“Don’t read the news, at least not the feeding frenzy of speculation about the election,” I keep telling myself, and for good reason. When I even glimpse the headlines, my blood pressure rises, my throat clutches, and my guts ache. There’s so much terror to be had for the reading, and as one of my best therapists would say to me, “But is what you fear actually happening right now?” No, it is not, but the What Ifs in my mind are superb organizers and have forms battalions ready to take over any peace of mind, especially at 4 a.m.
What’s a gal to do? Otherwise occupy herself is my answer, and while I leave it to each of you to find your best way to get through your days and especially your nights (when the four horsemen -- anxiety, dread, fear, and trepidation -- come riding through), here are more-is-more, over-the-top things for us.
Distraction? Of course, Entertainment? I hope so. Perspective? Definitely. You can also think of this as some real news of how we are and can be beyond the ticker-tape parade of mean sound bites parading across many media outlets and our frontal lobes. Please feel free in the comments to add more for our clicking consideration.
New bonus link! -- How could I forget "Mary, Secret, and Our Promise," all about a woman named Mary who has amazing patience, fortitude, and magic when it comes to training her dogs to do yoga, laundry, housekeeping, and even make smoothies. My favorites include "A Day in the Life,""Painting Partners," and especially "Yoga With a Dog." You can see more of her videos on Instagram too.
Serenading the Cattle With My Trombone: I don't know if it's funnier because Farmer Derek played his trombone or played a Lorde song on it, but I'm a sucker for calling in the cows.
Tiny Hamsters Eating Tiny Burritos: Yes to 83 seconds of miniature joy.
"The Lion King" Broadway Cast Takes Over NYC Subway and Sings Circle Of Life": Love the NYC subways, flash mobs, and musicals like me? This is for us.
"Maude" (Bea Arthur lookalike) sings "You Made Me Love You" on "The "Carol Burnett Show": My favorite impromptu Carol Burnett audience engagement.
Peter Handke -- "Song of Childhood": Here's selected clips from my favorite movie of all time, Wings of Desire. Open your senses to angels among us.
Train Passengers Sing "Over the Rainbow": Somewhere in the UK, this happened. I love how people are at first a little reluctant, but by the end, they're all singing, laughing, and connecting with each other and the moment.
"Stand Up" By Kelley Hunt: Here's a great anthem written and performed by Kelley Hunt about standing on the side of love. If you've seen her perform it live (like I have, and hey, check out her show Nov. 9th in Lawrence), you know how the whole room soars in spirit when we gets to the first chorus and we all stand up.
Advice to My Younger Self By Dr. Gabor Mate: This is a great interview
with the Hungarian-Canadian physician, psychologist, and writer about how he would tell himself to look inside more rather than focus more on the external world, and he also shares the best advice he ever received.
One of the Great Flash Mobs of All Time Performing "Ode to Joy": I can't watch this amazing event in Spain without losing it when the choir joins in.
Church of Stonewall "Quiet" Flashmob Stockholm Central Station: Speaking of crying and flash mobs, this is a gold standard.
"Captain, My Captain" from Dead Poets Society: No surprise that a live poet includes this, which I always find energizing.
"Ripple" Featuring Bill Kreutzmann | Playing For Change | Song Around The World: I'm a sucker for the Playing for Change videos, and this is my favorite Grateful Dead song, so here goes.
Carol Burnett Outtakes -- Tim Conway's Elephant Story: The Carol Burnett show almost doesn't need outtake videos because the delight of the sketches is also found in how often the actors crack each other up, but this is a moment I watch and rewatch when I need to laugh until I cry.
Watch How Cartoonist, Writer, and Teacher Lynda Barry Creates: Barry is an astonishing storyteller through images that stay with us. Listen to a bit of how and why she creates.
Laura Nyro - LIVE March 27, 1971 Hoch Auditorium, University of Kansas: Thanks to my good friend David Katzman for telling me about this concert he attended and I wish I could have heard, but now I can hear it! I play this often because of how much I love her vibrant voice and mind-blowing range, not to mention some of the most soulful folk songs ever written.
Coffee Talk (with Mike Myers): Liz Rosenberg and Barbra Streisand - SNL: Imagine Mike Myers embodying his very Jewish mother-in-law with Madonna playing her best friend and Rosanne playing Madonna's mother, and then there's Barbra (Like Buttah!) in one of the best cameos of all time.
"Dancing in the Dark" with Bruce Springsteen (and His Mother and Sister): Sometimes you just need to dance through or with the darkness, even better with a song like this. I cry happy tears every time I see Springsteen bring out his mother to dance with him (and she's a good dancer), then brings out his sister to play guitar and sing the finale of the song with him.
"Late Fragment" Raymond Carver: I love this snippet of a poem, and it's a good reminder about what really matters.
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
~ Raymond Carver
Elephants Run to Greet a New Rescued Baby Elephant: I loved how the elephants extended their trunks to comfort the baby elephant.
John O'Donohue Reads His Poem"Beannacht" (Blessing): Good to remember, especially now.
"Across the Universe" Sung by Rufus Wainwright: This classic John Lennon song, sung by Wainwright in this captivating video (with a young Dakota Fanning), is a delight right now. If you're wondering what Jai Geru Deva means, it's a Sanskrit mantra that's charged with helping people reach higher consciousness, and the words mean,
New York City Ballet Presents New Beginnings: This moving dance, filmed at sunrise in lower Manhattan, happened on the 57th floor of one of the remaining World Trade Center buildings. Speaking to grief, endings, and beginnings, the dancers embody what we sometimes have to go through (although we may not move quite like these trained and gifted dancer) to find the next and the new.
"I Am Listening to the Earth" in Many Languages: This is an audio delight, humans from around the world saying "I am listening to the earth" in multiple places and languages.
"The Peace of Wild Things" by Wendell Berry Animated": What a marvel of a short video, and if you'd like to hear the poem set to music and performed by the Young New Yorkers' Choir, click here.
Birds in Winter North: Orient yourself to winter birds, some of which you may get to see in a few months out your windows or on a walk.
The Spectacular Ending from Smoke Signals: This always breaks my heart open and features a powerful poem by Dick Laurie and the music of Ulali, an indigenous vocal group of amazement.
How Poetry Heals Us With Rafael Campo: A physician and a poet, Campo speaks and writes eloquently about real and enduring healing, and what he found in poetry. He says here, "When pain takes our breath away, poetry resuscitates us," and he also talks about the role of empathy.
"Lunch Will Be Served" By Eleanor Lerman: I just met this poem this year, and I was dazzled by its tenderness, strength, and truth, not to mention honesty.
Inside Seoul's Wild Animal Cafes: How about a bubble tea with freshly-brushed sheep wandering to and fro? Or some coffee with a kangaroo? As you scroll down, you'll see another article about animals encountering humans for the first time since the pandemic in the jungles of French Guiana, enchanting birds in Ghana and much more.
100 Kids Tell a Joke: This is adorable, especially with the jokes that aren't funny except to the teller. You also get the consider to why the banana crossed the road.
"Are You For Real?" - O.A.R. - Live From Merriweather: Thanks to my friend Ruth for posting this. As I listened to it, my whole day turned around.
People React to Being Called Beautiful: Here's a homage to the exuberance of being seen and praised for our innate beauty.
Flashmob Sings "Stairway to Heaven": Somewhere in Germany about three years ago, this happened.
"Give Yourself Permission to Be Creative" with Ethan Hawke: What a great talk with so many aspects of what being truly alive really is.
"My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane: This is one of my favorite versions of the iconic song, and I like it as much as I like Sarah Vaughn's version here, which is downright haunting. Let us not forget Julie Andrew's famous root of the song right here (in bed with a bunch of kids, no less even if the song is rudely interrupted at its end).
Earth From Orbit: National Environmental Satellite: Our friend Tim Schmidt, who works for this center, recently passed on this great video of the earth with all its wild and shifting weather in astonishingly precise images. I've watched it repeatedly, seeing something new each time.
May we all find ways to make meaning, seek clarity, land in peace, and soar in love now and always.
P.S. Just putting together this list and watching everything (and more) turned me around for the good! I hope you find the same.
