There’s a lyric by one of my favorite artists, Laura Marling. I first heard it when I was about twenty-one or twenty-two, and I didn’t really know how to interpret it. The lyric goes…
I need shine, I need shine, I need shine. Step away from my light. I need shine.
Ever since Joanna told me she’d like to choose “shine” as our Word of the Month for August, this song has been stuck in my head, this line in particular. It definitely has meaning for me after a year of unprecedented mass shootings and terrible acts of violence all over the world.
It’s hard to get online without consuming the latest horror story. I don’t like to avoid the news, but lately, it’s been hard to find the motivation. At the same time, not educating myself feels lazy, or worse, privileged. And then I feel guilty because I have the luxury to shut out the latest horror story while others have to live it.
But then, a couple days ago, someone retweeted this from Andrew W.K.
PARTY TIP: Even with the many bad things happening, there are still many good things happening every single day. Careful what you focus on.
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) July 18, 2016
This made me think about my reading habits online. Usually when I read about something terrible happening, I click through to read related articles. So instead of reading about it, getting the facts, and then stepping away, I get sucked into a black hole of horror and despair. So I’ve come up with a plan. For every real-life horror story that I come upon, I will find something positive to counterbalance my focus. Like the song says, I need shine.
Here are a few things that have been bringing the shine in my life lately.
1. The bee filter on Snapchat
OBSESSED with the bee filter on snapchat. pic.twitter.com/g0GhfhSX03
— Courtney Leigh (@CourtLeighLove) July 15, 2016
2. This blog post from a man who converses with his dog and recorded it one day
3. This poem “Good Bones” by Maggie Smith
4. Watching The Bachelorette with my bestie
I needed this #TheBachelorette #chadeatingasweetpotato pic.twitter.com/QW2rln54RK
— kolbe (@kolbejack) June 7, 2016
5. This video that proves people with disabilities can do acrobatics
6. This reminder that I’m not falling behind
7. This proof that the Olympics can change the world, one female athlete from Saudi Arabia at a time.
8. Morgan Freeman narrating himself playing Pokémon GO
9. Erykah Badu donating concert proceeds to help clear the Detroit rape-kit backlog
10. Going on summer vacation!!!
So what about you? Do you have any positive, inspirational stories you’ve come across? What can you add to our list of shine?
If this quote resonates with you, we’ve created desktop and mobile backgrounds for you to download for free! Just click the image of the version you’d prefer. Hand-lettering designed by Allison Hyde.
Desktop Version
I would like to add how happy I am that my son Mike has found the most amazing place “FYZICAl” for Physical Therapy for my almost immobile sweet husband Mayo.. that makes me SHINE and Smile..