Entries from my Commonplace Notebook

Commonplace Notebook

[Highlight] Too Many Ideas

from ‘5 Things to Do When You Have Too Many Ideas and Never Finish Anything: More choice often leads to less action. The more ideas and goals we pursue, the less likely we’ll follow through on any one of them. And vice versa. When we get stuck in motion

human behavior

[Highlights] The Plague

The Plague by Albert Camus (translated by Laura Marris) On traveling One useful way to get to know a city is to find out how people work there, how they love there, and how they die there. — location: 66 ^ref-64407 On motivation and desire The desires of the youngest are

education

[Highlights] Living, Loving & Learning

I can love everybody in this room if I had the opportunity to know you with equal intensity, and I still would have the same amount of love and the same potential to love that I have right at this moment. I will have lost nothing. But I first must

History

[Highlights]The Parable of Sha’Carri Richardson

I don’t normally share my thoughts on the highlights I post, but the author of The Parabale of Sha’Carri Richardson, Kitanya Harrison, wrote the hell out of this piece. Harrison eloquently warns on the problems with inactive empathy and toxic support- those who put pressure on people who

Black authors

[Highlights] Black Girls Must Die Exhausted

On moments of joy and clarity “Suddenly, I could breathe again, and at least the pilot light was back on in my spirit.” Black Girls Must Die Exhausted (Kindle Location 1442) On being comfortable in struggle “When there’s no friction, no reminder of what you can’t do, it

books

[Highlights] Beyond Series Bundle

On the stupidity of racism “Because he’s black?” Bren shook his head with a snort. “No, Dallas doesn’t give a shit. Hard to believe there are people around who still do.” “Dumb people.” Six couldn’t help her wry laugh. “They still care if you have tits, too.

Black authors

[Highlights] Bad for You

On contextual honesty “When someone asks you something, be honest in the context of that situation. Do not go forth, screaming every truth within your life.” Bad for You (Kindle Location 1588) * Author: Kenya Wright * Full Title: Bad for You * Buy: Amazon

Black authors

[Highlights] Black Butterfly, Book 3 of the Black Burlesque Series

On movement to facilitate healing “She had come in healing.” Black Butterfly, Book 3 of the Black Burlesque Series (Kindle Location 14) * Author: [[Tiffany Patterson]] * Full Title: Black Butterfly, Book 3 of the Black Burlesque Series * Buy: Amazon

Alice Walker

[Highlights] Black White and Jewish

On the pain of trauma “Shame sticks to me like sweat.” Black White and Jewish (Kindle Location 704) “I start to remember in shards, pieces of glass that rip my skin and leave marks.” Black White and Jewish (Kindle Location 705) “These are memories like a broken bottle, memories I

Commonplace Notebook

[Highlights] Archangel's Shadows

On love and truth “A silly question, cher. You know love cannot survive where there is no light.” Archangel’s Shadows (Kindle Location 2417) * Author: Nalini Singh * Full Title: Archangel’s Shadows * Buy: Amazon

Alyssa Cole

[Highlights] A Prince on Paper

On examples of self-regulation even when upset “Forshett—” Johan slammed his mouth shut against the harshness of his tone, not allowing the fear still flowing through him to make him say something rash. He swallowed, though his mouth had gone dry. “You made me think he was hurt. Or worse.

Commonplace Notebook

[Highlights] The Psychology Behind Why We Procrastinate, Backed by Science and Leonardo Da Vinci

On confidence and procrastination Low confidence and feelings of incompetence are often linked with lower motivation levels and a greater likelihood of procrastination. Particularly, Da Vinci has frequently been noted for being an obsessive perfectionist— often delaying the completion of artwork for several years because the ‘hands and faces’ were

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