These are a few of my favorite things
A Few Of My Favorite Things...
When the news cycle feels heavy,
When the loudest voices are angry and full of blame,
It can feel hard/lonely/overwhelming to care for yourself, let alone to care for others.
You can lose energy and lose hope.
But the world needs us - it needs men and women who are commited to empathy and to care and to making our small areas of influence places where people thrive.
So, this week, I am highlighting a few of my *current* favorite things to give you a bit of a boost.
Films To Watch
Full of wisdom and perspective -
1). The Peanut Butter Falcon
A heart-warming, modern Mark Twain romp about a kid with Down Syndrome who escapes from his group home and finds friendship along the way
2). A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood
A documentary about Fred Rogers and his profound work in the world. This one will make you love public media and thoughtful leaders like Mr. Rogers who made the world a better place.
3). A Hidden Life
Lyrical, devastating, and lovely. Based on real events, this is the story of Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. Excellent soundtrack and cinematography!
Podcasts
Leading With Empathy - A Comms Imperative
The Chief Brand Officer of Zenzai sits down on the Under Embargo podcast to talk about truly transformative workplace leadership.
A good listen for anyone, but particularly those who are thinking about corporate communications.
Things To Do
1). Picking yellow tomatoes off the vine and eating them, right there, in the garden
2). Walking in the sunshine
3). Eating good food with colleagues that encourage me. This morning, I had breakfast with Bryan Neale and talked about abundance - it was good for the soul.
Gifts
Card by Em & Friends
For when words fall short. I love these cards, use them in my personal life, and often give them as client gifts.
They range from pithy to clever to deeply heartfelt and meet the moment beautifully.
Online Resources
The Greater Good Center out of Berkley has so many free, helpful online quizzes and tools to help your keep growing in your self-awareness and in your impact
Short Films
1). Indifferent
Pixar - about a man who has a change of heart and brings a bit more beauty into the world as a result
2). Brene Brown on Empathy
Always a great reminder from Dr. Brown - see the bear and the fox in the hole.
3). Opening Scene From Up
Heart-warming reminder that love matters and changes us
Great Clients
One of the things that makes me deeply hopeful in the world is all of you!
From sessions with Eli Lilly to the Empathy@Work in-person event at the Palladium to Ascent Resources to breakouts at the Women's Collaborative to an all-day intensive at The Heritage Group - it has been a busy month.
I love getting to be in the room with you, hearing your "one thing I will take away" and the stories of how you are putting tips into practice.
So, I'm closing this week's newsletter with some photos of the best part of my work - you!
May hope find you this week - it is both a discipline and a grace and I find that tuning into gratitude and abundance really makes a difference for me when the world turns brutal and harsh.
