It seems like every second that I dont put toward building a side business, making money from a hobby, or improving myself is in some way a second wasted. Photograph: PeopleImages/Getty Images

One consequence of Covid-19 is that we are now all being urged to hustle harder than ever. Isaac Newton discovered gravity and invented calculus while in quarantine, we are told. Shakespeare allegedly wrote King Lear on lockdown.

Ive received emails urging me to use the presumed downtime I now have to learn a new language, or to take a business course to more effectively monetize my photography skills. It seems like every second that I dont put toward building a side business, making money from a hobby, or improving myself is in some way a second wasted.

The pressure is convincing. I have at various points vowed to code a new website, study for every standardized admissions test I could potentially need to take in my life, train to bike nearly 500 miles across my home state, and reach the coveted inbox zero, in addition to doing my actual job.

But then I stop myself and I wonder: who is hustle culture actually benefiting, and is this really the best way to be spending my free hours in isolation?

The language of the hustle was embedded in the pre-corona world. Back when we could travel, hotels encouraged us to be more productive on vacation. The shared workspace company WeWork instructed us: Dont stop when youre tired. According to one ad that ran in London, sleep was for the weak. Its no wonder these pressures are being felt more keenly now amid mass economic dislocation.

I dont necessarily blame the people peddling hustle culture, however the fitness influencers trying to make a sale, or the economic advisers who suggest we cash in on any skill sets we have lying around to deal with the current financial insecurity.

Glorifying the hustle is part and parcel of late capitalism, where dependable employment with benefits and a living wage feel increasingly out of reach. Many in my generation are far less likely to experience the kind of financial stability our parents did, despite working longer hours.

The concept of the hustle helps reconcile these contradictions, and can be weaponized to justify income inequality in nearly any context, promoting an illusion that if you hustle hard enough, the playing field can be equal for you, too. So while the gig economy undermines worker protections and reinforces the expectation that every free second is monetizable, we scramble to assemble a collection of small side gigs to fill in the gaps. The emotional impact is profound. We live in a political and social climate where our sense of self-worth is often reduced to our productivity.

I know all this, yet Im no stranger to the side hustle. I have a full-time job working for the United Nations World Food Programme, but I also run a photography business, work as a freelance journalist, edit books, teach English, freelance as a translator, earn money as a bhangra dancer, and do policy research to supplement my income when Im not on the clock.

Heres what I have to remind myself. Being more productive is actually made harder by the disruption in daily routines, or by having no way to escape from roommates or family. Many people have have spotty internet or cell service. And the constant barrage of confusing and overwhelming bad news can make us sick and exhausted, exacerbating underlying mental health conditions for those who have them. For women, new and unexpected childcare pressures and the new reality of having to prepare more meals at home make it harder to get work done.

Acknowledging that we are all living in an impossible era with little, if any, extra free time is an important first step in breaking free of hustle culture, especially if you can laugh at the absurdity of it all.

The next step is understanding that narratives around the wonders of constantly working primarily benefit a small group of bosses and investors who pocket the profits their workers create, rather than individual workers, no matter how productive we are. The way so many institutions and employers have treated their staff in recent weeks only adds to this impression, as companies from Instacart to Trader Joes have failed to provide employees with hazard pay or adequate protective equipment for work in high-risk conditions.

There is more to our time on this planet than just getting things done

After doing all of that? Try getting involved in a network that addresses the problems with the systems of work and value we live under, like one of the thousands of mutual aid projects that have been organized from coast to coast.

Even though hobbies may seem frivolous or non-essential at a time like this, taking space to do things that arent necessarily productive, or part of a pages-long to-do list, reminds us that there is more to our time on this planet than just getting things done.

In the last few weeks, my favorite moments have included making a batch of homemade butter for the first time and getting my violin out after years in storage.

I was reminded that in addition to a productive employee, I am also someone who loves to cook and who has a passion for music. I remembered that I am more than the economic value I generate, the perfect antidote to a lifetime of indoctrination otherwise.

Link:
Why you should ignore the pressure to be productive during lockdown - The Guardian

PETALING JAYA: Patience is not simply the ability to wait its how we behave and what we do while were waiting.

National pistol shooter Johnathan Wong (pic) is adamant that he knows exactly how and what to do during the movement control order (MCO) imposed to stem the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

For starters, Olympian Johnathan said he would remain positive and keep himself busy even if the Government decides to extend the lockdown period after May 12.

Given the situation around the world, I have learnt to expect and prepare for the MCO extension, said the 10m air pistol gold medallist at the recent President Ally T.H. Ong Championships.

I have been keeping myself occupied during my time indoors, trying to make full use of the time that I wouldnt have when I am actively training, such as doing house cleaning, catching up with movies and video gaming.

Besides that, self-reflection in this period is the best. With no other distraction and external pressure it is easier to think of ways for self-improvement.

I have been working closely with the sport psychologist from National Sports Institute (NSI) and doing physical workout regularly, making sure that I will be ready when training starts, said Johnathan.

The pandemic has obviously uprooted the 27-year-olds shooters routine as he usually trains for hours at the National Sports Council (NSC) shooting range in Bukit Jalil.

Now he can only train indoors without any shooting done. His only guide is the training programme provided by the NSI.

During this period, Johnathan has also discovered the delights of reading which will help enhance his visualisation and imagination.

Currently Im reading the Lord of the Ring series, and Ive managed to finished two of it. Generally, I prefer fantasy or detective fiction, as it spurs my imagination.

There are some things that are hard to train if you are not at the shooting range. But I have been practising visualisation so that even without being physically at the range, the memory of my technique still stays fresh in my mind.

Coaches would also check on our health from time to time.

With no action for more than a month, Johnathan, who is gunning for an Olympic wildcard spot, said the Covid-19 situation, is a lesson in learning how to adapt to the different aspects of life.

It is best that we lower our expectations now and always be prepared to face the worst. Start from the bottom again, and the results will come.

Read more here:
Patient Wong has no qualms over extending MCO - The Star Online

Being called a one-trick pony is not a compliment and yet many Australian super funds have been satisfied possessing only one core skill for almost 30 years.

Their main area of expertise is allocating long-term capital when their mandate to secure a dignified retirement for all members and minimise dependence on the Aged Pension demands so much more than that.

But Covid-19 presents a unique opportunity for the industry to pursue a different approach to managing members retirement savings.

In the same way that many Australians are using their time in quarantine to learn a new language, play an instrument and master the art of baking bread; funds must also use this crisis for self-improvement.

They should emerge with a resolve to become experts at risk management too. That requires a sharper focus on members liabilities.

The task of liability matching is fundamental to the role of trustees, but prudent risk management is not only about matching a funds long-term pension liabilities with appropriate long-term investments. It is also about understanding the liability profile of individual members.

As fiduciaries (and not mere asset owners), super fund trustees have a responsibility to give equal attention to members liabilities, and not just their financial goals and aspirations.

But this is not a pitch to return to the principles that underpin defined benefit schemes. Members liabilities are not as simple as 60 per cent of final salary. They are certainly not as straightforward as the defined contribution yardstick of CPI+.

In fact, the language of risk and liability management is problematic in its own right and reflects the technical focus and background of much of the industry (and particularly actuaries and investment professionals). It neglects the fact that the ultimate output of a superannuation fund, is an innately personal and emotional one.

Member diversity

Super fund members represent a complex web of disparate lifestyles, occupations and degrees of health and affluence, all of which are subject to continuous change.

One persons idea of a comfortable retirement will differ from anothers. Each individual member has deeply personal hopes and dreams.

Any number of uncontrollable events can see these dreams shattered, including long-term unemployment, a sudden health crisis, a major market correction and a good old-fashioned pandemic.

These are the risks that matter for the members that have placed their retirement aspirations in our care and must be appropriately managed.

Yet, the industrys approach to this dilemma has largely hinged on the asset component of this asset and liability equation, hence its myopic focus on growth and accumulation.

To bridge this gap, funds need to gain a deeper understanding of what really matters to members, understand the nature of retirement, and then use that knowledge to shape policy, drive engagement and develop solutions that address the needs of various member cohorts.

While the answers to some of these questions may be confronting, the benefits through a deeper understanding and relevance to our members are substantial. Moving away from using averages and arbitrary benchmarks like the ASFA retirement standard will demonstrate a genuine desire to understand the lifestyles and concerns of our members.

For the funds that rise to this challenge, there is an opportunity to also attract new members seeking a more personal and empathetic experience.

Implementation, however, will require an approach that coordinates the traditional silos that exist within a superannuation funds structure, and complements it with the necessary governance and focus on retirement outcomes, traversing education, advice, administration, and investment seamlessly and with a shared purpose.

Systems to capture and use member data already exist and a small number of local players already offer tailored investment solutions to match their members unique circumstances. A differentiated suite of solutions for particular segments, combined with ongoing education, advice and communication that is personalised will round this out.

Breaking free

This is a unique opportunity to lead from the front and break free from the herd.

There are challenges to navigate, from the development of an appropriate framework to monitor and assess a new business model focused on member outcomes, through to the need to collaborate with regulators and policymakers to help remove existing roadblocks and impediments to the delivery of greater personalisation.

The Financial Services Royal Commission and the Productivity Commission Superannuation Inquiry emphasised the role of trustees to help their members achieve optimal retirement outcomes. Furthermore, APRAs prudential standard (SPS 515) requires funds to regularly assess the outcomes provided to members and identify opportunities for improvement.

Fortunately, at 28 years old, Australias retirement income system is still young. It does not have the legacy problems that inhibit traditional sectors, like banking and life insurance.

There are no major impediments to cultural change.

If fund members can learn how to use Zoom and work remotely while home-schooling children and running their household, there is no good reason why their super fund cant emerge from COVID-19 with a reinvigorated roadmap for the future.

Even if their equivalent of homemade sourdough bread is only a sharper focus on members liabilities and a commitment to change for the better, it is enough to get started.

While my last columnReality bites for supers long-term theory raised the possibility of another 1-in-100 year pandemic or economic crisis lurking around the corner, Covid-19 is here and now.

Like any crisis, it is making the ordinarily difficult task of questioning the status quo easier.

Funds must act to fend off government intervention and the threat of disruption from new entrants who claim to know their members better than they do.

As Winston Churchill famously said: Never waste a good crisis.

Wade Matterson is a principal and leads the Australian practice of Milliman, a global actuarial management consultancy firm.

Read more:
Time to change or be changed - Investment Magazine

Warner Records Pop

The new song is from her upcoming album 'Good To Know'

We're just a week out from JoJo's new album Good To Know her first since 2016's Mad Love and she's continuing to build excitement with the release of another new single.

On Friday (April 24), the singer continued her self-love chronicles with "Lonely Hearts," which is centered around the question that everyone struggling with codependency should ask themselves: "How can I work on me, if I'm working on your body?" That theme of self-improvement seeps into the bridge, as JoJo asserts, "I'm liking being alone / Emotions under control / Right now is only for me ... Don't take it personally." It's a soulful slow jam that shines as bright as the highlighter on her cheek in the single's artwork.

Speaking about her new single in a press release, JoJo explained, "This song continues the journey of self-love that I've been on. Realizing that while temptation and self-doubt may arise, at the end of the day, choosing self-preservation over toxic relationships is what I'm doing in my life right now."

"Lonely Hearts" follows last month's "Man," on which the 29-year-old laid out her requirements for a partner by singing, "I need somebody who can love me like I love me." Both songs are set to appear on Good To Know, along with last year's "Joanna" and the Chika-assisted "Sabotage." The new album arrives on May 1.

For more JoJo goodness, check out the singer's recent MTV Unplugged At Home performance, during which she performed "Man," "Too Little Too Late," and more hits from the comfort of her bedroom.

2020 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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JoJo Chooses Herself Over A Toxic Partner On 'Lonely Hearts' - MTV.com

Governor JB Prizker announced last week that schools will remain closed for the rest of the semester and the stay-at-home mandate will be extended for another 30 days due to the coronavirus. While the daily new cases in the U.S. appear to have reached a plateau, deaths are still on the rise and COVID-19 patients still occupy over a quarter of all hospital beds. Even when things reopen, weeks to months from now, the world wont be the same as what we remembered. Itll be a slow and cautious ramp-up with the possibility of returning to quarantine.

Many are already feeling the social, emotional and economic blow to our well-being and worry that the worst is yet to come. However anxious we are for things to return to normal, its important to remain calm and constructive during this time. A positive outlook not only builds mental stability, but also can be protective for our immunity and physical health, making us more resilient as we overcome these challenges.

Weve collected 10 actionable items to help you stay mentally and emotionally optimistic:

1. Prioritize and find a purpose to your day. Focusing on things within your control mitigates the stress associated with uncertainty. Make a checklist of what youd like to accomplish each day. Exercise discretion on which meetings you will call in and whats the best use of your time. Also, dont beat yourself up for not being hyper-productive. Its ok to not finish everything on your list. Allow yourself a little leeway.

2. Start your day with a positive routine. Morning routines become even more important during times of crisis. Mentally ground yourself when you wake up smile, meditate for a few minutes, think of three things to be grateful for.

3. Seek information from reliable sources. To avoid the fear and panic that misinformation can cause, get updated on whats going on from official websites and health care agencies: Coronavirus Task Force (https://www.coronavirus.gov/); The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html); The Illinois Department of Public Health (http://www.dph.illinois.gov); and Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu).

4. Limit news intake from TV and social media. Excessive exposure to media coverage amplifies fear, doubt and anxiety. Turn off the automatic alerts on your phone. Set boundaries on your news consumption.

5. Keep in touch with family and friends. Meaningful human connections can ease the stress caused by the pandemic, especially if you or someone you know is quarantining alone. Both offering and receiving emotional support brings a sense of comfort and stability. Even though we must avoid physical interactions, plenty of digital tools allow us to have virtual happy hours for adults and playdates for kids.

6. Build in time to relax and recharge. Take regular breaks from working-from-home tasks to refresh your brain and mind. Breathe and relax. Step outside to get fresh air. Read an uplifting story or watch a funny clip to feel a momentary jolt of joy.

7. Practice self-care. Make sure you sleep, exercise, hydrate and eat a balanced diet. This ensures that your immune system stays strong and your mind is focused and clear to tackle the day. Role model self-care for your children.

8. Invest in yourself. See the extra time you have as a prime opportunity for self-improvement. Dont use all of it to binge watch Netflix! Enhance your career by working on your resume, taking online classes or studying for a certificate. Pick up a new hobby and hone a new skill.

9. Talk with your children about the outbreak. Its equally important to help children cope with stress and protect them from any coronavirus nervousness. Listen to their concerns and answer their questions. Encourage them to write and draw about their experiences and emotions. Reassure them that theyre safe.

10. Put things into perspective. Resilience means that despite something going wrong, you believe you can and will do your best to deal with the situation and move forward. It's easy to get so wrapped up in the details of an event. Zoom out and look at the big picture. Avoid catastrophizing and assess the most realistic impacts. Believe in yourself and maintain a sense of hope.

Qing Yang and Kevin Parker are a married couple and live in Springfield. Dr. Yang received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and completed residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is an anesthesiologist at HSHS Medical Group. Parker has helped formulate and administer public policy at various city and state governments around the country. He is formerly the group chief information officer for education with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology. This column is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The opinions are those of the writers and do not represent the views of their employers.

Continue reading here:
Keeping a positive outlook in the time of coronavirus - The State Journal-Register

Try these five fun activities to ensure your Friday is happy, healthy and productive!

Isolation is no fun... but it can be productive.

As the world continues to work on containing the COVID-19 outbreak, Olympic Channel has found another five activities you can try today from the comfort of your own home that will keep you happy, healthy and entertained.

From elite athlete workouts, to a fascinating conversation you can tune into, we have you covered today!

If you have stairs at home, Carlin Isles has speed drills for you.

The USA rugby sevens flyer is a constant source of inspiration during isolation, in how to self-motivate and make the use of what you have around you.

Just make sure no one is coming round the corner at the top!

If running up stairs isnt your thing, the COM dive team in Texas have created a slightly more intricate challenge to test your mobility.

If youre alone, use #footshoechallenge and see how you shape up online.

Brian Orser is a figure skating double Olympic medallist-turned-coach, who has mentored the likes of Yuzuru Hanyu, Javier Fernandez and Adam Rippon.

We will be giving Brian a call on Instagram live today, so DM us your questions and join us at 2pm UTC (10am EST).

Tune in to see how skaters are coping, and what advice Brian has for keeping active, and also what his thoughts were on the abruptly ended world championships.

He will discuss how the figure skating community is regrouping, and why this is a time when skaters will get to show what kind of athlete they really are, from a leadership and self-improvement perspective, and also in terms of learning new choreography - which are things that can usually only be improved in the off-season.

NB. Tomorrow, 25 April, is the Open Ice event: where a host of star figure skaters will Livestream for the UN Foundation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The donation page can be found here.

Do you let someone unqualified have a go at taming your hair during the lockdown? Or is it time to grow your locks out a bit?

Perhaps the safest option is to shave it off like Michael Phelps has for charity, and you can attribute your new look to a worthy cause.

For the women, how about some Italian inspiration from Federica Pellegrini who has gone for an isolation bob...

USA boxers Mikaela Mayer and Ginny Fuchs may have fancy footwork in the ring, but even they can struggle with learning new skills!

Fuchs will have to take care though, as shes one of the favourites to qualify for Tokyo 2020 at the Pan American Olympic Boxing Qualifier in 2021.

Please get your home owners permission before trying this, and wear protective equipment!

See the rest here:
Daily routine: Five things to do - 24 April - Olympic Channel

Self-discipline when it comes to physical acts of worship is a part of the heritage of Islam. However, the true essence of Ramadan has been diluted, and dare I say, lost, through the generations. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

It is going to be a very different Ramadan this year due to the Covid-19 global pandemic and the social isolation laws. For 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, the cultural traditions and customs of this religious month of fasting will have to be forsaken for the safety of the global community. As an introvert, I am really looking forward to spending this month focusing inwards, without the burden of social responsibility.

Ramadan in 2020 means no communal gatherings in mosques for tarawih night prayers, no large iftar dinners with family and friends at sunset to break the days fast,and, sadly, restrictions on celebrating Eid, the biggest social holiday for Muslims signalling the end of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, and involves fasting from food, water and marital relations from dawn to dusk for 29-30 days. Though cultural traditions have depicted Ramadan as a month of feasting and socialisation, in reality, the pure religious tenets stress Ramadan as a month of extreme self-discipline and self-mastery, concepts that I constantly strive for.

The current coronavirus rules involve hygiene practices that muslims are encouraged to do in general daily life. Muslims believe that cleanliness is half of faith, and we perform wudu, which is a ritual purification that involves handwashing and washing the face, arms and feet five times a day before each obligatory prayer.

Self-discipline when it comes to physical acts of worship is a part of the heritage of Islam. However, the true essence of Ramadan has been diluted, and dare I say, lost, through the generations. The struggle for us today lies in the matters of the heart and the soul, and connecting at a deeper, more authentic level, to our sense of self and to our creator.

Unfortunately, today Muslims often subjugate themselves and put the needs of others over our own physical, mental and spiritual needs. We frantically prepare large family dinners, and with the lockdown and children at home every day, this struggle can be magnified. It could simply be a matter of perspective, where a shift into a spiritual reflective state a state of being rather than doing could help maximise our affinity.

The focus of Ramadan can move away from food preparation and eating at sunset, to self-improvement and self-discipline. There can be a tendency to overeat at these large iftars due to the spread of food available. However, now, without the self-induced obligation of hosting or attending iftars, meals can be prepared with a focus on simplicity and aligned with Islamic principles.

Islam teaches that any food consumption should be to the fullness of one third of the stomach, with another third for water, and the last third for air. Muslims are highly discouraged from overeating and from wasting. Furthermore, any food that is consumed must be halal and tayyib. Tayyib means that the food eaten must be wholesome and good for you. Ramadan is the best time to discipline the self to eat healthy fresh food and in smaller proportions.

Ramadan is also known as the month of the Quran, as this is the month in which the Islamic scripture was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. We Muslims place a heavy emphasis on connecting to the Quran during this month, through daily recitations and reflections, or attending the mosque for congregational night prayers (tarawih) where the Imam aims to recite the entire scripture in the prayers over the month so that we can reflect as we listen.

In this time of physical distancing, as Muslims we will be forced to reconnect to our God and the Quran on a deeply intimate level. Interestingly enough, this is the authentic practice of Prophet Muhammad. He would isolate himself for days in a cave at the top of a mountain to introspect, reflect, worship and connect with God. During the last 10 days of Ramadan, he was known to self-isolate in a spiritual seclusion practice known as itikf.

In the time of Prophet Muhammad, tarawih night prayers were initially prayed in congregation for three days, however from the fourth night onwards Prophet Muhammad prayed tarawih in his own home, saying O people! Perform your [tarawih] prayers at your homes, for the best prayer of a person is what is performed at his home except the compulsory congregational prayer.

I believe the authentic spirit of Ramadan is one of self-discipline, introspection, self-discovery and self-development. Ramadan during the global pandemic may seem disheartening at a superficial level, however I honestly feel that it arrives at an ideal time.

You have the choice to embrace this Ramadan with a focus on deep connection and one-on-one intimacy with God through prayer and reflection. I plan to spend this next month practising self-compassion and self-mastery, and I invite everyone to join me in this journey of holistic growth and connection.

Heba Shaheed is a physiotherapist and womens health advocate

Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure discussion remains on topics raised by the writer. Please be aware there may be a short delay in comments appearing

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Ramadan during coronavirus may seem disheartening but it's the ideal time for reflection - The Guardian

Minimalisms core and uncontroversial preaching is to think critically about whats necessary and whats not. In practice, what often results, as Chayka and other critics have noted, is a form of conspicuously inconspicuous consumption. In a 2018 passage on ambient music, the writer David Stubbs got at the elitist subtext of the orderly/disorderly design dichotomy: Wealthy Westerners still squander obscene amounts of the worlds resources, but have found stylish, discreet ways of doing so Poverty, by contrast, is a visibly maximal experience. It is shopping trolleys crammed with wretched but vital belongings which you have no place to park. As Arielle Bernstein, a daughter of refugees, put it in a 2016 Atlantic piece, For my grandparents, the question wasnt whether an item sparked joy, but whether it was necessary for their survival.

The notion of survival is now, of course, something even the wealthy are having to meditate on. Its been widely noted that overly Kondoed households may be, in the present, fend-for-yourself crisis, a bit screwed. Im not the one who threw out everything that didnt spark joy, Robert, chides a figure in a recent New Yorker cartoon. Enjoy spending the next few months rolling and unrolling your seven T-shirts. The truth is that most Kondo followers who subscribe to The New Yorker are fine: They can still send out for the things they need. But it will be telling to see, when this is all over, whether anyone ditches stocked-up canned goods on account of them not sparking joy.

While the crisis has staged the revenge of stuff, its also implemented lifestyles long glamorized as minimalist. In social isolation, many of us just do less than we once did, and some of us are clearly enjoying it. For the longest time, I have felt that theres been too much world, Olga Tokarczuk wrote in The New Yorker. Too much, too fast, too loud. So Im not experiencing any isolation trauma, and it isnt hard on me at all to not see people. I feel a twinge of this relief too, but I am not sure it is something to be proudly embraced. People for whom coronavirus isolation is relatively serene tend to be lucky enough to be able to work from home, or rich enough to not need to work at all. Theres something misanthropic in celebrating isolation when the un-isolated risk infection; it calls back to the way that self-care has been, in recent years, evangelized to endorse callousness toward others.

With any of the existential trials that isolation has placed on society, its an open question whether the habits of this moment will stick around long-term or instead inspire rebellion. Certainly right now its impossible to forget that vaunted aesthetic terms such as clean and sterile derive from highly unglamorous medical situations. Its hard to feel that hospital-like order and silence are, in themselves, values that ennoble life. Streets have now been emptied and six-foot grids have been implemented in order to guard against not just bodies but the jostle of existing in a diverse society: confrontations, connection, and accidents, happy and sad. In response, hearteningly, people are scrawling art on their blank masks and making noise out their windows. They know that one of the joys of good health is the ability to make a mess.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.

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The Pandemic Has Made a Mockery of Minimalism - The Atlantic

I was listening to a podcast the other day and the main topic of discussion among some of the world's greatest public intellectuals was whether we will be a changed society after we emerge from lockdown and life goes back to normal.

Will we take the lessons we have learned during this period of quarantine?

Will our politics be changed, our health care and educational systems upgraded? Will the food, hospitality, travel, and entertainment industries be transformed? And if so, how?

Will humanity be more united?

Will the race towards globalization continue or be slowed? Will we revert back to a more nationalistic posture and orientation, with each country looking out for its own, or will we come together to fix some of the global issues that cannot be solved individually, like pandemics, climate change, cyber security, terrorism, and market disruption?

Will we maintain our heightened levels of introspection and the added quality time spent with our families, or will we immediately rush to (over) fill our lives with business and social engagements, like a pent-up rubber band or champagne bottle cork suddenly released?

Jewish history, especially as marked during the current Omer period, has much to offer on the topic.

If you study Jewish history you will discern a pattern: any change that is externally induced is short lived. Real, sustainable, lasting change comes through evolution, not revolution.

This is true of the two most monumental events in Jewish history: the great Exodus from Egypt and the Revelation at Sinai seven weeks later. The effect of both of these watershed events was temporary.

Just three days after being liberated from Egypt, the people challenged Moses:

What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt? Isn't this the thing [about] which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone, and we will serve the Egyptians, because we would rather serve the Egyptians than die in the desert.

Incredibly, over the next few decades there are numerous instances where the people challenge Moses similarly, even expressing a distorted nostalgia for their time spent in Egypt:

We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, the cucumbers, the watermelons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.

Really?!

And do you also remember the attempted genocide, forced slavery, and torture you faced at the hands of the Egyptians? Or did the mind-blowing culinary delight of cucumbers and garlic eclipse the many horrifying human rights violations you suffered in Egypt? (My words, not Moses.)

How does a group of liberated slaves come to pine for their former period of enslavement? How do they accuse, abuse and confuse their savior Moses with genocidal intent?

They said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt?

But such is the nature of sudden and externally induced change: its effects are superficial and skin-deep.

While the great Exodus from Egypt might have changed the external reality of the people, it didnt change their inner world, the slave mentality that had been seared into their psyches.

As the saying goes, It may have taken a day to take the Jews out of Egypt, but it has taken millennia to take Egypt out of the Jew.

You see, any real external progress requires a corresponding internal process.

Change that is artificial rather than organic is superficial and temporary.

The same theme repeats itself during the Great Revelation at Sinai, considered by our sages to be the most monumental event in Jewish and world history.

Just weeks after hearing Gd say: I am the Lrd, Do not worship another, the people are found fervently dancing around a calf made of gold in blatant violation of the prohibition against worshipping idols!

And this would not be the last time. As chronicled throughout Scripture, sadly, our peoples struggle with idolatry was an ongoing feature of their spiritual evolution.

How does this happen?

It takes more than a few supernatural feats, plagues, and miracles to counter hundreds of years of attachment to idolatry.

Real, lasting, transformative change requires perspiration, not just inspiration.

The journey and transition from decadent slaves to kingdom of priests is not natural, and therefore could not be instantaneous.

And that is what the Omer period is all about. Its an annual national 7-week program of spiritual and moral evaluation and self-improvement.

The mitzvah to mark each day between Passover and Shavuot with a prayer is not just about counting each day, but making each day count.

The mystics teach that the Hebrew word for count, sipur, can also mean to refine.

Hence the deeper meaning of this mitzvah is to reflect on and work to refine one particular component of our character and inner composition over the seven-week Omer period.

We analyze the building blocks of our emotional makeup, and ensure that the foundation of our psycho-spiritual world is healthy and mature.

The Omer ritual does more than link the festivals of Passover and Shavuot in time; it bridges them in spirit, transforming two separate festivals into milestones along a single journey, ensuring that by the time we reach the foot of Sinai our hardened hearts have been softened and our embittered egos have been gently broken open, making us soulful and receptive recipients to the infinite rays of Divine light and love made available to us each year on Shavuot.

To internalize, then, is to eternalize.

And so in the spirit of counting the Omer, let us dwell on, delve into, and develop our inner world. Let us utilize this global period of pause and introspection to go back to the drawing board of our lives in order to define our core values, refine our beliefs and philosophy, and redesign our habits and lifestyles to reflect our highest and truest selves.

And if we can achieve that, we will have managed to reshape and reframe a period of turbulence, transience, tribulation and tragedy into personal and collective triumph and lasting transformation.

See the article here:
Will Coronavirus Change Us Forever? - A Timely Lesson from Counting the Omer - Chabad.org

Duggar daughter Jinger, often posts on Instagram. Her life looks to die for, shes got a beautiful baby and a handsome husband. And, it seems they dont want for a few pennies either. Living in LA, they took to Californian life like ducks to water. But she suddenly promoted a book called Youre Not Enough (And Thats Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love. Fans wonder if she feels inadequate and unfulfilled in her marriage.

TV Shows Ace often reports on Jingerss happy-looking life. She loves her daily walk with her Felicity and Jeremy. Taken up in her darling daughters life, never a bad moment between the couple hits Instagram. But idyllic as they seem, could she suffer conflict? And, is that related to her religious upbringing? Written by Allie Beth Stuckey, Amazon notes the book tackles the issue of self-love.

Part of the synopsis of the book reads, But the promise doesnt deliver. Instead of feeling fulfilled, our pursuit of self-love traps us in an exhausting cycle: as we strive for self-acceptance, we become addicted to self-improvement. Over on Reddit, plenty of Duggar followers spoke out against this sort of approach to life. After all, they cant get over how appreciating themselves and enjoying self-love can possibly be a bad thing.

The book, written for Instagram influencers, mommy bloggers, self-help gurus, and teachers claims that nobody can be successful, secure, and complete if they indulge in self-love. But reading it, some followers of the Duggar family wonder if Jinger struggles with her self-worth. After all, it seems no matter what the Duggar women do, theyll always be second-class citizens.

In the Duggar world, girls become nothing more than cooks, cleaners, child rearers, and slaves to their husbands whims. Much like that relationship with husbands, the females are also required to trust in the word of God completely. This book brings an angle that only God can fulfill people. In fact, for some Redditors, it seems sad, as everyones got the free will to work on their own self-improvement.

On Reddit, one person wrote, doesnt it make you sad to know that this is actually how the girls feel they willnever be good enough for their husbands and anything that goes wrong is their fault. Another one noted, I have so much pity for Jinger [Duggar] and her hateful beliefs.

What do you think about Jinger reading that book? Do you think that shes not happy in her marriage? Is that why she looks for guidance about loving or not loving herself? Sound off your thoughts in the comment below.

Remember to check back withTV Shows Ace often for more news about the Duggar family of TLCs Counting On.

Woryn is a writer who started a small book publishing company. She wrote three books, one of them published by Domhan. Woryn also writes as Jane Flowers for The Destination Seeker and Blasting News.

Originally posted here:
Duggar: Is Jinger Vuolo Unhappy And Unfulfilled In Her Marriage? - TV Shows Ace