“I Am For… (Statement, 1961) by Claes Oldenburg
Artist Claes Oldenburg wrote this manifesto in 1961 for the catalogue of an exhibition at Martha Jackson Gallery called Environments, Situations, Spaces. However, Oldenburg didn’t like the term ‘manifesto’. He dubbed the piece a “literary… Continue Reading
“Washing Dishes” by Thích Nhất Hanh
Washing Dishes “If while washing dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we… Continue Reading
“To S.M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing his Works” by Phillis Wheatley
To S.M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing his Works To show the lab’ring bosom’s deep intent,And thought in living characters to paint,When first thy pencil did those beauties give,And breathing figures learnt from thee… Continue Reading
“What is the Earliest Sign of Civilization?” – attributed to Margaret Mead
What is the Earliest Sign of Civilization? Dr. Paul Brand recalled attending a lecture given by anthropologist Margaret Mead, who spent much of her life studying primitive cultures. She asked her audience a series of… Continue Reading
“10 Things I Have Learned” by Milton Glaser
10 Things I Have Learned The American graphic designer Milton Glaser is probably known best for his iconic I Love New York logo, as well as logos for DC Comics and Brooklyn Brewery. He co-founded… Continue Reading
10 Principles to Live Your Life Like Mr. Rogers
In his new book, Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever, Gavin Edwards uncovers the real story behind the gentle everyman, Fred Rogers. Most interesting to me was a list that… Continue Reading
“Five Contemplations” by Thích Nhất Hanh
Five Contemplations Here are Five Contemplations that Buddhist master Thích Nhất Hanh suggests be spoken before a meal. The practice, outlined in his book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, is a means to transform our… Continue Reading
Advice on Parenting from Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet”
In one scene of Kahlil Gibran's classic work The Prophet, the titular character is asked by a young mother to provide some advice on parenting. The prophet responds by saying: Your children are not… Continue Reading
Maya Angelou’s Advice About Complaining
“There were people who went to sleep last night, poor and rich and white and black, but they will never wake again. And those dead folks would give anything at all for just five minutes… Continue Reading
How to Talk to Kids, According to Fred Rogers
Fred Rogers, the gentle genius behind the PBS children's show Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood had a keen sense of how children thought. He seemed to intuitively know their fears and what they struggled to understand. In the… Continue Reading