Handling Anger, Hidden Gems, And A Gift Of Calmness

Here are ten hand-picked and carefully curated recommendations to give you an uplifting dose of monthly wisdom, and inspiration.

I.

A wonderful paraphrase I’ve come across this month from Buddha about handling anger:

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

Source: Dhammapada, an original Buddhist text from Khuddhaka Nikaya. In the Bala Vagga, verse Number 12th.

II.

Q&A: I love my newsletter because it’s uniquely mine—a curated selection of everything I love, all wrapped up in one place. I hope these small pieces feel like hidden gems to you, little treasures you won’t find just anywhere. In the Q&A of this month, I answered a reader’s question about what I enjoy most about my newsletter, and why I think a newsletter like this is needed today.

III.

A documentary I recommend watching: Tell Them You Love Me follows the controversial affair between university professor Anna Stubblefield and Derrick Johnson, a non-verbal Black man with cerebral palsy. Anna claims she taught Derrick to communicate through a keyboard, but his family questions the transformation and her intentions, leading to a criminal trial. Featuring exclusive footage and interviews, the documentary offers a nuanced exploration of communication, race, disability, and consent.

IV.

What Readers Are Saying: One of the latest reviews I received from a reader for the book What happened to you?:

I highly recommend listening to the audiobook instead of reading the book. As the book is basically one conversation between Oprah and Dr. Perry, the audio definitely adds something to the experience. I’m a big fan of reading personal stories but I probably like it even more how they have intertwined the science into it, making it a fun and informative read – guiding you through it. I also like the attempt to make mental health more accessible to the public – removing barriers to talking about it. This is one of those books that is not necessarily a piece of literature, yet it belongs to everyone’s bookshelf. While it may not achieve absolute perfection, I find it deserving of a solid four out of five stars, a testament to its contribution to humanity.

— Sem

4 out of 5 stars.

V.

A small gift: This calm meditation playlist has become an essential part of my meditation practice, and I hope it can bring the same sense of calm and mindfulness to you.

VI.

Book recommendation: Earlier this month I started reading Prepared, written by Diane Tavenner, which is an amazing guidebook for raising and educating our kids to not only be prepared for academic achievement but also for leading a fulfilling life. I’m halfway through, but it’s a fascinating idea to let kids learn at their own pace, provide them with mentors, and engage them in project-based learning so that they gain skills that are ultimately asked for in the workplace. It takes courage to dream big and develop a vision for the Summit Public Schools, which is more holistic compared to how most schools define success.

VII.

On my mind this month: the efficiency trap—also known as Parkinson’s law. It means that work takes as long as the time you give it even if it could be done faster.

VIII.

Language learners who dazzle me: Ziad Fasah. Born in Liberia and living in Lebanon, Ziad is considered the record-holder for most languages spoken— he claims to have mastered fifty-nine different languages.

IX.

Here’s a fun fact I like to share with you: octopuses have three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, where it gets oxygen, and the third pumps it to the rest of the body. Interestingly, when they swim, the heart that delivers blood to the body actually stops beating, which is why they prefer to crawl rather than swim.

X.

In the spotlight this month:

Jannemiek Kortbeek, 2012, Cuy (France), acrylic on linen, 30 x 40 cm,
by Neel Korteweg

Thanks for reading. Tiny Bits is a handwritten, algorithm-free, reader-supported publication. To fuel your curiosity, seek out more valuable recommendations worth sharing. Sign up to receive my email newsletter every month.

Lisanne