#19 Weekend reads – a week of rest after months of focus

Something that has always helped me stay positive, engaged, hopeful and energized is to get busy. I’m not one to escape reality, nor am I reluctant to face the truth (I think my weekend reads shows you that) but I do know what helps me in challenging times is taking action that helps others. That’s how I stay sane, I take action. Not for me, for my wider community.

No question 2020 has been a very dark year for so many people, and it’s not going to get lighter any time soon from all I’m reading and watching. The length of the crisis so far has already been exhausting, so I know it’s going to get even more intense. This all means my willingness to step up and be a voice of hope for this time is a commitment I am making. I know I can stay strong.

However, the more you do this, the more you serve, then you must manage your own energy too. You can not be up all the time. You can not serve all the time. You have to rest before you crash, or if you miss that tipping point, be gentle on yourself when you do crash, so you can rebuild your energy reserves and come back when you’re ready.

After the week of the Asia Professional Speakers Convention 2020 it was time to crash. While my husband was often frustrated I was spending so much time on this Convention, he understood it was important for me to be part of the team delivering this world-class event. Our team of volunteers knew this was a way we could serve our community to help them at this time.

But it took its toll on all of us. Although, some went into other activities straight after the event and I was like woah, how the hell do you do that? I suppose their crash is due?

For me, I just needed to sleep and rest. I needed to not think about anything in particular. I needed to ignore all of the emails and messages I’ve got unanswered on my various accounts and for a week, just stop and do nothing. If you’ve reached out, I’ll respond soon my friends.

So that was this week, but I will be back, invigorated and firing on all cylinders.

It’s a reminder for all of us. Please remember to rest when you need to, even if you work for a large corporation. If your company does not respect that, you’re working for the wrong company. I know fear of losing jobs is high, but we have to take care of ourselves. We’re not facing a marathon. We’re facing an Iron Man. Iron Men are good at resting and nourishing their bodies.

Charity

If you are still employed and have some cash – perhaps you’ve even saved because of quarantine – please donate locally, or globally to the UN Refugee Program and World Food Program.? Many people are suffering. Let’s not contract, let’s expand and help everyone get through this time.

Friends content

How to Cope When Everything Keeps Changing featuring my friend Margie Warrell – a power woman!

How I Rebuilt My Business And Forged Stronger Emotional Bonds In Covid-19 Times By Doing This ONE Thing great blog from Coen Tan and the importance of connection during these times, as well as asking for help

And I published this one Why purpose, intention and love must be at the center of influence today – it includes inspirational words from Dr. Bertice Berry, and a call to action to change the path humanity is on. Join me.

Content to read

And here’s the content I’ve been reading this last week. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read or watch them all. Knowledge is power, and global knowledge is even more powerful.

Climate Crisis / 6^th Mass Extinction

LIVING PLANET REPORT 2020 please read. Since the year I was born, we have lost 68% of population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. We are destroying the foundation of all life, including our own. Will we wake up and build back new? That’s on all of us to demand

Wildfires and soaring temperatures — the hellscape scientists warned us about is here Tks Susanna Hasenoehrl

Earth barrelling toward ‘Hothouse’ state not seen in 50 million years, epic new climate record shows

California skies glow orange as wildfires continue – in pictures

The past and future human impact on mammalian diversity

California blaze caused by firework at gender-reveal party

California endures record-setting ‘kiln-like’ heat as fires rage, causing injuries

Class action to stop planned coal mine extension filed by climate action-focused Australian teenagers

California endures record-setting ‘kiln-like’ heat as fires rage, causing injuries

35 Global Banks Still Investing Heavily in Fossil Fuels (And What You Can Do About It)

More than half of government environmental scientists say their work has been suppressed: report tks Philippa Penfold

What Climate Change Does to the Human Body

Nobel prize-winning economics of climate change is misleading and dangerous – here’s why

Oregon wildfires: Half a million people flee dozens of infernos

Rio Tinto CEO resigns after destruction of 46,000-year-old sacred Indigenous site

A Climate Reckoning in Fire-Stricken California

Pringles tube tries to wake from ‘recycling nightmare’

COVID19

Coronavirus tracked: the latest figures as countries fight Covid-19 resurgence – just in case you want to stay on top of the latest data, from the Financial Times

Covid: Australia hopes to roll out almost 85 million vaccine doses

Coronavirus: Hancock concern over ‘sharp rise’ in cases

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Is Now Linked to More Than 250,000 Coronavirus Cases tks Bob Hooey

I’m all for the Melbourne lockdown, but it’s got pretty tough, hasn’t it? tks Phillipa Edwards

7 unsung heroes of the pandemic

AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine study put on hold due to suspected adverse reaction in participant in the U.K.

Religious leader who called coronavirus “God’s punishment for gays” hospitalized with COVID tks Paul ter Wal

What COVID-19 is doing to the heart, even after recovery

QAnon, coronavirus and the conspiracy cult – over a month old, but worth a watch. Tks Andrew Bryant

Coronavirus keeps spreading across the U.S. ‘because there’s no mask mandate,’ doctor says tks Angela Frechette

The Other Way Covid Will Kill: Hunger

Extended coronavirus lockdown has left many of us Melburnians feeling broken tks John Gordon

Global Politics

America Was Already a Failed State. It’s About to Become an Authoritarian One. tks David Lim

Don’t listen to the naysayers, Dan tks Phillipa Edwards

Russia’s Navalny out of coma after poisoning

The Pandemic Was Supposed to Be Great for Strongmen. What Happened?

Justice dept seeks to defend Trump defamation case

‘So much noise’: Brawl over 2020 intel leaves voters in the dark

Susan Rice: Trump ‘does not give a damn’ about Americans’ health, safety, and national security

‘Pure Evil’: Report On Trump Administration Draining Fund For FDNY’s 9/11 Responders Draws Outrage

Pandemic bipartisanship is crumbling as Scott Morrison ramps up the politicking tks Phillipa Edwards

Business and technology

Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook won’t remove anti-vaccine posts despite Covid concerns

Chinese embassy calls for Twitter inquiry after porn clip liked

A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?

Social issues (#BlackLivesMatter) and humanity

Nigeria’s Kaduna passes law to castrate child rapists

Instagram photo filters targeted by model’s #filterdrop campaign

Michael Cohen’s Book Says Trump Held ‘Low Opinions of All Black Folks’

What’s up with our girls? tks Phillipa Edwards

Michael Sandel: ‘The populist backlash has been a revolt against the tyranny of merit’ tks David Lim

Journalists Aren’t the Enemy of the People. But We’re Not Your Friends. tks Simon Kearney

Brazil Announces Equal Pay For Women’s And Men’s National Teams

Kim Kardashian announces end of long-running hit reality show

Investigation into US professor sparks debate over Chinese word

The double agent who brought down the anti-vaccine fanatics tks Phillipa Edwards

Fans boo moment of silence to acknowledge inequality in NFL opener

Passion, humour, history

As Slow as Possible: German Organ Changes Note for First Time in Years tks John Gordon

All the Better to Hear You With tks Joyce Ano

Comedy Wildlife Photography awards 2020 finalists – in pictures

Let me know what caught your attention this week?

Cheers

Andrea

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