This Is The Way recommends
Beltway Banthas finale episode and The Girl Who Would Be Free
Happy Friday friends and This Is The Way readers! I wanted to try and start a new habit of a Friday email recommending just a few things to add into your digest for the weekend. I don’t know about you but I often can’t read every article I want or find time for a book on weekdays. I bookmark many articles and come back to them on Saturdays and Sundays. So! I thought I’d share some reading with you that I did get to and thoroughly enjoyed, so you can make it part of your week as well.
My effort will be to keep it short. Maybe one book, two articles, and a podcast or video. So here’s the weekly
Embrace Boredom. “It’s good for you & even better for your kids.” (Axios)
My 11-year-old does not have a phone or tablet. She would not accept one if I offered it. This is part of her nature, but we did do one thing early on to plant that seed. When she was a toddler (old enough to understand me) and we found ourselves in the pediatrician’s office for a doctor visit, I would fiddle with my phone. Kids take note. They ask for the thing you’re playing with. I refused. I stuck to my guns for a few years on this in the car and in waiting rooms and said only, “You need to learn to be okay sitting alone with your thoughts.” At some point, she took that to heart and still does today. Boredom is okay. It’s time with me, myself, and I. Don’t be too eager to kill boredom.
The Girl Who Would Be Free by Ryan Holiday
I picked up this beautifully illustrated children’s book for my daughter (Sylvie) the other day. It’s a fable about Epictetus, the slave and Stoic philosopher whose teachings would inspire and guide more than one future Emperor of Rome. Holiday recast Epictetus as a little girl and also melded anecdotes and quotes from other historical figures into this adaptation of Epictetus’ life. So it’s a fable in the truest sense, not a historical account.
Sylvie and I had been discussing the concept of “freedom” while sitting together at the dog park. She and I have a knack for getting into deep chats when at the dog park. I think it’s now something Sylvie tries to spur on, funny enough. I don’t remember why but I mentioned to her the concept of the “empire between your ears,” to remind her that in life there’s a lot of bull crap we have to simply tolerate…but in the end, we fully control our minds. That is where freedom lies. What we ingest, what we choose to put out and how we choose to interpret the world around us. I can’t recommend this book enough for parents.
The finale of the Beltway Banthas podcast
A good 60% of you are probably here because you started following my podcast, Beltway Banthas: Star Wars, Politics & more. Well after nearly 6 years that podcast concluded this week. I taped a final episode and offered my conclusion on what the “politics of Star Wars” really are. Thank you, thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart who boosted this podcast and enjoyed it. This project changed my life for the better in huge ways. I was scared to death of ending it, but I think it’s gonna be for the best. I believe new things will have oxygen to grow now as this project finally wraps up. Enjoy and if you’re on Twitter, send me a note about what you thought of it @Stephen_kent89
Be good to yourself and others this weekend. This is the way.
Farewell, Beltway Banthas.