What a sweet annual Guest Writers Series! We loved the diverse voices, varied passions and shared stories. We love, too, the different ways that different people speak! Oh, so articulate\u2026 Allow me to thank our humble writers once more, and thanks, also, to the many of you who encouraged them from both near and far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So why?<\/em> Why do we feature a month of other authors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our reason is two-fold. One, I get a bit of a respite (see picture above).<\/em> In recent years, I\u2019ve learned better the huge benefit of intentional rest \u2014 a shabbat, if you will \u2014 just taking time to disconnect from routine and be recharged and refreshed. My sense is that\u2019s good in all things, as a routine can oft evolve into the mundane. Also, we can sometimes get so stuck in our rhythms \u2014 physical, emotional and spiritual \u2014 that we lose sight of the greatest wisdom. Rest helps me remember what\u2019s most important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But two, it upholds one of the mantras of the Intramuralist. When we started this witty little, current events blog some 17 years ago, it wasn\u2019t because I felt everyone needed to hear from me. It also wasn\u2019t because I feel like I always have the best, most astute and informed opinion. Oh, my\u2026 so clearly not! Friends, allow me a bit of a transparent newsflash: sometimes I am wrong. Sometimes I am wrong and I have zero idea!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of the Intramuralist isn\u2019t so that all people think like me; that would be silly. The goal of the Intramuralist also isn\u2019t to always lay out a balanced, both sides, impartial opinion; that\u2019s not how most of us think. The goal of the Intramuralist is to learn how to share our stories and perspectives in a way that is completely respectful of the person who doesn\u2019t think like us. That\u2019s why we invite diverse voices\u2026 Learn to sit with the one who is different. Learn to be curious, to ask questions, and to graciously acknowledge when the different doesn\u2019t make sense. Resist the insult. Remove the meme. Ask even more questions\u2026 <\/em>Listening to varied voices is a wise thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (To think I thought speaking respectfully to all was something we didn\u2019t do collectively well\u2026 17 years ago\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While away, no less, lots happened\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the Independence Day celebrations to talk of the 250th being next\u2026 to the other, less-celebrated July holidays (sorry if you missed World Chocolate Day on the 7th or National Lasagna Day on the 29th\u2026 ice cream, graham crackers and fried clams also had their respective days)\u2026 to the continuation of both the Russia\/Ukraine and Gaza\/Israel conflicts, with the latter focusing on constructing a lasting ceasefire and managing widespread hunger and poor healthcare\u2026 to the awful, awful flooding at Camp Mystic\u2026 to the loss of Hulk Hogan, Malcom-Jamal Warner and the iconic Ozzy Osbourne\u2026 to all the sporting events (before football soon starts again, thank God) at Wimbledon, golf\u2019s Open Championship and the 22 day Tour de France\u2026 to Caitlin Clark playing and not playing again\u2026 to the upset primary win of a socialist in New York City\u2026 to all sorts of other events worth discussing \u2014 from the immigrant detention facility in South Florida to the debated success of the tariffs to the popularity of the parties to even American Eagle\u2019s newest jeans ad\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Then again, seems like the stories that received most of our attention came from singular words: i.e. Epstein, Russiagate and Coldplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (And geesh on the Coldplay kiss cam! I have a few words\u2026 why did they duck?! If the cheating couple would have stayed steady, none of us would have reacted the way we did\u2026 and why did we react the way we did \u2014 and still do? Maybe I\u2019m wrong. But there was just something about the instantaneous justice that was very, very satisfying\u2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And with that, we\u2019re back \u2014 back with a semi-humble curiosity to learn and discuss what\u2019s happening in the world today\u2026 to dialogue respectfully in every conversation. I have a confession, friends. I haven\u2019t always done that. I\u2019ve made some mistakes and certainly some mistakes in how I\u2019ve justified being ill-mannered to another\u2026 some even this week! But I won\u2019t give up trying to be better and wiser. There is lots to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our next story comes Wednesday, sharing how I learned much from a circumstance that was nothing short of a multi-hour annoyance, flying back to Florida. It\u2019s amazing what we can learn from every situation and person\u2026 that is, of course, if we let them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What a sweet annual Guest Writers Series! We loved the diverse voices, varied passions and shared stories. We love, too, the different ways that different people speak! Oh, so articulate\u2026 Allow me to thank our humble writers once more, and thanks, also, to the many of you who encouraged them from both near and far. … <\/p>\n