Hope

June 10, 2018 Erin Khar

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash — Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

This was a rough week.

Or rather, it was, for me, a week of highs and lows. The two high-profile deaths by suicide of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade, left many of us reeling

I put some thoughts together in the wake of Kate Spade's death: Depression Doesn't Care How Much Money You Have.

and

Upworthy published my thoughts on depression and compassion for self: I Have Compassion For Everyone Struggling With Depression — Except Me.

I don't have all the answers, but I have hope.

I know you may feel alone. But I am here, if you need to talk, vent, scream, cry, or laugh.

***

As we set off into a new week, a roundup of things I love, things that make me smile, things that make me think, and things that make me feel less alone.

To Read

The Hidden Queer History Behind “A League of Their Own” by Britni de la Cretaz for Narratively

How I Learned to Stop Judging And Love Insta-Witches by Lilly Dancyger for Catapult

To Kate Spade’s Daughter...From Someone Who Has Been There by Melissa Blake for Harper's Bazaar

To a deeply depressed mother, suicide isn't selfish by Jen Simon for NY Daily News

For single working parents like me, summer isn’t all fun and games by Stephanie Land for The Washington Post

To Listen (I guess I'm feeling the 90s... what's new?)

To Watch (because we all need to laugh right now)

Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife

The Honeymoon Standup Special (Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher)

Tig Notaro: Happy To Be Here

Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives

Striking A Balance

May 20, 2018 Erin Khar

Well, the end of May is upon us, and the energy of the world feels like a balance of two extremes. There has been absolutely loveliness — Meghan and Harry and their surprisingly inspiring wedding, the approach of summer, and so much to be grateful for in my personal life. And, there has been horror — another flippin’ school shooting, our dysfunctional and dangerous administration, and more bloodshed in the Middle East.

So, how do we find a balance between these extremes?

Where is the gratitude when it feels like the world is imploding?

For me, I find it in the people I love. I find it in art — words, music, visual arts. And I find it by going outside and connecting with nature, of getting myself grounded in the physical body of Earth. (Yes, even in New York City, this is possible.)

To that end, I put together a list of some stuff that made me think, made me smile, or just made me feel this week.

What I'm Listening To

What I'm Reading

Terese Marie Mailhot's Surviving Racism Through Storytelling for Pacific Standard
Ronit Feinglass Plank's I Can't Shake The Guru Bhagwan for The Rumpus
Wendy Staley Colbert's The Ethics of Empathy for Brevity

What I'm Watching

Old Headshots And New Reads

April 29, 2018 Erin Khar

Photo by Alfons Morales on Unsplash — Photo by Alfons Morales on Unsplash

Hey Girl, hey.

Tuesday is May 1st. Wha?? My April was a whirlwind of work, work, work, work, baby, and more work. How was yours?

One of the things I realized last week was that I have not been making the time to read for pleasure. I mean, I read for work ALL THE TIME. But, I haven't been making that space to just read what I want to read. And reading, for me, is A BIG part of self-care.

So, I made reading a priority again and started last week off with Terese Marie Mailhot's exquisite memoir Heart Berries. I urge everyone to read it. You can read it in a day or a weekend and you won't want to put it down and will be sad when it's over, because it's so damn good.

Oh, did you catch the #oldheadshotday social media wave last week? No? Well, then you missed this gem...

I mean... how could I not? Please note belted Carpenter jeans and long sleeved baby tee. I was 19 or 20. Serving up my 1990s actress vibe. 🤷🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️💯 * * * #oldheadshotday #oldheadshotsday #the90s #ErinKhar #AskErin #RealRavishly #actress #carpenterjeans #babytee

166 Likes, 24 Comments - Erin Khar (@erinkhar) on Instagram: "I mean... how could I not? Please note belted Carpenter jeans and long sleeved baby tee. I was 19..."

That's right, I look like I just walked off the set of Party of Five, no? Anyhow...

I also read some beautiful and moving stuff on the Internet the past couple of weeks. So, check these out (and you're welcome)...

Alexander Chee's On Becoming an American Writer for The Paris Review
Lauren DePino's When You and Your Partner Have Very Different Approaches to Discussing Exes for New York Magazine's The Cut
Marissa Korbel's Sometimes You Make Your Rapist Breakfast for Harper's Bazaar

ALSO.... Holy Moly they caught the GOLDEN STATE KILLER, you guys.

Patton Oswalt discusses late wife Michelle McNamara's book on the Golden State Killer, I'll Be Gone in the Dark, the most recent development in the case and reveals the inspiration for his character on A.P. Bio. " Subscribe to Late Night: http://bit.ly/LateNightSeth " Get more Late Night with Seth Meyers: http://www.nbc.com/late-night-with-seth-meyers/ " Watch Late Night with Seth Meyers Weeknights 12:35/11:35c on NBC.

AND, AND, AND.... I have been listening to this on repeat....

From 'Freedom,' out now. http://hyperurl.co/AmenDunesFreedom https://www.amendunes.com/ https://www.facebook.com/amendunes https://twitter.com/amendunes https://www.instagram.com/amendunes/

Erin Loves: What's Getting Me Through Mercury Retrograde

March 25, 2018 Erin Khar

Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash — Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash

Do you believe in the powers of Mercury Retrograde?

I don't if things truly go wonky when Mercury goes retrograde....but it sure seems like it. Below is a list, in no particular order, of things I'm digging this week (that may or may not help get us through until Mercury turns direct again on April 15th).