The Wednesday List
Welcome to The Wednesday List. Filled with timely finds, it will replace my old Midlife at the Oasis newsletter because there is so much to share beyond my own work (ha!). And by midweek, I think we all need a little boost.
This is the time to stand with our friends of color and work for justice and equality. To learn more, I’ve been collecting suggestions for books, movies and resources to become an antiracist. I started reading The New Jim Crow, and am horrified at how much I didn’t know about our country’s racist history. I am listening, absorbing and learning so we can finally make the changes that prove we believe #BlackLivesMatter.
If you do nothing else, watch 13th, which Netflix is offering free on YouTube. It’s a must-see eye-opener from Ava DuVernay, the filmmaker extraordinaire behind Selma and When they See Us (which is next on my list).
I was also blown away by Just Mercy, which you can watch free for the month of June. Be prepared to be outraged, and to turn that outrage into action.
After the horror show of yesterday’s primary in Georgia – this is what voter suppression looks like – register for an absentee ballot now. Make sure your vote is counted.
Take a minute to check out babynames.com, and have a tissue handy.
I tried out Apple TV+ and binge-watched The Morning Show (which was excellent), followed by the new docuseries, Dear … Each episode focuses on a person who’s greatly admired (think Oprah, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Spike Lee) and tells their story through letters written to them by fans. It’s so inspiring.
Because we all need some beauty in our lives right now, The Big Flower Fight on Netflix is the perfect escape. It’s basically the floral version of The Great British Bake-Off, and it’s the antidote to all the darkness in the world.
I’m also doing the New York Times Mini Crossword every day, competing with my son across the country. We’re tied for now, but I’m determined to win even though we play on our phones and it’s so much easier on my laptop. I’ve also gotten into Tiles.
I’ve been cleaning out and organizing but this man is really using his imagination during this pandemic. I feel like a slacker now.
I watched a documentary on PBS, Eating Up Easter, which just may have changed my entire approach to travel.
And I finally started listening to the amazing Dolly Parton’s America podcast. The first episode is called Sad Ass Songs, and I loved everything about it. The woman is a genius, and I have so many new songs to add to my Spotify playlists.
How are you doing during these challenging times? Self-care is so important now, and my husband and I do Fitness with Cindy every day. She has “senior” workout videos of every length (30 minute Zumba, 10 minute stretch, 15 minute HIIT) for every level, and she makes them fun and effective. We follow along on YouTube on our TV; you can also Chromecast it from your laptop.
I’m excited about The Wednesday List and I hope you’ll share it with your friends, so we can grow this community together. They can subscribe here. If there’s anything you’d like to see, know more about or need suggestions for, just email me.
Stay safe and healthy, and think about using the pandemic as a time to reset.
Until next week,
Lois
xo
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