So it turns out #7: Memes are what we do when we can't gather
Hi all,
I’ll admit, I’ve been having a lot of trouble getting the bat off my shoulder for the past few days, and I imagine you might have been feeling the same way.
Gathering is better when you have a purpose
So, last night I devoured Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering, which was recommended to me by my chevruta. The book has an extremely simple, but well-executed argument: most people don’t actually decide the purposes of gatherings before they hold them, so most gatherings suck. Instead, she argues, most people use logistical decisions as proxies for purpose — e.g., a meeting room versus a restaurant vs. a theatre — and assume that somehow answers the question.
In this moment, though, that choice is basically null and void — we’re all gathering online. And in that moment, perhaps it gives us a chance to connect not only more deeply, but also more specifically than we have with our friends in a while.
Personally, I’ve found this newsletter to be really meaningful to me in this time. I’m thankful for all of you who read it, and who write and respond.
Unabashed work from home recommendation: get yourself a second-hand Aeron, if you can
So, I’ve been working from home on occasion for about a year. And for all that time, I’d been using the same IKEA chairs that we all bought at the age of 22. And, well, I have a bad back, so that sucked. But on some level, I assumed there was nothing better, for reasons that are hard to understand but probably have something to do with weird macho notions of toughing it out.
Given that, there’s probably nothing more embarrassing my sense of productivity optimization than realizing that I could buy a refurbished, proper Aeron chair with good back support, for like a third of the price of a new one. And, well, I actually prefer the older ones since they had better back support. And I find that, well, if you don’t have a sharp shooting pain through your back after an hour of work, you tend to be more productive! Shock, I know.
In general, it’s amazing I successfully make it through the day.
Catering as a crew-served weapon
Important memes to bless your timeline
Dog reviews “Piano Man,” by Billy Joel:
Owl sneezes are a hoot:
Otters have returned to Ithaca:
Wombats are cuddly fluff tumbles:
Other news:
Best conflict of interest disclosure ever: “The two played in a Dungeons & Dragons group for years”
Oreo cameos of Roman Emperors
Next time, on Dave Kasten:
Now that Zoom is popular, will Zenon finally get the respect she deserves as America’s Supernova Girl?
Disclosures:
Views are my own and do not represent those of current or former clients, employers, friends, or my cat.
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