Loved this essay on receiving kindness titled "How will the Miracle Happen Today." Travel writer Kevin Kelly writes about receiving kindness from strangers all across the world, frequently people who have little to start with. I don't know where I would be without the kindness of strangers... I still think of the office cleaner in Madras 25+ years ago who wanted to share their paper cone of peanuts with me as I waited for my ride because I was visibly pregnant. ("maybe the little one is hungry" Oh, my heart <3)
All of it is worth reading, and I bookmarked this bit: "My new age friends call that state of being pronoia, the opposite of paranoia. Instead of believing everyone is out to get you, you believe everyone is out to help you. Strangers are working behind your back to keep you going, prop you up, and get you on your path. The story of your life becomes one huge elaborate conspiracy to lift you up. But to be helped you have to join the conspiracy yourself; you have to accept the gifts."
For more smiles, this NYT article, "The Evolutionary Brilliance of the Baby Giggle" really delivers. Turn on the sound for a pick me up! This part blew my mind in a lovely way: "Indeed, this idea — that laughter is primarily social, less about comedy and more about connection — holds true for adults as well, and has been underscored by research showing that laughter overwhelmingly occurs in the company of others and typically follows banal remarks in conversation, rather than in response to jokes or punchlines. The signature belly laughs seen in the video above are involuntary, bursting forth during genuine, uncontrollable amusement. This type of laughter is driven by the brain’s limbic system, structures crucial for emotion, memory and motivation. But by 6 months, our lab has found, infants can intentionally produce a laugh. This ability comes not from the limbic system but from the brain’s language areas and emerges at the same time as babbling. Six-month-olds will deploy laughter to prolong a game of peekaboo or to signal a desire to join in." This made me laugh in delight!
And on social media, I was pointed to this amazing moment on the Stephen Colbert show, where Sir Ian McKellan (around the 20-minute mark) launches into a rendition of a monologue by Sir Thomas More known as the strangers' case speech. First penned by Shakespeare in 1603-04 (for someone else's play) it asks what the anti-immigrant rioters would do if the king banished them for their rebellion, where would they go? They would become refugees themselves: "what would you think/to be thus used? This is the strangers' case/And this your mountanish inhumanity." How relevant for now.
Pic: The more the merrier. Max and Huck with "cousin" Abby at brunch on Sunday.
14 comments:
I'm so sorry you've been sick but you made up for it somewhat by such great reading and watching. I must check out that article about laughing, especially. (It's why I watch Marx brothers movies when I'm blue!). How many times have I been with a friend or my cousin and just our normal conversation sends us into gales and gales of laughter. And I love the word "pronoia." I've always believed that but now it has a name!
I saw the McKellen (I record Colbert) and wow. Who could imagine this centuries-old piece could so accurately depict today's world. And add to it, McKellen's magnificent voice and presence. It was a wow.
Be well!
I instantly clicked on that kindness link and now will be using pronoia at all times. Love that! People can be so kind. I often think of the million ways my life has been affected by other people, and almost always it's a positive thing. Or at least that's what I choose to remember.
I'm so sorry you are sick! And sick enough to cancel class! You must have felt very ill indeed, because I know you! Hopefully you are now on the mend. xoxoxo
Those are some good books, and gosh, I’m sorry you’ve been sick, and sick enough to cancel class. Back when I was in college there was no way to let students know class was cancelled other than a sign on the door. So if you only had one class that day, and took two busses to get to school, too bad. Take the time for studying anyway. Nowadays I’m sure they email or text the students, right? Or it’s on some online bulletin board? (I’m such a dinosaur, those are the only options I can think of.)
I love the idea of everyone out there in a conspiracy to be kind. What a wonderful way to frame the world.
Laughter as a means of connection - of course it’s true. Maybe I need to laugh more? I’ve never been one to laugh unless something is super funny…when I was a kid my mom said I would dryly say, ‘Indeed’. Like Spock or something.
I'm sorry you've been under the weather. Baby laughs are the best. I've seen that McKellan clip going around. Is it from a play, or was it a stand-alone work?
Feel better.
Dr. BB had to cancel class yesterday. I don't remember the last time he did that! These nasty bugs!
I'm smiling about J's comment. How well I remember trekking across campus in all kinds of weather, only to be greeted by a sign on the door telling me that class was cancelled. Or, when I was working at the bank and commuting to community college, dragging myself to an 8 AM class and finding out that it was cancelled, knowing I could have had a little more sleep had I only known!
So sorry you were ill, and unwell enough to cancel classes. But thank you for the excellent links. I know that hearing Theo laugh--and it happens often!--really is my Best Medicine. And there is nothing like hearing a voice like Sir Ian McKellan's take on any master work, let alone one so poignant for our times.
Yes! I too was thinking about how when we're with people we enjoy, the slightest thing can set us off :)
Of course the theater aspect would touch you on a deeper level!
YOU'RE BACK!!! YAY!!!!
Yes, I love "pronoia" (a bit tricky to spell?) too. I feel much better today, thankfully!
I emailed my classes last night when it became clear I wouldn't be able to push myself... I too remember the note on the door, J! I can honestly say I never received that news with anything less than glee for the surprise gift of free time!
Your "indeed" is cracking me up!! How droll!
It's a piece Shakespeare wrote for someone else's play on Sir Thomas More, apparently. Fascinating history.
Thank you!
Not a virus on top of everything else!! I hope he's feeling better soon.
Thinking of Theo's laughter is giving me a smile <3
Looking back, I don't think I minded the canceled class. I think the American university seemed such a magical place that I didn't mind the gift of some free time to explore ...
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