
Right away I noticed a difference in my feet, they could touch each other without pain. It lasted long enough for me to go to sleep. My shoulders are always tense and I have a problem relaxing at night. I used the cream on my worst shoulder and it did warm up the muscles helping me to relax and sleep.
The thing I love the most about the cream is how well it worked on arthritis in my fingers, I also noticed neuropathy relief in hands. The fact that the cream dries enough to get right back on the computer is a huge bonus.
I have already bought six tubes to make part of my daily self-care routine. Aromalief is a great everyday hand cream too. There are several scents to try, it’s made in The USA and is women-owned. Let’s support our women-owned business when possible.
A special thank you to Annabel at Aromalief and Chronic Illness Bloggers.
In health,
Melinda
This study drives home all the horror stories I’ve been hearing from my fellow chronic pain sufferers.
Texas Ambassador Melinda Sandor
This population is at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 and must limit contact, but they also live with painful conditions that require regular medical care.
In order to better understand the challenges the pain community is facing and find ways to help, U.S. Pain Foundation recently conducted a survey of 664 individuals with pain about the impact of COVID-19.
The data, published in an April 15 report, highlights several concerning trends.
I have determined my hair loss is due to a number of factors, age, post-menopausal, genetics, and several medications that are taken. There isn’t anything I can do to change the amount of hair falling out but keep my scalp clean in order to keep the follicles open instead of clogged, preventing hair growth.
One change for my scalp is since the weather heated up is I’ve been wearing my hair in a ponytail with bobby pins. I’ll have to start counting to see if more than 100 hairs a day.
Here’s some interesting information from WebMD http://www.webmd.com that might help you better understand your hair loss factors and what you can do to help prevent future loss.
Hair grows everywhere on the human skin except on places like the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet, our eyelids and belly buttons, but many hairs are so fine they’re virtually invisible. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin that is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of skin. As follicles produce new hair cells, old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of about six inches a year. The hair you can see is actually a string of dead keratin cells. The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses up to 100 of them a day; finding a few stray hairs on your hairbrush is not necessarily cause for alarm.
At any one time, about 90% of the hair on a person’s scalp is growing. Each follicle has its own life cycle that can be influenced by age, disease, and a wide variety of other factors. This life cycle is divided into three phases:
As people age, their rate of hair growth slows.
In my next post, I look at what natural remedies are out there for hair loss.
Re-energize, Re-generate, and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Happy Wednesday! So glad you stopped by today I appreciate you. Have an awesome day! I have more animal antics this week.
The great view from my kitchen window provides me with many hours of enjoyment.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Anxiety affects more people than you might realize. Now that mental health is becoming less stigmatized, it’s becoming more normal for people to talk about their anxiety and put it out there in the open. But just because more people are talking about it, doesn’t mean that coping with anxiety itself is getting any easier.
Unpredictable and at times, crippling, anxiety affects people in different ways. Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, but there are some things you can do every day to help you help your anxiety and help you regain your calm.
Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons
Never underestimate the power of focused breathing. Focusing on even, steady breaths when you’re feeling anxious could help you bring your heart rate down and help you clear your mind to give your attention to the task at hand. Many people find the 4-7-8 breathing technique useful for this. Taking some slow deep breaths can have an instant effect, so try practicing measured breathing to help you in the future.
If something is making you anxious, it can help you get some clarity to write it down – especially if something is overwhelming or you can’t make sense of it. People use writing as a way to cope with difficult experiences, and it can be used to tackle everyday thoughts and feelings too. Even if you just write something down on your phone, you could feel better once you’ve got it all out.
There are different remedies that can help you deal with anxiety. Many people use aromatherapy as a way to promote calm, while otc anxiety treatments can also be effective for some sufferers. Always seek medical advice before taking supplements, especially if you’re taking medication, but some natural supplements could be effective for helping you to manage your anxiety.
Exercise has many benefits for your health, and it can be great for your mental health. When you’re feeling a wave of anxiety coming on, or you’re dealing with a stressful situation, try exercising. There are some excellent short yoga routines for dealing with anxiety that could help you regain your center and help you relax too. Regular exercise is important, but it’s good to know where to find some short routines you can do as and when you need them.
Going for a run or a short walk can also be good alternatives to yoga, helping you get out in the fresh air and enjoy a change of scenery.
Anxiety brings many different challenges, but finding ways to cope can help you when you feel an attack coming on. While not every method will work for you, there are some simple but effective tips you can try to help you find what works best for you. Don’t let your anxiety beat you; make sure you get the help you need to overcome it.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
We often forget how polluted our indoor air is, it’s not the same reminder we get while looking at the air over the city. I have several air purifiers in the house since the air in the closet large city can get quite bad.
After finding the information on how house plants clean the indoor air on Pinterest, it made me think about the air quality where I lived, real-time. I was pleasantly surprised considering it’s close to 100 degrees F.
This is a graph is from aqicn.org/statistics/, this is a few examples for Texas where I live in America. The closest airport to me is Denton Airport South, Texas.
| Worst Air Quality Stations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Eagle Pass, Laredo, Texas on 2020-07-20 06:00:00 |
87 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Port Arthur Memorial School, Beaumont, Texas on 2020-07-20 06:00:00 |
82 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Montg, Alabama, USA on 2020-07-20 07:00:00 |
77 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
World Trade Bridge, Laredo, Texas on 2020-07-20 06:00:00 |
75 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Old Hwy 90, San Antonio, Texas on 2020-07-20 07:00:00 |
75 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Lynn Water Treatment Plant on 2020-07-20 06:00:00 |
74 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Maspeth, New York, USA on 2020-07-20 03:00:00 |
73 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
|
Denton Airport South, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas on 2020-07-18 00:00:00 |
72 | Fri 1706 AM12 PM06 PMSat 1806 AM12 PM06 PMJul 1906 AM12 PM |
I have two pets and won’t be able to incorporate one of these into my air cleaning methods, good thing I have air purifies.
Please keep in mind several of these plants are poisonous to pets. Plants are a natural air cleaner that doesn’t cost anything except the initial investment and your time.
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Forest Folk Fungi Loin’s Mane and Mushroom Drops http://forestfolkfungi.com
In Chinese medicine, Lion’s Mane has traditionally been considered a tonic for the stomach and digestive processes. Because so much of our neurobiology lives in our gut, when we strengthen our mucosal immunity our mood and emotional balance respond. Lion’s mane’s blessings travel the pathway of the vagus nerve, lighting up our gut-brain connection.*
Urban Moonshine Immune Tonic Drops http://urbanmoonshine.com
An herbal tonic that combines immune-toning herbs and medicinal mushrooms traditionally used to support optimal immune function.*
Taste worst than my gramps real moonshine so it must work, right?
Roots Mushroom Farm Oyster Mushrooms in a Box http://rootmushroom.com
Open box, spray, put the plastic tent on, and in seven days start to see mushrooms grow.
Levoit Air Purifier
Bought on Amazon thru a recommendation from The Zebra Pit Check out her post.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
I’ve had an awesome birthday! First off, I woke up today!, that’s always a great start. Friday we adopted a pound puppy, and my husband bought me a beautiful Orchid.
I’m in a great place at 57 and look forward to more fun filled years ahead. Thanks for being apart of my journey.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Happy Friday! I am so glad you stopped by today. Covid-19 is increasing in numbers in many countries, we are depending on the actions of each other to survive this pandemic. Please wear a mask. Have a great weekend!
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Ingredients
1 Avocado
1/2 teaspoon Honey
1/2 teaspoon Lemon Juice
Directions
Mash an avocado thoroughly with 1/2 teaspoon of honey and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.
The avocado moisturizes the skin, while the honey and lemon work in tandem, suctioning as a skin brighter. At the end of a 20-minute session,, the skin appears more nourished with a radiant glow.
Benefits
Great for treating sensitive, dry or acne prone skin.
Enhances skin elasticity.
Reverses effects of aging.
Suitable for all skin types.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
I’m working on a post about hair loss after this shocking discovery from washing my hair yesterday. I now have medium length hair and it was brushed before my shower, this amount of hair loss doesn’t make sense. I’ve known about my hair loss for some time but yesterday’s discovery was a slap in the face.
I’m working on a post about what in the world is going on with my hair loss and with hair loss in general. I know many of you can relate and I want your feedback. Leave me your thoughts and feedback about your own hair loss story.
I want to learn from this and be able to share my journey with you. So get ready to share your story.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Happy Wednesday! So glad you stopped by today I appreciate you. Have an awesome day!
He finds the bath, then it’s splash time!
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
Thank you for nominating me for Hilarious Patient Leader in the 9th Annual WEGO Health Awards. I’m humbled by your outpouring of support for Looking for the Light.
Want to vote for me? Here’s how https://www.wegohealth.com/87797365
I would be honored if you voted for me. Voting is open until the end of July.
Re-energize, Re-generate and Seek Wellness
Melinda
The WEGO Health Awards program was created to recognize and honor those making a difference in the online health community. Since its inception in 2011, the WEGO Health Awards have proven to be one of the best ways to celebrate the patient advocates, influencers and collaborators sharing their story and raising awareness for their communities. Last year alone, we celebrated over 6k nominees!
This year’s winners will receive:
Still have questions about the program? Click here to get your answers!
There are many ways for nominees to get involved in the WEGO Health Awards, and you’ll be hearing from us with more details soon. In the meantime, be sure to share your nomination with your community.
Congratulations!
The WEGO Health Team
By Erin Michael
June 26, 2020
More pregnant women and new mothers are experiencing anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to survey results published in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health.
Researchers surveyed 520 pregnant women and 380 women who had given birth in the last year. The participants — primarily from Canada — were recruited on social media from April 14 through May 8.
The survey included a questionnaire on self-reported depression and depressive symptoms, anxiety and physical activity before and during the pandemic.
When responding to questionnaires on depressive symptoms, 15% of women had scores indicating depression before the pandemic compared with 40.7% of women during the pandemic.
The survey also identified moderate to high anxietyin 29% of respondents before the pandemic and 72% of respondents during the pandemic.
According to the results, 64% of women reported that they had reduced their physical activity levels due to isolation measures, whereas 15% reported increased physical activity and 21% did not change their physical activity.
Researchers found that women who had at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week had significantly lower depression and anxiety scores compared with those who did not.
Margie H.Davenport
Healio Primary Care spoke with lead author Margie H. Davenport, PhD,director of the Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health and associate professor in the faculty of kinesiology, sport and recreation at University of Alberta, to learn more about the study and what physicians can do to combat depression and anxiety in pregnant women and new mothers.
A: We know that the social and physical isolation measures that are critically needed to reduce the spread of the virus are affecting mental health; however, during pregnancy, the development of depression and anxiety can have detrimental effects on the mental and physical health of both mother and baby that can persist for years. Our previous work has demonstrated that exercise during and following pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk for depression and depressive symptoms, but access to safe places to walk or other types of exercise are greatly reduced. We wanted to conduct this survey to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and physical activity of women during and following pregnancy.
A: We know that in nonpandemic times, 1 in 7 women experience depression and/or anxiety during the perinatal period. Although recall bias may have influenced the pre-pandemic results, the fact that 41% of women are experiencing depression and 72% moderate to high anxiety currently is substantially higher than we would expect.
A: It is critical to increase awareness of the impact of social (and physical) isolation on the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women. Speaking to patients about the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as continuing to ensure access to diagnosis and treatment of these conditions is a key step in supporting women through a healthy pregnancy.
A: The closures of indoor recreation centers and outdoor parks have increased some barriers to physical activity during the pandemic. However, encouraging outdoor walking or online fitness classes can be feasible options to engage in physical activity while continuing to adhere to public health recommendations for physical distancing. Extensive research supports the benefits of walking. Every minute counts!
A: Additional research needed to better understand how we can support the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women who are experiencing isolation — even in nonpandemic times — is critical. Working with women to develop supports and resources that fit with their needs — online support groups, better access to diagnosis and treatment, free perinatal fitness classes — is needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.pregnant womendepressionanxietycovid-19coronavirus
Additional information:
A mental health treatment center for women affirms this study, particularly in relation to their male counterparts. The Gooden Center found that “women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety,”
Women, the Gooden Center notes, are more prone to trauma, which is deeply interconnected with depression and anxiety along with stress. Complications with trauma, depression and anxiety go much deeper than a lower quality of life. It can lead to reduced life expectancy, life-threatening health complications and suicide.
If you need help please consider anxiety therapy, where there is life there is hope.
Melinda
IDEAS.TED.COM
Jul 2, 2020
A Bob Dylan Primer podcast
Hosted by Michael Hacker, this podcast is a personal guide to the strange and wonderful life and music of a transformer, a musician who’s transformed himself and the culture around him. As I grow older, his songs take on new meanings — “Goodbye’s too good a word … ”
– Uri Alon, TED Conversation: A COVID-19 “exit” strategy to end lockdown and reopen the economy
Balanced Black Girl podcast
Host Les Alfred has a voice that immediately calms me down. She usually starts out the podcast with breathing or with just taking one big breath. She relates typical struggles of everyday work-life balance and about what’s happening in the world that impacts Black America. Her podcast nourishes my mind and soul. I stop and just listen — no multitasking. I breathe when she breathes, I listen, and I think about the little nuggets I learned from the podcast throughout the day.
– Anastasia Penright, TED Talk: 5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work
Black Girl In Om podcast
This is my new favorite podcast! Host Lauren Ash has created an experience for Black womxn that is both nourishing and empowering. From episodes on mindful movement to womb wisdom, the show’s topics are always timely and relevant. Lauren’s calming voice is an added bonus and brings me back to center every time I listen. Black Girl in Om is now my go-to for wellness conversations.
– Ebony Roberts, TED Talk: How to co-parent as allies – not adversaries
Bringing Wellbeing To Life podcast
Dr. Denise Quinlan’s Irish lilt and encyclopedic knowledge of wellbeing makes her my favorite podcaster when it comes to resilience resources and building our personal and collective well-being. She gets globally valued guests and always manages to ask them all the right questions, not interrupting their flow.
– Lucy Hone, TED Talk: 3 secrets of resilient people
Code Switch podcast
In the present moment as our nation grapples again and again with its legacy of racial injustice, NPR’s Code Switch is a podcast produced by writers of color about contemporary and historic issues about race and discrimination, and how we, as a country, might find hope and move in a different and better direction.
– Laura Wright, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy?
The Happiness Lab podcast
This podcast, hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos (TED Talk: A monkey economy as irrational as ours), takes you through the latest happiness research and offers insightful anecdotes. It will make you feel differently about your day to day, especially during these up-and-down times.
– Catie Cuan, TED Talk: Teaching robots how to dance
The History of American Slavery podcast
This Slate podcast provides a detailed overview of the history of American slavery from multiple perspectives. Hosts Jamelle Bouie and Rebecca Onion interview scholars and explore topics rarely covered in school curriculum, allowing listeners to walk away with an enriched understanding of the American past. From stories of some of the first Africans to settle in what became the United States to the ways that African Americans experienced emancipation, this series provides a college-level understanding accessible to learners at any level. This series should be required listening for all Americans as we look toward addressing historic and contemporary problems of race, justice, freedom, and equality that challenge us even in this very moment.
– Daina Berry, TED-Ed Lesson: The electrifying speeches of Sojourner Truth
How I Built This podcast
This is a great podcast to tune into during your spare time. Hosted by Guy Raz, it dives into the stories of how innovators and entrepreneurs built the companies that started a movement. Some of the great companies nowadays weren’t started intentionally. We can all appreciate a successful company, but it’s the innovators’, entrepreneurs’ and idealists’ individual stories that are really the most alluring. Plus, it’s a great reminder to me to really appreciate my own story, because who knows what movement could spawn from it?
– Rob Cooke, TED Talk: The cost of work stress – and how to reduce it
How to Survive the End of the World podcast
This podcast, hosted by activists Adrienne Maree Brown and Autumn Brown, goes even beyond what the title promises. In conversation with each other and with other amazing activists, they reveal aspects of a world in collapse and show how these fractures can be transformed into opportunities for renewal.
– Yifat Susskind, TED Talk: In uncertain times, think like a mother
Lady Don’t Take No podcast
This personal podcast from Alicia Garza, a cofounder of Black Lives Matter, is full of laughs and love, bringing on guests whose contributions to the culture are meaningful while also lifting our spirits.
– Heather C. McGhee, TED Talk: Racism has a cost for everyone
Librivox audiobooks
I’m hugely grateful for the sustenance I’ve derived over the years from Librivox, a vast library of free, public-domain audiobooks read by generous volunteers. I often choose my books not by the author but by the reader, and one of my favorites is the late Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019), who seems to have been born to read Henry James aloud. I could graze all day on the wholegrain of Clifford’s genial tones, and I would never have thought that James’s infamously challenging “late style” could be so lucid, natural and human as it is in these recordings. Elizabeth Klett reading Nella Larsen is also outstanding.
– Sascha Morrell, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read Moby Dick?
Lore podcast
I’m a historic preservation nerd who lives in an allegedly haunted house with a spooky black cat, and I have a couple of friends who work with old art museums and galleries or in architectural restoration. And we’ve all got great stories. Give us some wine or whiskey, and we’re all in for a night of creepy tales about what happens in the creaking old buildings we love so much. In lockdown, I miss these nights dearly. But Lore, hosted by Aaron Mahnke, is a fitting substitute. Each episode rambles through a series of loosely connected stories about “the darker side of history,” but they’re told not in a way that’s meant to shock or gross out (as many modern horror movies do), but rather they’re meant to spin a great yarn. Campfires optional.
– Caroline McCarthy, TED Talk: How advertising is dividing us
Sean Carroll’s Mindscape podcast
This podcast is the place that I go to satisfy a craving for new, captivating ideas and mysteries in science, the arts, popular culture, history, philosophy and more. Sean Carroll interviews thinkers and doers in unexpected fields, ranging from poker psychology and ancient automatons to quantum physics and pandemics, and his thoughtful questions make each episode fulfilling with long-lasting nourishment for the intellect. You always feel smarter after listening to a Mindscape session!
– Adrienne Mayor, TED-Ed Lesson: Did the Amazons really exist?
The Moth podcast
We all share this human experience and to truly understand it with empathy and love, you simply have to listen to a person tell their own story in their own words. Like moths to a flame, we come for the warmth of togetherness. I have learned so much just listening to this podcast, and I always want more.
– Lee Thomas, TED Talk: How I help people understand vitiligo
Storytelling is such a powerful way to build empathy. I would go on walks, listen to The Moth and often cry while listening to these stories because of the humanity that is expressed. I love the wide breadth of lived experiences that are shared — from small experiences to large experiences and people from all walks of life.
– Sara Jones, TED Talk: Reclaiming my voice as a transracial adoptee
The Slowdown podcast
The Slowdown quite literally does what its name suggests — it helps you pause and take a moment to breathe. Each episode is short (just 5 minutes!) and simple. Poet Tracy K. Smith begins with reflecting upon recent happenings in her life, then reads out a poem in her calm, meditative voice. I find it a great way to take a break, feel the range of emotions and vivid imagination that poetry evokes, and discover new writers.
– Ananya Grover, TED Talk: A campaign for period positivity
The Writer’s Voice podcast and Fiction Podcast
Literary podcasts are a staple source of mental nutrition when I’m rushing around or mired in mindless tasks, and two best enjoyed together are The Writer’s Voice and the Fiction Podcast, both from The New Yorker magazine. The former features fiction from recent issues, read by the authors themselves, while the latter features writers choosing stories from back issues to read aloud and discuss with The New Yorker’s fiction editor, Deborah Treisman. I like to listen to an author’s new work in The Writer’s Voice in conjunction with that author’s reading of another’s work in The Fiction Podcast. For an appetizer, try Anne Enright reading her story “Night Swim” for The Writer’s Voice, then wash it down with her reading and discussion of John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” for the Fiction Podcast.
– Sascha Morrell, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read Moby Dick?
Touré Show podcast episode where Zadie Smith was interviewed
Zadie Smith, as journalist Touré notes, is the best at making being smart seem really cool. I got hooked on Zadie when I read her essay about the important differences between pleasure and joy. This interview with her makes me feel OK about interrogating my own thoughts, and she makes me want to read more to write more. She is brilliant and Touré is brilliant, and they talk about Jay-Z, writing, family, Nina Simone and the courage it takes to write with urgent integrity. The two of them share excitement over aesthetic risk in Touré’s Brooklyn apartment in a conversation that feels suspended in time.
– Sara Sanford, TED Talk: How to design gender bias out of your workplace
The Vedic Worldview podcast
Thom Knoles is my guru and the pre-eminent master teacher of Vedic Meditation, who has taught over 40,000 people around the world to meditate. His podcast is filled with knowledge about how to live life without suffering while pursuing your life’s path. Whether you meditate or not, his wise words and calming voice will put your mind at ease.
– Angel Chang, TED Talk: How ancient textiles can help the future
“What’s Going On” album
This timely classic album is rich with Marvin Gaye’s once-in-a-lifetime voice, sweeping sonic melodies, socially conscious lyrics, and spiritually hopeful musings. Released in 1971 (one year before I was born), it surprisingly sounds as if it was written for this very moment.
— Shaka Senghor, TED Talk: Why your worst deeds don’t define you
Fiction and poetry
The Epic of Gilgamesh
Almost 5,000 years old, the story of the Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh and his search for the secret of eternal life is the earliest human tale that we have. For anyone who thinks that only modern people can wrestle with difficult issues, this epic is a lesson in humility. Read the story of Gilgamesh with its timeless portrayal of the central issues of humanity — justice, violence, sex, love, friendship, power, death — and you’ll never look at the ancient world the same way again.
– Phillip Freeman, TED-Ed Lesson: A day in the life of an ancient Celtic Druid
“A Library of Babel”, a short story by Jorge Luis Borges (which can be found here)
It’s almost impossible to understand how vast our universe truly is but Argentine fabulist Jorge Luis Borges gave it a try. He dreamed up a library the size of the universe in one of his most extraordinary stories “The Library of Babel”. While employed as an assistant librarian, Borges imagined a Library “composed of an indefinite and perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries, with vast air shafts between, surrounded by very low railings.” Like the universe, this fantastic Escher-like structure is both vividly described yet impossible to imagine — a vast universe-as-library, thought to contain every possible 410-page permutation of a basic book structure, enough to express some version of every work ever written, and everything that ever could be. In a finite world, a cosmic perspective isn’t a luxury; it is a necessity. Conveying the vastness of our universe to the public is the real challenge faced by astronomers and writers alike.
– Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, TED Talk: Your body was forged in the spectacular death of stars
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Octavia Butler was so ahead of her time. Recommended to me by my good friend Dr. Shamell Bell, the world Octavia creates for the reader feels eerily like some serious foreshadowing of the 2020 world that we’re currently faced with.
– Joel Leon, TED Talk: The beautiful, hard work of co-parenting
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This is one of my absolute favorite fables to read at any time because of the relevance it has no matter where you are in life. It’s timeless. It is a book, to me, that has the power to leave anyone inspired and to those who aren’t, reflective and hopefully that will lead to inspiration. It continuously helps me reshape my perception of the tests and trials of life as necessary lessons that lead to self-discovery. A fantastic book on resiliency, reflection and growth.
– Rob Cooke, TED Talk: The cost of work stress – and how to reduce it
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
This novel provided me with a sense of perspective during the toughest days of lockdown this year, reminding me that, however bad we think it is, there are always those who have endured more.
– Lucy Hone, TED Talk: 3 secrets of resilient people
An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo
This beautiful collection of poetry paints a picture of who we are as Americans — but also who we could be — from the perspective of the first Indigenous US poet laureate.
– Yifat Susskind, TED Talk: In uncertain times, think like a mother
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Especially because I live in the city, I love finding books that transport me back to nature. I just began this one, and I’m loving it. It tells the story of Sophia, a six-year-old girl awakening to existence, and Sophia’s grandmother, nearing the end of hers, as they spend the summer on a tiny, unspoiled island in the gulf of Finland.
– Shantell Martin, TED Talk: How drawing can set you free
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
This novel is a truly great and terrifying telling of the life of Vlad Tepes, aka Count Dracula. Its plot is innovative and riveting. Combining history, science fiction and adventure, The Historian is not for the faint of heart, but it’s many steps above the gory nonsense of many modern-day horror stories. What if evil was as clear and simple as this story? Would life be easier?
– Georges C. Benjamin, TED Conversation: The secret weapon against pandemics
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives by Dan Millman
This book has been with me for many, many years, and it’s the first book I read that really forced me to take note of how the mind can be your greatest ally or foe. It also showed me to avoid too much attachment to material things and that achievements, that accomplishments alone won’t lead to a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life, and to take inventory of the simple things that I may be taking for granted. Ultimately, those tend to bring the most value. Given how the world has evolved so drastically nowadays, I’d wager it’s a book everyone can benefit from right now.
– Rob Cooke, TED Talk: The cost of work stress – and how to reduce it
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Richard Powers won the Pulitzer Prize for this massive novel about a group of initially unwitting activists fighting to save ancient redwoods in the Pacific Northwest. I teach environmental literature, and much of what I read and teach can be very depressing and apocalyptic. The Overstory, by contrast, is oddly hopeful, a novel about environmental destruction that nonetheless leaves the reader feeling some sense of comfort.
– Laura Wright, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read The God of Small Thingsby Arundhati Roy?
the Lithia Trilogy (Out of Breath, The Ghost Runner, The Last Mile) by Blair Richmond
I recommend this YA series about a 19-year-old long distance runner named Kat Jones and vampires. Oh, and they’re vegan vampires.
– Laura Wright, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read The God of Small Thingsby Arundhati Roy?
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I first read this novel in my late teens, and it manages to capture feelings of isolation, loneliness and a general sense of not fitting in. At the time, Holden seemed an unwitting, but appropriate, comrade who helped establish that periods of internal turmoil are actual, lived human experiences that we all have to go through and work on. I still think about the guy sometimes, along with other Holdens of the world, and wonder how they are holding up.
– France Villarta, TED Talk: The gender-fluid history of the Philippines
Ring of Stars by Richard Sanford
Full disclosure: I am related to the author, but I’d find this novel nourishing even if it wasn’t written by family. Ring of Stars is a story that we need. Written in 2012 as a futuristic novel, it now feels uncomfortably real. As violence, random and routine, fractures the US, the main character receives a vision. Outside of American towns that are burning like embers, he builds a safe haven: a classic drive-in theater, a circular wall bejeweled with mica and glass and shards of mirror. Standing up to the forces of our time, Sanford lights a way through the nation’s chaos, offering a glimpse of what many of us crave: shared space; safety in one another; fugitive hearts finding a place to rest.
– Sara Sanford, TED Talk: How to design gender bias out of your workplace
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I find myself re-reading Lord of the Rings when there is upheaval or change in my life. My parents read it to me as a child, and some combination of that and Tolkien’s gorgeous writing and fantasy land, good-versus-evil vibes help center me.
– Eric Sannerud, TED Talk: Without farmers, you’d be hungry, naked and sober
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
I was supposed to travel to Russia — it was going to be my first visit — but then the pandemic struck. So, I made do with this novel which took me to the Metropol hotel (and no, I wasn’t actually going to stay there). And while it was an excellent portrayal of the inside of the hotel, it was an even more excellent exploration of a host of social issues, including social isolation (an unfortunate reality for many pre-pandemic and for even more during the pandemic) and issues of class.
– Vinay Shandal, TED Talk: How conscious investors can turn up the heat and make companies change
The Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s political comic satire is about a fictional African nation, its megalomaniacal ruler and the toadies that cater to his every idiotic whim. Translated from Kikuyu, which is an oral and highly performative language, the narrative is expansive, magical and sprawling — more than 700 pages total. I haven’t taught it in about five years, but I keep thinking about it now because so much about it resonates with the current political situation in the US (watch, for example, Trevor Noah’s bit about Donald Trump being the perfect African president).
– Laura Wright, TED-Ed Lesson: Why should you read The God of Small Thingsby Arundhati Roy?
Fools Crow and The Heartsong of Charging Elk by James Welch
These are emotionally fulfilling adventures about individuals from Indigenous cultures dealing with colonial pressure. Welch, a Blackfeet novelist-poet and founder of the Native-American renaissance, was knighted by the French government. Fools Crow is set in Montana during the Indian Wars in the 1870s, while Charging Elk’s story, based on a real incident, follows an “escapee” from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show to a new life in Marseilles at the turn of the 19th century.
– Adrienne Mayor, TED-Ed Lesson: Did the Amazons really exist?
Nonfiction
“From the Pantry,” a New York Times column
Melissa Clark, cookbook author and chef, has been writing this excellent column. She shares adaptable and semi-improvised recipes that you can make with the ingredients at the front and back of your shelves. The olive and cheese loaf is divine!
– Catie Cuan, TED Talk: Teaching robots how to dance
People Not Property: Stories of Slavery in the Colonial North
This award-winning website is the perfect starting point to understand the history of slavery in the United States. It is rich with resources and interactive lessons for consumers of all ages. In addition to reenactments, short videos, historical documents and testimonies from enslaved people in the North, the site shows the ways in which slavery was not solely a Southern institution. The idea of looking at enslaved people as “people not property” is a simple reminder of the humanity of the enslaved.
– Daina Berry, TED-Ed Lesson: The electrifying speeches of Sojourner Truth
The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World by David Abram
How did Western culture become so alienated from the natural world? This truly unusual book explores the feeling of estrangement through a blend of intellectual history and ecological philosophy written in a way that would make Gabriel García Márquez proud. The author is a magician by training and uses mental sleight of hand to trick us into seeing nature holistically rather than through the typical Cartesian lens of mind-body dualism. In times of ecological and existential crisis, this book offers hope in the form of a changed perception of the environment and our relationship to it.
– Soraya Fiorio, TED-Ed Lesson: Who was the world’s first author?
The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor (TED Talk: The happy secret to better work)
This book reminds us that happiness is indeed the key to a successful life and high performance. Based on extensive research and mind-blowing studies, you’ll learn to understand the dynamics of success.
– Anna Piperal, TED Talk: What a digital government looks like
How China Escaped the Poverty Trap by Yuen Yuen Ang
My work is about how innovation can help people lead more prosperous lives. In How China Escaped the Poverty Trap, Yuen Yuen Ang writes brilliantly about the delicate and interdependent relationship between private markets and public bureaucracy as it relates to creating prosperity. At the core of Ang’s book and beyond the economic analysis, graphs and tables, is one word: Hope. Her book highlights the fact that large and small nations alike can develop, and billions of people can lift themselves out of poverty. Reading about the economic miracle that transformed the lives of close to one billion people gives me hope that our work can touch the lives of billions others who struggle daily to make ends meet.
– Efosa Ojomo, TED Talk: Reducing corruption takes a specific kind of investment
A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison by Dwayne Betts
Dwayne Betts writes about the impact of incarceration on Black men and how it ripples through the lives of the families that it impacts. He brings you through his own journey of incarceration and through his release, and he inspires me along the way with real stories that massage my desires to help create empathy in the world. He grew up in Suitland, Maryland, and smoked weed outside of a high school as his teachers watched with disappointment. Today he’s an attorney preparing to complete the PhD program at Yale Law. It’s pretty amazing.
– Marcus Bullock, TED Talk: An app that helps incarcerated people stay connected to their families
Love At Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection by Deborah Blum
I re-read this nonfiction book during quarantine, and while it isn’t new, it feels eerily relevant in a time when social distancing measures have forced us to pull away from the intimate human contact we all crave. It’s astonishing to think how in the early 20th century, the medical community discouraged affection between parents and children, believing it would lead to needy offspring. As a result, a shocking number of babies in orphanages, left alone and untouched, would simply die, apparently for lack of love. What finally overturned these beliefs was the research of Harry Harlow, who studied the effects of neglect on primates in the 1950s. The book traces how his experiments, now seen as problematic and cruel, were key to establishing the emotional and intellectual benefits of touch, revolutionizing the field of psychology and our understanding of nurturing. “If monkeys have taught us anything, it’s that you’ve got to learn how to love before you learn how to live,” he wrote. I find it especially striking that it was monkeys who helped us understand what it means to be human. And even more profound — the book ultimately challenges our cherished notion that we are anything but animals ourselves.
– Kat Mustatea, TED Talk: What is the value of art in an age of thinking machines?
It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron
In her latest book, Julia Cameron — the bestselling author of The Artist’s Way — takes you on a journey to reclaim the life you want to live. Although this book was originally written for those embarking on a second act (new career, retirement, empty nest or starting over in some way), during this pandemic time it can help those who are interested in using a creative process to reflect and reset. This book has given me a fresh perspective on pursuing my next act, while sparking my creativity and helping me move forward in a positive and powerful way.
– Estelle Gibson, TED Talk: The true cost of financial independence
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon
On January 23, my teacher, mentor and friend Clayton Christensen passed away. I felt like I had lost a big part of myself because professor Christensen had not only taught me so much about innovation and business, but he also modeled how to lead a good life. In this book, he reminds us that our deepest sense of joy and happiness will come not from our accomplishments and accolades but from the close relationships in our lives. He also provides a framework to help us develop lasting relationships. So even though 2020 has been a year characterized by much loss, I’m often reminded and constantly nourished by the thought of all the loving relationships in my life and how I can best strengthen them.
– Efosa Ojomo, TED Talk: Reducing corruption takes a specific kind of investment
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Form good habits and break bad ones while staying at home — this is a practical and useful book for your everyday life.
– Jiabao Li, TED Talk: Art that reveals how technology frames reality
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper (TED Talk: The racial politics of time)
The pandemic has made my attention span short and diminished my patience for reading nonsense. Enter Brittney Cooper’s page-turning memoir about feminist anger and, more specifically, about embracing her own Black feminist rage. From the first sentence, the writing is electric –the book is a page turner — but I also love that Cooper makes me feel super-smart by delivering complex emotions and ideas in a readable package, like how she sees feminism as the desire to love female friends in defiance of a world that teaches us to hate other women and ourselves.
– Elizabeth Pryor, TED Talk: Why it’s so hard to talk about the N-word
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza
This book is about change, and change is the only thing that is actually constant in life. I am always trying to learn how to be my best self, and this book explains human patterns and how to change them.
– Lee Thomas, TED Talk: How I help people understand vitiligo
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E. B. Dubois
Dr. W.E.B. Dubois’s seminal work is essential reading for all that choose to understand the racial unrest in America and our path forward. It’s a collection of essays that were written through his life experiences. He coined the phrase “double consciousness” — the concept that African Americans must look at the world through the eyes of racist white America but they must also measure our progress through that same lens. He also utilized and made widely known the term the “color line,” which was probably coined by Frederick Douglass to describe racial segregation as a descriptor of the divide between African Americans and white Americans. In this time of racial awakenings, this seems like a great book for a second and third re-reading to remind me of why I need to continue to fight for justice and equality.
– Georges C. Benjamin, TED Conversation: The secret weapon against pandemics
Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas
This delightful and touching memoir describes Firoozeh Dumas’s life after she and her family immigrated to the United States from Iran. As a first-generation immigrant with a similar background, I connected so much to this book and its lighthearted but poignant descriptions of immigrant life.
– Dorsa Amir, TED Talk: How the Industrial Revolution changed childhood
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger
I keep coming back to my dog-eared, highlighted copy of this memoir. In times of stress and uncertainty, Edith Eger’s voice is unwavering, her insights breathtaking. This book is a reminder that no matter what our current situation, while we may have no idea exactly how we’ll get through it, we can choose how we move forward — and in doing so, we choose who we are when we come out the other side.
– Darria Long, TED Talk: An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande (TED Talk: Want to get great at something? Get a coach)
This nonfiction book is an invitation to ponder what it means to live, and not only survive. I read this after my parents went through a series of health scares, and it gave me a window to ask them questions about their fears and wishes. It also took me on an introspective, soulful journey about our limited time on earth.
– Catie Cuan (TED Talk: Teaching robots how to dance)
The Cartoon History of the Universe by Larry Gonick
Imagine getting a history lesson in a fun cartoon format. This is what you get with this book, and I can highly recommend it for a good summer read.
– Camilla Arndal Andersen, TED Talk: What happens in your brain when you taste food
Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise
I found this book so nourishing in a season when energy and morale have been low. It inspired me to pick myself up by taking small steps towards the things that I know still matter in my life.
– Noeline Kirabo, TED Talk: 2 questions to uncover your passion — and turn it into a career
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
This book playfully yet concisely explains how Winnie the Pooh embodies the philosophical principles of Taoism that can lead to simplicity, wisdom and contentment. So, to understand Pooh is to begin understanding Taoism. It also uses the other characters from that children’s series to personify the habits and mindsets that can lead us away from contentment and toward complexity. This book helped me identify, through the characters, the unnecessary complexity and stress I add to my life. With the world being so restless, fast-paced and evolving, this easy read provides a means of self-reflection to aid you in slowing down your world and seeing the value of simplicity that leads to peace and happiness, regardless of what’s going on around you.
– Rob Cooke, TED Talk: The cost of work stress – and how to reduce it
Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid that Sparked the Civil War by Tony Horwitz
This book is a modern telling of the life of abolitionist John Brown. It’s brought me great peace amidst the chaos of American life today, because it shows what a person with deep convictions can accomplish. It may seem like an odd suggestion — given that he helped spark the Civil War — but his example inspires me to stay true and vocal in what I believe is right.
– Eric Sannerud, TED Talk: Without farmers, you’d be hungry, naked and sober
Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family by Mitchell Jackson (TED Talk: Should “blackness” exist?)
Mitchell Jackson reminds me of what life can look like in neighborhoods that are filled with violence and drug addiction. His stories also help remind me that there are survivors in the ‘hood, tell us about the history of the Bloods and the Crips, and allow his readers to learn about the constant war on Black lives. This memoir is very unpredictable, and the way he weaves his stories into lessons is a work of art.
– Marcus Bullock, TED Talk: An app that helps incarcerated people stay connected to their families
Tribe: On Homecoming & Belonging by Sebastian Junger (TED Talk: Why veterans miss war)
Although this isn’t a new book, I re-read this during lockdown as I considered the role that communities were playing during this global pandemic. We were looking out for neighbors again, saying hello, feeling connected in new and strange ways, and many connections we perhaps took for granted were highlighted as all the more important once they were ripped away. This short non-fiction read begins with an exploration into why contemporary US soldiers suffer PTSD more than those from any other nation at any point in history, but it morphs into the grander realization, that modernization breeds isolation and our entire sense of identities are built around the communities we are a part of. We need our people more than we know.
– Oliver Jeffers, TED Talk: An ode to living on Earth
Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination by Dr Robin D. G. Kelley
Another recommendation from Dr. Shamell Bell, who was a former student of Dr. Kelley’s, Freedom Dreams implores the reader to see the intellectuals and revolutionaries leading the charge of Black liberation as way to examine the potential and ways the Black imagination can open the doors for liberation of all peoples. This read has helped me to lean further into the possibilities of real change in 2020.
– Joel Leon, TED Talk: The beautiful, hard work of co-parenting
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
One of the unexpected silver linings of lockdown and quarantine has been the ability to rediscover the joys of nature in our own backyards, as lighter traffic and air pollution have brought some formerly shy native species back into visibility. There’s no better book to read for renewing our connection with the natural world than Braiding Sweetgrass. The author is a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, so this set of loosely connected essays on plants and the rest of the natural world is a beautiful blend of science and spirituality. One entire essay is about the lichen commonly known as rock tripe, which I’d never once thought about or cared to notice, but whose very existence is imbued with a metaphorical beauty about partnership and reliance. A few days after I read it, I went on a hike and saw an entire boulder covered in rock tripe on one side. According to Kimmerer, it’s edible, “tasting vaguely of rock and mushroom,” but I’m not quite that ambitious yet.
– Caroline McCarthy, TED Talk: How advertising is dividing us
The Generous Man: How Helping Others is the Sexiest Thing You Can Doby Tor Nørretranders
This is a fantastic book to open your eyes and realize that life is not just survival of the fittest, but rather a beautiful medley of art, music and generosity.
– Camilla Arndal Andersen, TED Talk: What happens in your brain when you taste food
Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australia and The Birth of Agriculture by Bruce Pascoe
I received this as a gift while I was in Australia. Bruce Pascoe is an Indigenous writer and anthologist and draws on firsthand accounts from colonial journals to dispel the myth that Aboriginal people were hunters and gatherers and “did nothing with the land that resembled agriculture”. He also has an incredible TEDx Talk that covers some of what he discusses in the book.
– Shantell Martin, TED Talk: How drawing can set you free
The Centre Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn Saks
This book is inspiring to me in so many ways. The author is a successful lawyer who has not only survived, but thrived, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her perspectives on mental health are really refreshing to me as a psychiatrist because I so often hear tales of despair or bleak prognoses. But Dr. Saks is not for this narrative at all, and I am grateful for it. For example, she states that having a mental illness, especially one as severe as schizophrenia, needn’t define one’s life, and she advocates that we are all more similar than we are different. She has also given a TED Talk, where she discusses her life and this book.
– Anees Bahji, TED-Ed Lesson: Is marijuana bad for your brain?
Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E.F. Shumacher
Long before Marie Kondo asked us to throw out all things that do not bring us joy, renowned economist E.F. Shumacher was asking, “Where is the rich society that says: ‘Halt! We have enough!’” I’ve returned to Small is Beautiful recently, to be nourished by his argument for economics as if people mattered — economics of permanence, rather than economics of short-term gain. A former Rhodes Scholar and economic advisor to the British Control Commission in postwar Germany, Shumacher has solid credentials. This makes Small is Beautiful intriguing. He challenges the assumptions that economics should be studied and interpreted purely as “mathematical specification and statistical quantification.” Without focusing on the needs, motivations and purpose of the humans that economies should serve, he argues, this quantitative analysis will always point towards bigness that will ultimately destroy us. Smallness, Schumacher argues, is “free, efficient, creative, enjoyable, enduring.” One might even say “nourishing.”
– Sara Sanford, TED Talk: How to design gender bias out of your workplace
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos: With Applications to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering by Steven H. Strogatz (TED Talk: The science of sync)
Warning: This one’s for math lovers. When I find myself in times of trouble, I re-read Steven Strogatz’s Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, and coronavirus gave me my fifth re-reading. Strogatz takes such good care of me, leading me by the hand with humor through the simplicity he finds in the complex dynamics of nature. This book refreshes the mind and soul; it’s also an aesthetic experience.
– Uri Alon, TED Conversation: A COVID-19 “exit” strategy to end lockdown and reopen the economy
Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less From Each Other by Sherry Turkle (TED Talk: Connected, but alone?)
In a quarantine time when we depend more on technology than ever to be together with others, this nonfiction book reminds us of the isolation and connection brought by technologically mediated social interaction.
– Jiabao Li, TED Talk: Art that reveals how technology frames reality
The Cultural Lives of Whales and Dolphins by Hal Whitehead and Luke Rendell
As the authors of this relatively dense book put it, “we are born with the genetic template of Homo sapiens, but we cannot become fully human without what we learn from each other.” This book is a fascinating dive — pun intended — into the extraordinary intelligence and social structures of cetaceans, looking at them not as pseudo-mythical creatures to be fetishized but rather as complex, flawed and often unpredictable social beings just like humans are. I’ve spent a fair number of nights in these high-anxiety times attempting to fall asleep by listening to the songs of humpback whales over Spotify, but until I read this book hadn’t realized that maybe what was lulling me into slumber was the fact that I was effectively listening to social chatter and communication — the things that so many of have missed so much lately.
— Caroline McCarthy, TED Talk: How advertising is dividing us
TV shows and videos
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s videos
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has taken the quarantine challenge and risen to it, streaming full recordings of performances, online dance classes with virtuoso dancers and new performances composed of dancers “at home” (either in their New York apartments or in parks). Plus, supporting Alvin Ailey is a wonderful way to support Black creative arts and have your breath taken away by human talent.
– Heather C. McGhee, TED Talk: Racism has a cost for everyone
America’s Got Talent
If you’ve never watched it before, this NBC competition show features performers from a variety of talents and highlights dreams coming true for many of the contestants. Some of them have overcome a tragedy, heartbreak or obstacle in their lives, but no matter what they’ve gone through, they’ve never given up on their big dream to be on stage. Some of the performers are wacky and way-out, but many are really, really talented. In a time when we are surrounded by negative messages, I always feel uplifted and inspired when I watch this show.
– Estelle Gibson, TED Talk: The true cost of financial independence
Black Love
This Amazon docu-series showcases the beauty and complexity of love. For Black folk living in a world where anti-Black racism is a threat every day, love is a revolutionary act. Every time I see a Black couple in love, young or old, it nourishes my soul. For me, this show represents what is possible when we are vulnerable and brave and it reminds me why love is worth fighting for.
– Ebony Roberts, TED Talk: How to co-parent as allies – not adversaries
black-ish
This ABC sitcom tackles tough situations that happen in life in such an entertaining way that I not only learn something but sometimes it changes my opinion a subject. The biggest nourishment I get from this show is that it always ends with everything coming together, with the family hugging, realizing how they were wrong or appreciating what they have. It leaves a smile on my face and is my go-to when I need a pick-me-up from real life.
– Anastasia Penright, TED Talk: 5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work
BoJack Horseman
It is hard to call this animated Netflix series nourishing in the traditional sense. The show is unsparing in its sarcasm and relentless in its examination of the darkest themes of modern life: racism, sexism, depression, addiction, trauma, self-destructive behavior. Its eponymous character is a humanoid horse, living in a version of Hollywood in which humans and animals co-exist. There is something utterly delightful and liberating in this imaginative setup, which allows for both distance and clarity toward its uncomfortable subject matter. The show makes use of its fantastical premise and multi-species jokes to get at something about our own world that feels brave, sad, funny and true all at once. If BoJack, broken and alcoholic as he is, can stumble toward some form of grace, then maybe anyone can.
– Kat Mustatea, TED Talk: What is the value of art in an age of thinking machines?
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
I think most people are aware of the ‘90s Sabrina, the Teenage Witch TV show; however, this Netflix series is a rather dark and deeply sumptuous, twist on it. I’ve always found things like magic, mysticism, mythology and the like very fascinating, and the show actually does a really good job at presenting history in a fascinating, interesting and spellbinding way (although I’m not going to say it’s 100 percent accurate).
– Anees Bahji, TED-Ed Lesson: Is marijuana bad for your brain?
Community
As a journalist, I feel nourished when I come away with a sense of enlightenment, and I found that this summer with this TV show. I’m behind the times when it comes to Community; it ran from 2009 to 2016. But it still feels so relevant, even if the characters use flip phones. On the surface, it seems like the sitcom is just highlighting stereotypes, but in actuality it’s toying with them and teasing society — and the TV world — for even coming up with them in the first place. The show raises a lot of questions and toes a lot of boundaries, and while no one person may agree with all of it, I at least appreciate the discussions that the show brings to light.
– Amy Padnani, TED Talk: How we’re honoring people overlooked by history
Dave
Lil’ Dicky stole my heart and stole 2020. This Hulu original sitcom is hilarious and heartwarming, and as someone who classifies themselves as a recovering rapper, the themes around relationships and dealing with your real life and “rap life” hit very close to home.
– Joel Leon, TED Talk: The beautiful, hard work of co-parenting
Dear …
“One person’s story” can change the world. I watch “Dear” — an Apple docu-series– with my daughters, Raia and Ruby, to show them that they can be anything they want to be. It’s so inspiring to hear the stories of people like Misty Copeland and Lin Manuel Miranda and how they became the leaders and luminaries that they are today.
– Robert Reffkin, TED Original Video: 5 ways to create stronger connections
Descendants of the Sun
I feel there is something beautiful and musical about the Korean language. I like to believe that speaking Korean for my first three years of life trained my brain to love its sound even though I struggle learning and speaking Korean now. Auditory memory is powerful, and when I watch Korean shows like this one, I find the language incredibly soothing to my ears. Asian filmmakers are so skillful, and I also love seeing Koreans become worldwide media stars.
– Sara Jones, TED Talk: Reclaiming my voice as a transracial adoptee
Floor is Lava
My sister, brother and I played “Floor is Lava” everywhere when we were kids — from the living room to the playground — and this Netflix game show is summer laughter fodder far beyond what I expected.
– Catie Cuan, TED Talk: Teaching robots how to dance
Gavin and Stacey
When you’re going through tough times, research shows it’s important to keep topping up your positive emotions. This classic Anglo-Welsh comedy — starring James Corden and Rob Brydon — keeps me laughing, but better than that, it fills me with hope.
– Lucy Hone, TED Talk: 3 secrets of resilient people
I May Destroy You
I was fortunate enough to work with a group of influencers on the campaign launch for this new HBO series, which stars and is written by Michaela Coel. It’s a strong departure from Michaela’s Chewing Gum fame but in the best way possible. Dealing with issues surrounding mental health and sexual assault, the producers and Michaela were careful to roll out the show with content to help further the discussion around the serious issues that it touches on.
– Joel Leon, TED Talk: The beautiful, hard work of co-parenting
Insecure
I dare someone to watch Issa Rae’s binge-worthy HBO series about hip, funny thirty-something Black women in L.A. finding their wholly imperfect way through relationships and budding careers and not understand that some African Americans use the n-word in a way that completely subverts white racism. Aside from its amplification of young Black culture in southern California, what makes season 4 of Insecure so gratifying is the story’s focus on something seldom seen in art: best girl friends who break each other’s hearts and then get turned all around trying to love their way back.
– Elizabeth Pryor, TED Talk: Why it’s so hard to talk about the N-word
Little Fires Everywhere
This Hulu series based on Celeste Ng’s novel by the same name is a much needed exploration of white privilege. Kerry Washington does a superb job bringing to life the complexity of the character of Mia Warren, and in doing so makes that exploration all the more powerful.
– Vinay Shandal, TED Talk: How conscious investors can turn up the heat and make companies change
PEN15
This show came out last year, but I’m watching it for the third time right now. PEN15 is my favorite love story in recent memory. Except it’s not about a couple; it’s about the totally platonic love between two 13-year-old girls who are ride-or-die best friends. The catch? they’re played by the show’s creators — who are in their 30s. Somehow, this makes it one of the most accurate portrayals of tweenage life that I have ever seen, and therefore unspeakably funny. This show doesn’t just make me laugh; it makes snot come out of my nose. Plus, it’s set in the year 2000, which means that it’s packed with bops. PS: If anyone asks you, the title is pronounced PEN-15, not penis. I think?
– Yve Blake, TED Talk: For the love of fangirls
Salt Fat Acid Heat
I’m a huge fan of Samin Nosrat, a brilliant chef and talented Iranian woman making her mark on the world. In this TV show, Samin brings her unique perspective to explore local cuisines around the world, focusing on voices typically uncelebrated in the culinary arts, highlighting women and home cooks.
– Dorsa Amir, TED Talk: How the Industrial Revolution changed childhood
Sea of Faith
We view scientific knowledge as the opposite of religious belief, but where and how did this schism originate? The six-part BBC docu-series explores the history of Christianity from the Scientific Revolution onward. The ideas of such varied thinkers as Charles Darwin, Carl Jung and Arthur Schopenhauer are propped against the backdrop of religious faith, more loosely interpreted as humanity’s place in the cosmos. This series was radical and controversial when it was released, and it asks deeper questions about whether the division between faith and knowledge has ever been clean-cut and whether they continue to inform one another. This is an intellectually challenging journey for anyone interested in the question of human meaning in a scientific world.
– Soraya Fiorio, TED-Ed Lesson: Who was the world’s first author?
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi
This show could not have come at a better time. In an interview, Padma Lakshmi says, “I was tired of certain people getting to decide who an American was and what American food is … All my life in food, I’ve heard the term ‘New American Cuisine.’ What the hell is that? I just wanted to go and find out.” In this 10-episode Hulu series, Lakshmi uses food to explore American history and the fragile line between assimilation and survival. Touring heritage through cuisine, Taste the Nation brings viewers into the kitchens of American communities, such as the Gullah Geechee people, who’ve managed to hold onto their traditions despite seemingly impossible odds. Beyond being educational, it’s just yummy watching: fry bread, dosas, poke …. Just nourishing.
– Sara Sanford, TED Talk: How to design gender bias out of your workplace
The Mandalorian
This space gunfighter series on Disney+ builds on the Star Wars franchise. The character of the Mandalorian is the typical rough space bounty hunter and warrior with a hidden past, but what makes this show so interesting is that it’s full of action and adventure and unclear political agendas. Also, they’ve introduced a very mysterious character: Baby Yoda. This is enjoyable to watch and keeps you on the edge of your seat and away from the political channels.
– Georges C. Benjamin, TED Conversation: The secret weapon against pandemics
The Last Dance
I really enjoyed watching this ESPN docu-series about Michael Jordan (it will be available on Netflix July 19). An eye-opening view of an icon, it captures a time when the entertainment and sports worlds grew in many ways.
– Lee Thomas, TED Talk: How I help people understand vitiligo
Ugly Delicious
I spent much of my isolation time thinking about things I’d like to be eating. It all began when my wife was feeling under the weather (turns out it was not COVID, but it seemed it could be). She had light symptoms but self-isolated in our house, so I was assigned the couch. The one benefit to couch-surfing meant that I could watch whatever I liked before falling asleep and what caught my eye was this David Chang Netflix show. I started watching because I’d heard there was an episode on pizza in which a pilgrimage was made to my hometown, New Haven, Connecticut, which is pizza central for those in the know. But I was hooked by Chang’s menschiness and his very funny sidekick, Peter Meehan. I binged the whole series and found it funny, insightful and moving. So I quickly ordered all cookbooks with Chang and/or Meehan’s name attached. My favorite cookbook to read was Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes, written by Meehan. It’s a cookbook that made me laugh out loud. That is very hard to do, especially for a cookbook. There’s a paragraph about making a Thai noodle dish that made me laugh so hard that I could not get the words out when trying to read it aloud to my confused wife.
– Noah Charney, TED-Ed Lesson: The art forger who tricked the Nazis
Workin’ Moms
No one really understands the issues that may arise when you try to combine a business person and a good mother. This Netflix sitcom reminds you that being a working mom can be hard in so many different ways, and it just makes you laugh and appreciate your life situation with the little ones.
– Anna Piperal, TED Talk: What a digital government looks like
Movies
13th
As an African American journalist, entertainment reporter and movie critic living through a changing time in our country, I’m often asked about what films can educate and entertain. The number-one movie I recommend is 13th on Netflix. In vivid images and sound, this documentary clearly explains the systems that have placed our country in the situation it is in right now.
– Lee Thomas, TED Talk: How I help people understand vitiligo
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution
This documentary is simply beautiful. It’s about a generation of disability advocates and how they came together in their youth through a summer camp; later on, they banded together to fight for their rights in the oft-forgotten-but-very-important 504 Sit In, which paved the way for the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The movie has a wonderful tone — the storyline is infused with humor, and while it teaches you about the disability community, it doesn’t beat you over the head with lessons or make you feel guilty. Instead, you come away learning about a group of people who are vibrant, passionate and resilient, and you have a new sense of appreciation for their hard fight.
– Amy Padnani, TED Talk: How we’re honoring people overlooked by history
Get Out
Jordan Peele’s brilliant, fast-paced, darkly funny horror film uses microaggressions like other scary movies use ominous music — as a warning to sit at the edge of our seat because something’s about to go down. Unlike most Hollywood films that devote entire storylines to proving that racism exists, Get Out accepts this fact as its central conceit. So this movie is an “ahhhhh” for anyone exhausted by a lifetime of trying to convince other people that white supremacy is a thing, and PS, liberals can believe in it too. Spoiler alert: No white saviors here.
– Elizabeth Pryor, TED Talk: Why it’s so hard to talk about the N-word
Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story
This was what I needed to watch this year to bounce back amidst all the setbacks we are experiencing. I was inspired to revive my hope and to keep pressing on, no matter the obstacles. It’s never too late to start fresh and pick up your dreams.
– Noeline Kirabo, TED Talk: 2 questions to uncover your passion — and turn it into a career
I Used To Be Normal
Like my TED Talk, this documentary is all about the power of boyband fangirls and how easily they are misunderstood. But what I especially love about this movie is how funny it is and how often it surprises you. It’s about three generations of fangirls, and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t found it utterly fascinating. So I recommend this movie to anyone who loves fangirls, hates fangirls, is a fangirl, is scared of fangirls, is raising a fangirl, or has never heard of the word. Hit me up on Twitter when you’ve seen it, and let’s discuss the moment with the cruise. I can’t stop thinking about the cruise!
– Yve Blake, TED Talk: For the love of fangirls
(In)Visible Portraits
(In)Visible Portraits marks the directorial debut of Oge Egbuonu, who has created a masterpiece with this documentary that explores the history of Black women in America. While it both educates and dismantles the many harmful labels and archetypes that have been assigned to Black women, it’s also an extremely beautiful and nourishing love letter by and for Black women. It’s a must watch.
Shantell Martin, TED Talk: How drawing can set you free
My Neighbor Totoro
I’m a fan of animation and of Hayao Miyazaki’s body of work in particular — not only for the pleasing visuals but also for their layered storytelling and strong social commentary. I’d recommend all of his films, but of the ones I’ve seen, this is probably my favorite. I love the feelings of childhood innocence, wonder and amusement it evokes.
– France Villarta, TED Talk: The gender-fluid history of the Philippines
The Biggest Little Farm
This is a beautiful documentary about a farm that was inspired by a dog. Watching it reminds me of what a diverse community looks like. Ripe with all the ups and downs you can imagine, their story shows a promise and resiliency of spirit that is undeniable.
– Shaka Senghor, TED Talk: Why your worst deeds don’t define you
The Intern
The character played by Anne Hathaway owns her own business, which starts off small and grew exponentially in a short period of time. She is so in tune with her business that she tries to do customer service and help with marketing just so she can see her vision come true. She puts so much pressure on herself, yet she can’t stop. I LOVE THIS MOVIE. I feel nourished every time I watch it, because she has it together but she doesn’t have it together — at the same time. Seeing her gives me a sense of comfort that I’m not alone. I can do it all, look crazy doing it, realize I’m not doing it all, learn to ask for help, and have a great story to tell my friends and family. I feel relaxed and inspired when I watch this, and it’s one of my top-five favorite repeated movies.
– Anastasia Penright, TED Talk: 5 steps to remove yourself from drama at work
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
This movie is a visual and emotional love letter to “home,” as it exists in the present moment and in our memories. Writer and star Jimmie Fails took inspiration from his own life growing up in the Bay Area in the 1990s. As another Bay Area ‘90s native, this tale profoundly affected me. I thought of all the “homes” that nourished my upbringing and the one I now spend most of my time in.
– Catie Cuan, TED Talk: Teaching robots how to dance
The Pursuit of Happyness
This Will Smith movie serves as a phenomenal reminder that my life is not as bad as it could be and that happiness is not guaranteed or owed. Life can be unfair, even cruel at times. However, with grit, persistence and the opportunity to continue despite uncertainty, pain and just plain bad luck, attaining moments of happiness is so worth the effort. The movie emphasizes that life is a series of moments — some good and some not so much — but we need to keep pushing forward.
– Rob Cooke, TED Talk: The cost of work stress – and how to reduce it
There are two particular moments in this movie I come back to again and again: when Will Smith talks to his son on the basketball court and tells him not to let anyone — not even him — tell him he can’t do something. And then, of course, the ending.
– Robert Reffkin, TED Original Video: 5 ways to create stronger connections
The Red Turtle
The Red Turtle is such a beautiful movie. It is a simple and moving story about learning to live with nature and the rewards of just letting go. Every time I watch this animated film, it leaves me speechless — quite literally, because there are no words spoken in the movie, just music. I’ve watched it three times while on a plane (I cried every time), and it leaves me with so much gratitude for life.
– Angel Chang, TED Talk: How ancient textiles can help the future
The Secret of Kells
One of my favorite movies of all time, The Secret of Kells is a gorgeous and magical animated film which follows Brendan, a curious young monk-in-training, as he helps an aged scribe produce a book of transcendent beauty in the midst of a very violent world. It moves seamlessly between Christianity and the older religion and gods of Ireland. It’s a great story of hope and love set in a time when it seemed that everything was about to fall apart.
– Phillip Freeman, TED-Ed Lesson: A day in the life of an ancient Celtic Druid
The Times of Harvey Milk
I’ve spent some time in the Bay Area, and I’m fascinated by the openness of the community and its embrace of the LGBTQ cause. This documentary film chronicles the political career and assassination of Harvey Milk, San Francisco’s first openly gay supervisor, and the activism, people and events that helped shape the politics of a nation. It’s aspirational and hopefully, the kind of progress achieved in this corner of the world is something we can replicate in my country.
– France Villarta, TED Talk: The gender-fluid history of the Philippines
The Two Popes
Had I been told at the start of quarantine that I’d find nourishment from the Catholic church, I wouldn’t have believed you. Although I was raised Catholic (hell, was even an altar boy when I was 10!), I became a devout atheist when the hypocrisy of the church did not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny. But here is a film about two wise men: one painted as evil by many but with enough empathy and lack of ego to step out of a role that had only once before been abdicated in almost 1,000 years when he realized he wasn’t the man for the job; the other, kind and humble, who is in the process of dragging an ancient institution into the 21st century. It showed that even such lumbering giants as the church — which has arguably done as much harm as good — can change for the better when the right people are guiding. The takeaway line for me was “The truth is vital, but without love, it is unbearable.” That’s especially true in these times as much of Western society confronts a past that it would rather have brushed under the carpet.
– Oliver Jeffers, TED Talk: An ode to living on Earth
The Watermelon Woman
I recently watched this film, and I was delighted by it. Released in 1996, it was the first feature by and about a black lesbian but it feels more relevant than ever, exploring themes of representation and the ability and power of telling your own story and the importance of having access to be able to do so.
– Shantell Martin, TED Talk: How drawing can set you free
The Toy Story movies
The first Toy Story, released in 1995, was the first entirely computer-animated Hollywood film. Throughout the four Toy Story films, the messages that have stayed with me the most are about the importance of courage, empathy, imagination and the willingness to embrace change. This series also demonstrated the amazing advances of computer graphics technology. The fine detail of the images, such as the backdrop of dust blowing, appear flawless. I’m inspired to see how the innovation which produced such powerful graphic processing chips has made such an enormous impact on the animation industry and the entertainment world as a whole.
– Andrew Ho, TED Talk: How tech is creating new hope for epilepsy patients
Udaan
A poignant and intense coming-of-age story of a teenager named Rohan in an industrial small town in India, Udaan is a film that will unsettle you, deeply move you, and remind you of the resilience of the human spirit. While on the surface it’s a film about an abusive father-son relationship, it subtly explores loneliness, friendship, brotherhood, career choices, fathers versus fatherly figures and much more. It left me inspired and hopeful to lead a fuller, freer life. Bonus: It has a beautiful soundtrack.
– Ananya Grover, TED talk: A campaign for period positivity
IDEAS.TED.COM
Jun 29, 2020 / Sakinah Hofler
This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.
I have a question for you. Have you ever seen something and you wish you could have said something — but you didn’t?
And I have a second question. Has something ever happened to you and you never said anything about it — but you should have?
I’m interested in this idea of action — of the difference between seeing, which is the passive act of observing, and the actual act of bearing witness.
Bearing witness means writing down something you have seen, something you have heard, something you have experienced. The most important part of bearing witness is writing it down; it’s recording. Writing it down captures the memory. Writing it down acknowledges its existence.
One of the biggest examples we have in history of someone bearing witness is Anne Frank and her diary. She simply wrote down what was happening to her family and about her confinement and, in doing so, we have a very intimate record of this family during one of the worst periods of our world’s history.
You too can use creative writing to bear witness, and I’m going to walk you through an exercise that I do with a lot of my college students, who are future engineers, technicians, plumbers — basically, they’re not creative writers. We use these exercises to unsilence things we’ve been keeping silent. It’s a way of unburdening ourselves. It’s 3 simple steps.
I give my students a prompt. The prompt is “The time when …” and I want them to fill in that prompt with times they might have experienced something, heard something or seen something and they could have said something or intervened but they didn’t. I have them write a list as quickly as possible.
I’ll give you example of some of the things I would write down:
There are times when I have seen something and I haven’t intervened. For example:
The list could go on and on. Think of times when something might have happened sexually, times when you’ve been keeping things repressed, and times with our families. Because our families — we love them, but at the same time we don’t talk about things. So we don’t talk about the family member who has been using drugs or abusing alcohol; we don’t talk about the family member who might have severe mental illness. We’ll say something like, “Oh they’ve always been that way,” and we hope that in not talking about it and not acknowledging it, we can act like it doesn’t exist, that it will somehow fix itself.
Your goal is to write down at least 10 things, and once you have those 10 things, you’ve actually done part one, which is to bear witness. You have unsilenced something that you have been keeping silent.
What I suggest is going back to your list of 10 and picking 3 things that are really tugging at you, three things that you feel strongly about. It doesn’t have to be the most traumatic things but it’s things that are like, “Ah, I have to write about this.” I suggest you sit down at a table with a pen and paper — that’s my preferred method for recording but you can also use a tablet, an iPad, a computer, just something that lets you write.
I suggest taking 30 minutes of uninterrupted time, meaning that you turn your phone off, put it on airplane mode, no email. If you have family or if you have children, give yourself 20 minutes or 5 minutes. The goal is just to give yourself time to write.
You’re going to focus on 3 things — you’re going to focus on the details, you’re going to focus on the order of events, you’re going to focus on how it made you feel. That last one is the most important part.
I’m going to walk you through how I do it. The first thing I feel very, very strongly about is that time when a couple of months after 9/11, these two boys dared themselves to touch me. I remember I was in a rural mall in North Carolina and I was just walking, minding my business.
I felt like people walking behind me were very, very close. I was like, “OK, that’s kind of weird, let me walk a little bit faster.” They walked a little bit faster too and I heard them going back and forth — “No, you do it” “You do it” “No, you do it.” And then one of them pushes me and I almost fall to the ground.
I popped back up, expecting some type of apology and the weirdest thing was they did not run away. They actually stood right next to me and I remember there was a guy with blond hair and he had a bright red polo shirt and he was saying “Give me my money, I did it, man”, and the guy with the brown hair who had a choppy haircut gave him a $5 bill. I remember it was crumpled, and so I’m like, “Am I still standing here? This thing just happened. What just happened?”
And it was so weird to be someone’s dare and then also not exist at all. I remembered when I was younger and someone dared me to touch something nasty or disgusting. I felt like that nasty and disgusting thing.
A second thing I feel very, very strongly about is the time when a friend pulled a gun on me (I should say former friend). I remember there was a group of us outside, he had run up, and he had the stereotypical brown paper bag in his hand. I knew what it was. I’m a very mouthy person and I started going off. I was like, “What are you doing with that gun? You’re not gonna shoot anyone. You’re a coward. You don’t even know how to use it.”
I kept going on and on and on and he got angrier and angrier and angrier and he pulled the gun out and put it in my face. I remember every one of us got very, very quiet. I remember the tightness of his face. I remember the barrel of the gun and I felt like — and I’m pretty sure everyone around me who got quiet did too — felt like this is the moment I die.
The third thing I feel very, very strongly about is this going away luncheon and this big boss. I remember I was running late and I’m always late; it’s just a thing that happens with me. The whole table was filled except for the seat next to him. I didn’t know him well; I had seen him in the office. I didn’t know why the seat was empty; I found out later on why. So I sat down at the table and before he even asked me my name, the first thing he said was “What’s going on with all of this?” and he gestured at my head. I thought, “Do I have something on my face? What’s happening?”
Then he asked me with two hands this time “What’s going on with all of this?” And I realized he’s talking about my hijab. In my head I said, “Oh, not today.” But he’s a big boss — he’s like my boss’s boss’s boss. So for 45 minutes I put up with him asking me where I was from, where were my parents from, my grandparents. He asked me where I went to school, where I did my internships, he asked me who interviewed me for that job. And for 45 minutes, I tried to be very, very, very, very, very polite, trying to answer his questions.
But I remember I was making eyeball “Help!” signs at the people around the table, like “Someone say something, intervene”. It was a rectangular table, so there were people on both sides of us and no one said anything, even people who might be in the position to do so, bosses. No one said anything. I remember I felt so alone. I remember I felt like I didn’t deserve to be in his space. I remember I wanted to quit.
So these are my three things and you’ll have your list of three things. Once you have these three things, you have the details, you have the order of events, you have how it made you feel, you’re ready to actually use creative writing to bear witness.
You don’t have to write a memoir; you don’t have to be a creative writer. I know sometimes storytelling can be daunting for some people but we are human, we are natural storytellers. If someone asks “How is your day going?”, we have a beginning, a middle and an end. That is a narrative.
Our memory exists and subsists through the act of storytelling. You just have to find the form that works for you. You can write a letter to your younger self, you can write a story to your younger self, you can write a story to your five-year-old child, you can write a parody, a song, a song as parody. You can write a play, you can write a nursery rhyme, you can write it in the form of a Wikipedia article.
If it’s one of those situations where you saw something and you didn’t intervene, perhaps write it from that person’s perspective. So if I go back to the boy on the train who I saw being beaten, What was it like to be in his shoes? What was it like to see all these people who watched it happen and did nothing? Or I could put myself in the position of someone who was homeless and just try to figure out how they got there in the first place. Perhaps it would help me change some of my actions, perhaps it will help me be more proactive about certain things.
By telling your story, you’re keeping it alive so you don’t have to do anything; you don’t have to show anyone any of these steps. But even if you’re telling it to yourself, you’re saying this thing happened, this weird thing did happen. It’s not in my head. It actually happened and by doing that maybe you’ll take a little bit of power back that has been taken away.
The last thing I’m going to do is I’m going to tell you my story. The one I’ve picked is about this big boss and I picked that one because I feel like I’m not the only one who has been in a position where someone has been above me and been talked down to. I feel like all of us might have been in positions where we felt like we could not say anything because this person has our livelihood, our paychecks, our jobs in their hands and times we might have seen someone who has power talking down to someone and we should have or could have intervened.
By telling this story, I’m taking back a little bit of power that was taken away from me. I have changed the names, and it happened a decade ago. It doesn’t have any happy ending, because it’s just me writing down what happened that day.
This is how I use creative writing to bear witness.
At Lisa’s Going Away Luncheon
I want to ask my boss’s boss’s boss if he’s stupid
or just plain dumb after he takes one look at my hijab
and asks me where I’m from in Southeast Asia.
I tell him that it’s New Jersey, actually,
and he asks where are my parents from,
and my grandparents and my great-grandparents
and their parents and their parents’ parents
as if searching for some Other blood,
as if searching for some reason why some Black
Muslim girl from Newark wound up seated next to him
at this restaurant of tablecloths
and laminated menus.
I want to say “Slavery, jerk,”
but I’ve got a car note and rent and insurances
and insurances and insurances and credit
cards and credit debt and a loan and a bad tooth
and a penchant for sushi so I drop
the jerk but keep the truth.
Tell me, he says,
“Why don’t Sunnis and Shiites get along?”
“Tell me,” he says, “What’s going on in Iraq?”
“Tell me,” he says, “What’s up with Saudi and Syria
and Iran?” “Tell me,” he says, “Why do Muslims
like bombs?” I want to shove an M1 up his behind
and confetti that pasty flesh and that tailored suit.
Instead I’m sipping my unsweetened iced tea
looking around at the table, at the co-workers
around me; none of whom, not one,
looks back at me. Rather they do the most
American things they can do:
They praise their Lord. They stuff their faces
And pretend they don’t hear him.
And pretend they don’t see me.
This post was adapted from a TEDxUCincinnati Talk. Watch it here:https://www.youtube.com/embed/-iU7LIge1fE?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Sakinah Hofler is an award-winning writer and a PhD student at the University of Cincinnati in the English Program. Formerly, she worked as a chemical and quality engineer for the United States Department of Defense. She’s an advocate for infusing the arts into our daily lives.
Looking for the Light 