January 25, 2024
Random Acts… Who are you… really?
New Year’s resolutions are usually hard to keep, but here’s one question that may help you stay on track.
Who are you… really?
If eating a healthier diet and adding exercise to your routine is a goal, notice when you start to stray and ask yourself, “Is this who I want to be… really?”
If patience is not one of your virtues, and you’re about to criticize someone, close your mouth a minute and ask, “Is this who I am… really?”
Most of our “bad habits and vices” emerge when we’re feeling unhappy or afraid. In other words, it’s our own self-hatred that makes it hard to support and nurture ourselves, not to mention others.
Look at politicians who constantly make mean-spirited comments about their rivals. If that’s what they really think about others, what must they really believe about themselves? Do they put others down because that’s the only way they can feel good about themselves?
If you’re tempted to vote for someone solely because they’re expressing resentments that you also hold, ask yourself, “Do I want really want resentment and anger to define who I am?”
There’s so much anger and fear in the world right now. The best way to counter fear is with love, and more love.
Go on a diet, if you wish, and feed someone who’s hungry. Start with a walk around your neighborhood for exercise, and say hello to a stranger. Use your experience to mentor someone who doesn’t know what you know.
Be kind and generous – to yourself — and others. Listen to what your soul – not your ego — is telling you to do with your life.
Who we are as a society is determined by each and every one of us. We can’t, and shouldn’t, all think alike or act alike. But the more we ask ourselves who we really want to be, the more likely we are to do better, and to be better people.
Happy New Year!
November 10, 2023
Random Acts… Young readers tales tell truths for all
There’s nothing as pure as a child’s heart. Perhaps that’s why the best children’s books and tales for young readers hold the truths we all need to remember.
In “The Counter Clockwise Heart” by Brian Farrey (Algonquin Young Readers, 336 pp), a fantasy tale about a young prince whose chest holds a great secret examines the meaning of magic, the consequences of lies, and what growing up really means.
The book, aimed at those ages eight to 12, follows Prince Alphonsus, a joyful child who is discovered in the royal castle one day with a clock in his chest, where his heart should be. While he grows up bringing happiness to all, his fears also grow.
When the clock begins to run backward, Alphonsus’ search for answers leads him to meet Esme, the last user of magic in the kingdom, who is herself seeking answers about her past. Before the mystery of the clock in his chest can be solved, the prince must face his greatest fear, something we all must do if we are to truly grow up.
For as Farrey writes, “There are things you learn. And there are things you are told. Sometimes, they’re the same. Sometimes they’re not. When they’re the same, pay attention. When they’re not the same, pay more attention.”
As for Esme, that very lesson is one she must also learn, for those who raised her from childhood had spread rumors about an evil witch that she must unravel. Were the rumors true? And if they weren’t true, why did people keep spreading them? (Perhaps a question we should all be asking of those who believe in unproven rumors.)
There’s a sweetness in this tale that makes you remember the importance of looking for the goodness and kindness in everyone’s heart.
Young readers, ages 12 to 18 (and older), will enjoy “Rook,” by William Ritter (Algonquin, 354 pp), the latest in the Jackaby series, set in the 19th century town of New Fiddleham, New England, where supernatural chaos often reigns.
Jackaby, the sleuth who communes with the supernatural, and Abigail Rook, his able assistant, find that their roles have reserved in this newest adventure. The power of “the Sight” has passed to Rook, and Jackaby is happy to take the role of mentor by simply letting Rook lead the way.
Rook, of course, has trouble trusting her own intuition. But when you see the truth behind everything, it’s hard to deny your own power. If anything, those who own their own power will find themselves getting impatient with how long it takes this heroine to face her worst fears. Yes, we all stumble, moan and groan toward maturity, but after four other Jackaby books, Ritter could have moved Rook along a little faster.
Granted, she’s trying to find the culprit behind the disappearance of local witches and other magical beings, while avoiding a confrontation with her parents, who have come to America to take her back to England to find a suitable match. But any woman who’s engaged to a loving, loyal shape-shifter should have enough courage to at least show her parents who she’s grown up to be before catastrophe strikes.
Still, this latest Jackaby adventure offers an important lesson for those whose arguments divide, rather than unite people – the more you think your opinion is the only one that’s right, the less right you probably are.
Hopefully, young readers won’t be the only ones to get that lesson.
July 13, 2023
Random Acts… Humanity’s challenges reflected in ‘The Endless Vessel’
Are you happy? What would you do to grasp happiness, or joy? What would happen if you lost your ability to feel joy?
In a world not far in the future, humanity is challenged by a “depression plague” called “the Grey” that has no cure. Lily Barnes, a young Hong Kong-based materials engineer, struggles with the emotional fallout of a father who died years ago, and is doing her best to avoid getting infected by the plague. But when she is given an object that calls to her heart, she cannot turn away from taking an incredible journey through space and time.
In the 1789, Molly Calder loses her husband to a brain aneurysm, and wonders if she will ever be happy again, until she decides to explore the nature of death itself, hoping to bring her husband’s spirit back to life. She creates a ship that goes on to sail the seven seas, and that centuries later, draws Lily to its decks.
A thought-provoking novel that combines a near-future dystopian mystery with historical fiction, “The Endless Vessel” by Charles Soule (Harper Perennial/Harper Collins Publishers, 456 p.) will take you on a page-turning journey about what it means to be human.
On one level, the book explores society’s struggle to find connection and work together for a better world.
You can’t help but think about the partisan divide that plagues our nation (and the world) today. How can we connect with others when we think our perspective is the only correct one? If depression is anger turned inward, what do we do when that anger explodes outward?
On another level, the novel explores every person’s struggle to find connection and love.
The emotional journey that Lily takes is one that every daughter (or son) who has lost a parent – to death or abandonment – will relate to. Lily’s anger and fear, mixed with hope and love, leads her to the understanding that we all need other people… that we can’t go through life alone.
As the author writes, “ ‘The Endless Vessel’ is an adventure. It is a voyage, it is a treasure hunt, and a quest. This story started with a remarkably simple idea, an image I couldn’t shake – a ship that never stopped sailing, on a non-stop, centuries-long voyage. That’s the literal interpretation of the title, and we see that ship in the story.
“The more figurative version is that it’s about us – we are all endless vessels, constantly seeking to fill ourselves with experience, love, and the most important, elusive quality of all… happiness. Joy, even. Our souls are endless vessels. Humanity itself is an endless vessel.”
Here’s to getting in touch with that endless vessel…
May 30, 2023
Life is not a zero-sum game
If one person wins, does another have to lose?
No. Life is not a zero-sum game. Life is how you choose to react to whatever challenges come your way. If it takes two to have a relationship, and only one person wins, well, guess where that’s heading?
Democrats and Republicans seem bound and determined to play a zero-sum game over the looming debt ceiling, due to collapse on June 5. It’s a strategy that should get them all voted out of office.
It’s not surprising, though, since much of society holds a zero-sum game mentality.
Winning for yourself only is also the underlying premise of Anthony McCarten’s new thriller, “Going Zero” (Harper, 295 pp). In his novel, 10 Americans have been chosen to Beta test a ground-breaking piece of surveillance. Tech billionaire Cy Baxter, in collaboration with the CIA, is betting that his FUSION spyware can track anyone on earth.
If any of the 10 participants in the test can go off-grid and stay undetected for 30 days, they will win $3 million. If Baxter’s spyware wins, he’ll get a $90 million government contract to change surveillance in America forever.
The book’s other question – can anyone really go off the grid anymore, with surveillance everywhere and AI growing in human-competitive intelligence – is no longer just hypothetical.
More than 350 business leaders and public figures, including executives of companies behind AI’s development, are sounding the threat that AI’s development poses. The signatories of their public statement say that “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” The statement was released May 30 by the nonprofit Center for AI Safety.
In “Going Zero,” one woman fights against Baxter’s plans and greed, motivated not by winning dollars, but to save someone she loves.
Love, of course, is what will save us all from living a zero-sum game.
Imagine what Congress could do if love was the criteria for how money was allocated in the budget. A debt ceiling could cease to exist. Demanding that people who receive food stamps work for their aid would end because there would no longer be hunger in America.
Think this could never happen? If you read “Going Zero,” you’ll see how close we are to losing privacy in America. If that version of reality can happen, why can’t we move closer to a reality where positive actions rule the day?
All we need is the will to do better, and be better human beings.
January 16, 2023
Random Acts… Year of the Rabbit brings needed hope
Whenever the calendar page turns to a new year, I’m grateful for the chance to do more, laugh more, and love more. I mark the new year on January 1, but also celebrate the Lunar New Year, which starts this year on January 22.
On January 1, I was visiting family in Houston, where firecrackers went off all night. A neighbor warned, however, not to go outside because some people also shoot guns into the air.
Sure enough, I was awakened at 2 a.m. by what sounded like gun shots outside the house, and couldn’t go back to sleep. Not a great start to 2023.
Instead, I’m looking forward to the start of the Year of the Rabbit. The mythology of the Lunar New Year, celebrated in most Asian countries, is based on Chinese astrology. The year is determined by the lunar calendar, and falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21.
Each Lunar New Year is named for one of 12 zodiac animals, which have different characteristics. The Year of the Rabbit symbolizes positivity, longevity, deftness and wittiness, which means we can expect prosperity, hope and calm, things that the world sorely needs.
So what do we do to manifest prosperity, hope and calm? Wish for others what you would wish for yourself. In other words, treat others as you would want to be treated. Remember that something is always happening in another person’s life that you know nothing about, so be patient, offer help, forgive.
Give more of yourself. Share your thoughts, your feelings, and your laughter. If you see someone in need, do something. Create a random act of kindness – let someone in a hurry go ahead of you in the grocery store line; buy a meal for a homeless person, play peek-a-boo with a baby who needs attention.
Be good to yourself. Decorate your home with live plants,and peaceful colors. (Read a feng shui book for specific tips.) Eat healthy food, and listen to what your body needs – whether it’s extra sleep or a little more exercise.
Think positive thoughts, and the Universe will respond.
Happy New Year!
December 10, 2021
Random Acts… A plug for Heartmob and holiday movies
As a journalist, I rarely plug specific causes. Instead, I write stories and columns, in hopes of moving people’s hearts. But I’m going to make an exception today…
If you, or someone you know is being harassed online, sign up to stress-test the updated Heartmob, Hollabeck’s platform where those experiencing online abuse can share their stories and get help. This stress test is being held to tweak the platform before it officially re-launches, with design changes made possible by Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
Newmark, the founder and creator of Craigslist, says, “I’ve seen a lot of pointless online abuse, harassment, over the last 30 years, and it really pisses me off. I’ve been and am being targeted by professionals, and really wish Heartmob was around to minimize ongoing damage.”
In addition to the relaunch of Heartmob, the Coalition Against Online Violence’s Online Violence Response Hub was set up to support women and gender-expansive journalists who are especially targeted for their gender, and just for doing their jobs.
I hope you’ll support both efforts.
And last, but not least, here’s a plug for my new movie. Yes, in addition to my journalism work, I write movies.
Hope you’ll watch “Christmas Takes Flight,” which premieres on CBS on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, and will be available on demand after that on Paramount+. “Christmas Takes Flight” is one of two new CBS holiday films, marking the network’s return to the genre for the first time in 10 years.
The other CBS holiday film, “A Christmas Proposal,” airs this Sunday, Dec. 12 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Pacific and stars an all-Latinx cast in a story that shares the joy of the season in a way that all families can relate to.
The stars and writers of both movies just participated in a Twitter Spaces conversation about holiday movies that you can listen to by clicking on the link below:
‘Tis The Season: A CBS Original Holiday Movie Conversation 🎄🍿 via Twitter Spaces
There will be silence at the beginning, but hang in there, and people will start talking after a couple of minutes. I had some technical difficulties with my microphone, and will chime in around the 20-minute mark.
You can also catch my holiday movie, “Christmas Inheritance,” on Netflix.
It was great fun writing these films. If you like heartwarming, positive rom-coms, these movies are totally worth watching, if I do say so myself.
Happy holidays!
Random Acts… Mysteries tease the brain for answers
The mysteries of life start popping into conversations as soon as two-year-olds start asking, “Why?”
For young readers, the mystery genre forces our minds to contemplate all sides of a question. In order to solve a riddle, we have to be open-minded enough to look at different perspectives.
If you’re still holiday shopping, there are a couple of great books out for the middle school reader (ages 10 and up).
“Cold-Blooded Myrtle” by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Algonquin Young Readers, 360 pp) is the latest in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series, featuring a 12-year-old Victorian amateur sleuth and Young Lady of Quality who lives in the quiet village of Swinburne, England. Myrtle’s father, the town prosecutor, is a widower who tries to curb his daughter’s interest in criminology, but somehow, she always manages to stumble onto the town’s latest murder.
Aiding Myrtle in her investigations is her unflappable governess from French Guiana, Miss Ada Judson, who brings both calm and a diverse modern woman’s perspective to the scene.
“Cold-Blooded Murder” takes place at Christmastime before the turn of the century, when the owner of Leighton’s Mercantile is found dead the morning his annual Yuletide display is to be unveiled. The murder is somehow connected to Myrtle’s deceased mother, and she’s determined to follow clues that are likely to put her and Miss Judson in danger.
Along the way, Myrtle shares little tidbits that are interesting factoids, such as noting that the word scapegoat’s meaning today doesn’t match its origins. “It was once an actual goat released into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the people, escaping unharmed (theoretically, anyway) – while another, more unlucky goat was sacrificed.”
For those interested in exploring the meaning of life, the Japanese classic “How Do You Live?” by Genzaburo Yoshino (Algonquin Young Readers, 280 pp) offers much for young minds (and old) to chew on.
The foreword to the English translation was written by Neil Gaiman, who read the book because famed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is basing his next film on it. Miyazaki is known for amazing animated films like “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Ponyo.”
But back to “How Do You Live?” Gaiman calls it “such a strange book, and such a wise book.” Written in two voices, the first perspective is shared by Copper, a 15-year-old boy whose father has died. The second voice is that of his uncle, who writes to Copper in a journal, sharing advice that all young teens should ponder.
The author, who wrote the book in 1937, crafts the story of a pre-war teenager in Japan, dealing with friendship, bullying, social class and bravery.
To be honest, the first 100 pages seemed dull. But after that, the book was full of important questions. When the uncle writes about social class, he reminds Copper that those who work at menial tasks (think garbage haulers, gardeners, cooks and those who make life easy for those who have money) are “the very ones bearing this entire world on their shoulders…
“Without the labor of those people, we would have no civilization, and without that, there would be no progress for society. And what about you? What will you create? You take many things from the world, but I wonder what you will give back in return?”
He reminds Copper that the world was built by people working together. The book was written prior to World War II, when Japan was becoming increasingly militaristic and authoritarian. Yoshino, who had attended political meetings, was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months.
After his release, he wrote this book, encouraging readers to think for themselves, and stand up for others in troubled times. It’s a message that is clearly still relevant today.
After all, solving the mysteries of life starts by answering the question, how do you live?
October 12, 2021
Random Acts… Enduring freedom is up to all of us
What the world needs now is more love, less hate; more understanding, less fear, and more friendship, less war.
A new YA novel, “Enduring Freedom” (Algonquin, 361 pp) by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy, debuted five months ago, pegged to the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Today, in the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the story could not be more relevant.
The book, inspired by the real-life friendship of the authors, is a tale of how two young men — an Afghan teenager and a college student turned Army private — overcome language and cultural differences to become friends in a country ravaged by war.
“The book is a novelization of our experiences,” says Reedy, who was an Army combat engineer, assigned to provide security and help rebuild infrastructure in Afghanistan in 2004 when he met Arash. “We condensed the timeline, changed names, and some of the circumstances. But the things we wrote about really happened.”
Arash’s life is reflected in the character of Baheer, an Afghan teenager who believes that education can bring change to his homeland and inspire hope for a better future. The friendly young man, who sees an opportunity to practice his English with Americans, helps his family earn money by delivering supplies for the soldiers, and gets caught up in the fight against the Taliban.
Reedy can be seen in the character of Private Joe Killian, an American whose fear and anger toward Afghans and Muslims changes after meeting Baheer and getting to know the Afghan people. Killian, who initially equated all Afghans with terrorists, learns that a longing for peace can also be found in the heart of strangers.
After Reedy’s actual tour in Afghanistan ended, he went on to write novels, and lives with his family outside Spokane, Wash. Arash, who began teaching English while he was still in high school, went on to college. As a Fulbright Scholar, he came to the United States to earn his master’s degree in linguistics, and worked on a Ph.D. in India before returning to Afghanistan.
When “Enduring Freedom” came out in May, the co-authors did a lot of book interviews and Zoom events, but when the Taliban re-took the country in August, all that came to a halt.
“It’s been a nightmare,” says Reedy, who stays in touch with Arash online. “He tells me he’s still alive, but feels dead inside. There’s no hope for his children, especially for his daughter. All the hope that was in ‘Enduring Freedom’ is now a once upon a time story. We’re searching for any and all ways to get him and his family out.”
Reedy says those who think of the war in Afghanistan as a wasted 20-year battle have no idea what America’s military presence in that war-torn country really meant.
The author, who had never been outside the U.S. before being sent to Afghanistan, acknowledges that every soldier’s death is a tragedy, but adds, “While we were there, the schools were open to both boys and girls, stores were doing business, and the people got to vote in free elections. A whole generation got a taste of what’s possible.”
Now, the Taliban are hunting anyone who interacted with Americans, and Arash’s family must move frequently to avoid detection.
With the publication of “Enduring Freedom,” Reedy says the Taliban will never be able to erase his friend’s thoughts and feelings, which fill the book’s pages with hope and faith for a better world.
We may not know Arash like Reedy does, but we can all do something to make sure that the light of this book doesn’t dim. Read “Enduring Freedom.” If it speaks to your heart, pass it on.
And if you know any teachers or librarians, suggest that they add it to their collections and lesson plans. The fight for enduring freedom is up to all of us, and this is one book that should become required reading for older middle school and high school students.
It could be a powerful weapon in the fight to study war no more.
April 20, 2021
Random Acts… Designer shares how to become invincible
The words on the cover of designer Norma Kamali’s book run into each other without punctuation marks, but a quick read tells you everything you need to know about what’s on the pages inside.
“I am invincible when I feel empowered and when I am healthy I am strong and then I can do all the things I need to do to reach the goals I need to reach in order to fulfill my big dreams that are as big as the world and as optimistic as my mind can imagine I will age with power and influence change because I know my purpose.”
I dare any woman not to relate.
Kamali’s book (with Sarah Brown), “I AM INVINCIBLE” ($35, Abrams), is a manifesto for living a life that is physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling.
For those not familiar with the iconic designer, Kamali’s designs were coveted by celebrities in the ‘70s, including the likes of Diana Ross, Cher, Bianca Jagger and more. After starting as a cult underground designer, her collection went global and success has run the gamut from designing the red one-piece bathing suit worn by Farrah Fawcett in her 1976 iconic ProArts poster to producing a collection for Walmart. (Fawcett’s suit was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2011.)
The author, now 75, looks half her age, giving readers tips on everything from exercise and diet to figuring out your authentic beauty and purpose in life. The tips, which come with anecdotes from her own career and personal experiences, are easy to follow, if you’re so inclined. They are also not just skin deep.
Finding the will and power to become invincible is never easy. But as Kamali points out, different decades of a woman’s life bring different challenges and opportunities to grow into who we really are.
Here’s a snippet of how she characterizes a few of those decades:
* 20s – You’re not a kid anymore. Pretending until we figure it out.
* 30s – Whoops, what just happened? Life’s big challenges get real.
* 40s – I know who I am, and I am making it happen. Hello, hormones, don’t mess with me now.
* 50s – Ohhhh boy, reinvention! Big changes begin – finally, maybe long overdue.
* 60s – Unfiltered, unedited. It’s me, it’s me, it’s me at last!
Yes, there’s more — before (the teenage years) and after the 60s (Kamali takes us to 100), but you get the idea. Her big question is, “If you felt you would get better with age, how would you live your life?”
There is so much wisdom in what she writes about work, attitudes, goal-setting and one’s purpose in life. She’s a huge cheerleader for dreaming big, influencing change and owning our power.
If you’re looking for a guidebook to living a happier life, or a way to discover what YOUR better life looks like, “I AM INVINCIBLE” offers a great read, and more than a little inspiration.
March 8, 2021
Random Acts… Wherever we are is where we should be
Some dear friends sent me birthday flowers that came with a red helium balloon a few months ago. Loathe to let things go to waste, I tossed the flowers when they died, but hung the balloon on the side of the desk where I’m working these days.
While the balloon has gradually deflated, it’s still waving gently whenever the air from a nearby vent hits it. Last night, my sister and I laughed as the balloon suddenly started floating out of the study into the living room where we were sitting.
Apparently, the balloon’s ribbon, which was loosely tied to the desk, had come undone of its own accord, and the balloon was now exploring the space around it. It was a sweetly funny, and small mystical reminder that wherever we are is where we are supposed to be.
A few weeks ago, an ice storm blew through Houston, causing massive power outages and water pipes to burst. My sister and I were one of the lucky ones, as we never lost electricity through the storm.
We took in an elderly neighbor one night, who lost her power. One after another, over the course of the week, other sisters came over to charge portable generators, or to take hot showers… until we all fell under a boil water advisory.
Thankfully, those issues have resolved. Since we had power throughout, we were able to help everyone around us, which is the point of being fortunate.
Every crisis is an opportunity to share love. Throughout the storm, friends called or emailed, to ask if we were okay. Natural disasters seem to bring that out in people.
Now that vaccines are starting to be distributed, the light at the end of the tunnel is tempting everyone to let down their guard. But what we’re really facing is a test of our patience, and the resolve to help each other through this pandemic.
Like everyone, I’m tired of wearing masks. I’m tired of shopping online. I’m tired of talking to people on Zoom. I’m tired of everything that is keeping us apart from friends, family, and the strangers who are destined to become part of our lives.
But perhaps that’s the point of this pandemic. We are stuck in cycle after cycle of coronavirus surges because we haven’t yet learned that doing what’s best for everyone is what will give each of us the freedom to be ourselves.
It’s not easy living in the Age of COVID, being tied down by restrictions that seemingly change with the wind. But one day, the ties will loosen, and we’ll be free to explore again.
Until then, take deep breaths, and as the spiritual teacher Ram Dass would say, just “Be here now.”
Dinah Eng 