Look for the Helpers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” - Mister Rogers

Some resources (PDF) from Sesame Street for parents & caregivers to speak with children about Friday's Newtown school murders.

Some ways to help the Newtown, Connecticut community.

The photograph of Fred Rogers was taken by Jim Judkis. His daughter Maura's thoughts in the Washington Post Arts blog about what it means to her & to her father. Lovely. xoxo

Easing into Christmas

It's been unexpectedly difficult to do (so far) this season. If you are feeling similarly, here is some inspiration via London & Toronto. Depending upon where you live, many of these ideas will transfer easily.

Annie warms up to Christmas in London, including ice skating at Somerset House.

Sasha's super-easy & delicious Nutella palmiers. Three ingredients!

The Clever Pup's Guide to Making Christmas Work. Hazel is so wise.

Here's hoping you are faring better in the Christmas spirit department. Decorating the tree this weekend surely will help. If nothing else, it is always fun to watch Giulia vs. the fairy lights. xoxo

(photograph by Gideon Mendel)

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a safe & lovely holiday. For some peace (& holiday decorating), here's a little advice from two years ago. xoxo

(photograph by Amy Merrick)

Lighter

Not light as a feather (again, yet) but getting there. Ten pounds by ten. (Update: nope, 14 pounds, or a stone if you're British:)

Thanks to:

Ballet Beautiful at home.

Weight Watchers Online

Gina at Skinnytaste

Can You Stay For Dinner?

A great friend.

and lots of walking.

xoxo

(photograph by Sofia)

Blue Monday

Sometimes you just have to feel it. But quite often, you should do something about it/write something about it. That isn't working here today, the DIY approach; but who needs to write a thing when someone put together 101 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up? (No. 23 is on our list for tonight.)

ciao/xo

PS: It occurs that this post about unblocking is really a good list for cheering up, too.

(photograph by Melanie Rodriguez; her lovely online portfolios)

Your Childish Self

Ted Hughes' beautiful letter to son Nicholas in 1986 has made the rounds but it is much on the mind here today.

"...Everybody tries to protect this vulnerable two three four five six seven eight year old inside, and to acquire skills and aptitudes for dealing with the situations that threaten to overwhelm it. So everybody develops a whole armour of secondary self, the artificially constructed being that deals with the outer world, and the crush of circumstances. And when we meet people this is what we usually meet. And if this is the only part of them we meet we're likely to get a rough time, and to end up making 'no contact'. But when you develop a strong divining sense for the child behind that armour, and you make your dealings and negotiations only with that child, you find that everybody becomes, in a way, like your own child. It's an intangible thing. But they too sense when that is what you are appealing to, and they respond with an impulse of real life, you get a little flash of the essential person, which is the child." 

Please read the entire letter at Letters of Note.

ciao/xo

(photograph by Pelayo Lacazette)

What Do You Remember?

Read this excellent & moving essay-prose poem, I Remember, I Remember by Mary Ruefle. Then write one of your own. This makes a terrific writing exercise. Well, what are you waiting for? Go, shoo. (Some ways to unblock.)

ciao/xo

PS: Yes catching fireflies. And the first time seeing the ocean. Amongst hundreds of quick thoughts.

(photograph by Lissie Elle Laricchia)

Some Ways to Unblock

Writer's block. It happens. So here are some ideas--in no particular order--to help you unblock or at least make it less painful. It might just be a slowing down. Remember to rewrite/edit what you already have done.

1. Walk, swim, ride your bike. Get away from the desk (or wherever you usually work). If you garden, go into high gear. Experience shows that extreme weeding does clear the mind. Fact.

2. Museum/art gallery visits

3. Listen to music (yes, of course you already do. Something new, old, different. This is why the gods invented YouTube.)

4. Re-read a favorite book/short story/series of poems.

5. Compile a list of favorite poems on The Poetry Foundation website. Or a virtual notebook on Poets.org

6. Bake or cook, complicated (or not). Something requiring a bit of ceremony is always a good diversion. (Share it or you'll have yet another *big* problem:)

7. Write something else: catch up on correspondence. Quaint word. Write some postcards. If at all possible, walk to post them.

8. Look at photographs (books, flickr, photographer's websites). Choose a few that particularly hold your attention & write about it...the person or the scene portrayed. Don't think too much, just do it.

9. Tell someone; it might break the spell. Choose your confessor wisely, though. And don't get irritated by the suggestions on offer, especially by non-writers. (If the response is rude, you're a writer, you can, uh, exact your revenge later.)

10. We hate to recommend spending a dime but The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron has helped many people (& not just writers).

11. Watch little kids play - at the park, the pool, wherever they are. Instructive. (Plus, they're super cute.)

12. Take a bath. Preferably this kind. If you can get to a large body of water: do it.

This too shall pass. Really. It just might take longer this time.

ciao/xo

PS: Play with your hair. Seriously.

(photograph by Cig Harvey -You Look at Me Like An Emergency is out now)