I read Marie Kondo‘s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her simple philosophy has helped me declutter my home and my life. I will finish up with the little pile pictured above and then enjoy my newfound perspective. The beauty of Kondo’s tidying method is its relevance to all aspects of life: Remove whatever … More Clean your house, clean your life
Caught between two worlds, the children of refugees seek to reconcile the old and the new. They live in a dichotomy where deep-rooted culture clashes with progressive dynamism. At home are the vestiges of a life left behind; in the streets, novel experiences. I recently met Ify, the daughter of Nigerian refugees (her art is … More The Lost Children
Are you ready to grind? Yes? Great! Check out the Sade + MF DOOM mashup. “Invent nothing, deny nothing.” David Mamet – This is one of the key principles writer/director David Mamet presents in his book True and False. This book was required reading for my students when I taught Acting back at the turn … More Get Lit #16
I read Padura’s The Man Who Loved Dogs last week (NYT Review). Great book that tackled several important issues, one being the feeling of isolation that seems to smother all the characters. Sadly, loneliness is an epidemic that still exists in our world (nearly 100 years later). This was an interesting read about loneliness. The … More Get Lit with Kit #14
Dickens. Tolstoy. Twain. Dead white men sit at the helm of literary esteem and their novels have dominated the lists of classics taught in schools around the globe. The merit of these works cannot be overstated, and so it is surprising that they are becoming more frequently (and sadly) dismissed. With the newfound emphasis of celebrating diversity … More Dead White Men
This is a great post from Derek Sivers. He’s pretty a accomplished artist and entrepreneur, so when he presents words of wisdom I jump to read them. The point here is that we need to take time for ourselves and do things that we want to do – even if there is no tangible benefit. … More Get Lit with Kit #13
Life is hard. Especially when you feel like you don’t have control over the outcome. The day to day grind can break you down and desensitize you until one day you realize with a jolt, “This is not what I want!” I follow these principles when I find myself paralyzed: Set an expectation or goal Be … More What are you living for?
I read Gordon Parks’s biography 15 years ago. I was teaching in the South Bronx at the time, and was holed up in the disheveled, musty book room trying to find a book to teach my Sophomores. Sitting on the shelf, next to several tattered editions of the 1971 paperback The Negro in the City was a lone copy … More A Choice of Weapons
Consider that moment you came to a crossroads. You were faced with a decision and determined to think with a clear head, reflect on ways to grow, and make changes that could help you experience new aspects of life. But then life got in the way and all the little stumbling blocks started to steal the thunderous momentum. … More Get Lit with Kit #10
Check123.com is a great website that boasts videos from EVERY subject and all under 5 minutes. It’s perfect for when you are standing in line and have the compulsion to check your cell phone. If you’re looking for some hip hop to listen to check out JWalks. I’ve been bobbing my head to this track from his … More Get Lit with Kit #9
Find the balance. 