Maybe it’s better this way.
“Uncertainty is the refuge of hope” – Henri Frederic Amiel
You probably know the Buddhist tale of the old farmer, whose son breaks his leg while working on the farm. The neighbors gather around, saying what a tragedy it is, while the farmer is more circumspect, saying, “Could be bad, but maybe not.” The next day, the army comes through the town looking for recruits, and the son, with his broken leg, is spared. Then the farmer’s plow horse runs away; same scene with the farmer’s “could be bad/maybe not” thing, and before long, the horse returns with two other horses. You get the idea.
So don’t panic. There’s what happens, and there’s how we react to what happens, and the latter can make the former, if it’s upsetting, much worse. In her book, When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chödrön talks about handling intrusive thoughts while meditating: notice them, label them as “thinking,” gently move them aside, and go back to focusing on breathing. This works any time. Notice the thought, but don’t engage the thought until you’re ready, on your terms. It’s your mind, and you can do what you want with it. Breathe. Things change. You never know.
Song
Everyday People
Sly & The Family Stone
This song came to mind on a recent walk through Brooklyn. Everybody was there. People outside a bodega listening to music; people coming home from work; people out for dinner considering options ranging from the women at a folding table on the boulevard selling homemade food in tinfoil containers, to pricey candle-lit French restaurants. All together, enjoying a sunset break from the coming-and-going rain, not sure what tomorrow might bring, but right now, feeling pretty good.
Getaway
MassMOCA and Tourists
North Adams, Massachusetts
While our Friday Care Package has a global reach, there are some local things so good they’re worth the trip—from Boston, Brisbane, or the moon. Here we present a weekend getaway that will restore your humanhood, in the Berkshires town of North Adams, Massachusetts. Book your room well in advance at the Tourists Hotel, and don’t be put off by the stratospheric cool factor of the place (Wilco’s bassist, John Stirratt was one of the founders). Everybody is welcome, everybody is friendly, and every room, including the lodge, is built for comfort. Even if you make it a day trip, don’t go home without eating at Airport Rooms, Tourists’ adjacent, also friendly and comfy (and excellent!) dining spot.
Then there’s the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MassMoCA). It’s not what you expect, no matter what you expect. If you only experience James Turrell’s Into the Light, then turn around and go home, you’ll be glad you went. But while you’re there, Laurie Anderson, Sol LeWitt, Vincent Valdez, and loads of other artists—some who created works specifically for the space—have amazing stuff to show you. Just go. The pictures don’t do any of it justice.
Pro Tip: Get outside for a while and stroll through the nearby Natural Bridge State Park, with a 13,000-year-old marble arch and remnants of a disused marble quarry.
Website
WhoNews.org
Dr. Alan Wagner
It’s so simple: compare top news from various media outlets side-by-side. It would be nice to say it’s refreshing. “Bracing” might be a better word. Dr. Wagner, an acclaimed Buddhist scholar, author, and playwright (and longtime Myriad-er), built whonews.org out of curiosity—to see what the popular news sites were covering and how they were covering it, up to five at a time, right next to each other. And hoo-ha, what an eye-opener that was. No matter what your worldview is, you will very likely be startled by the contrast. See for yourself; it’s the only way to really know what’s happening. Knowledge is power.
Pro Tip: Add and change sites to view using the gear icon at the upper right. You’ll be anonymous, meaning the sites you’re seeing don’t see you, as long as you don’t click on any of the stories on that site.
Movie
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Director: Taika Waititi
Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) is a 13-year-old foster kid who’s been moved around a lot. As his social worker drops him at his new foster home—a farm in the wilds of New Zealand—she recounts the trouble this “bad egg” has been in: “We’re talking graffitiing, littering, smashing stuff, burning stuff, breaking stuff, stealing stuff, throwing stuff, running away, and that’s just the stuff we know about.” After a tragedy at the farm, Ricky and his foster “uncle,” Hector (Sam Neil), end up on the run from the police, deep in the forest, dodging beasts, hunters, police, zealots, and poignant conversation. Things spin more and more absurdly out of control. Everybody is nuts. The two fugitives—the curmudgeon and the tough kid—realize that in each other, they may have found the closest thing to sanity they’re gonna get. But at least there’s that.