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Need a pep talk? Me too . . .
Dear <<First Name>>,
Where I live, it is getting dark by 4:30 in the afternoon, which is confusing Cocoa Bean the wonder puppy and my soul.
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The headlines are not helping. I lose track of which crisis is keeping me up at night. I have run out of encouraging words for my teenagers. Is “I don’t know what to tell you” a good pep talk?
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And, yes, I know it’s the holiday season (I recently saw a meme saying that there are approximately 29 holidays observed by 7 of the world's major religions between November 1 and January 15; curious if true!).
Holidays make it better. Holidays also make it worse. Mandatory joy, oy!
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Even as I am insulated from many hardships due to all sorts of tailwinds in my life, life is hard. (I love Debby Irving's headwinds/tailwinds metaphor).
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We are facing major existential challenges as a society. Being a good-ish person sometimes feels futile. Some days, my tank of hope and resilience is empty. Can you relate?
When I am running on empty, I turn to breakfast Ben & Jerry’s a good pep talk.
The science of pep talks is known as motivating language theory and highlights three important elements. A good pep talk does some or all of the following:
1. Provides direction on what needs to be done
2. Offers empathy for the challenges we face, and
3. Makes meaning out of the situation and its importance.
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So, in that spirit, here are some of my favorite pep talks. Let your spirit pick and choose what flavor pep talk it needs.
1. Kid President
He literally opens by saying, “I think the world needs a pep talk.” Not only am I charmed by Kid President, I find myself wanting to make him proud. This three minute video makes me laugh, makes me think, and makes me hopeful.
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2. Good Bones by Maggie Smith
This beautiful poem by Maggie Smith went viral in 2016 and is featured in a book by the same name. My fabulous editor, Stephanie Hitchcock, said she was reminded of it during our work on my upcoming book about how do we reckon with the past. So short, so relatable, and so beautiful in written or video (1 minute version, 4 minute version) form.
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3. Valarie Kaur’s Watch Night Speech
Valarie Kaur is a tireless advocate with a big heart, and her speech feels like the hug I need (and the tearjerker hug she gets from Rev. William Barber at the end). It echoes in my mind and elevates my soul. I watch this six minute video every new year’s day.
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4. Chadwick Boseman’s Howard Commencement Address
Gone too soon, Chadwick Boseman’s remarks are worth the thirty minutes (he begins at the 7 minute mark). Boseman urges Howard University grads (and us) to take the harder way, the more complicated way, the way with more failures at the start. And, to press on with pride and purpose.
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5. Pentatonix’s Little Drummer Boy Performance
These four minutes never fail to make my spirit soar. It is a beautiful message. Give what you can. Do what you can. We each have a drum. “Me and my drum, pa rum pum pum-pum.”
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6. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt’s Found/Tonight Mashup
I get the chills when these two stars merge their voices and signature songs from Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen to raise money and awareness for gun control. Produced, arranged, and orchestrated by musical genius and lovely person Alex Lacamoire, this three minute mashup soars as a studio recording, a live performance at the March for our Lives, and a Broadway cast performance.
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7. Northwell Choir’s Flash Mob at the Re-Opening of Dear Evan Hansen
Back story: I had no idea that extraordinary Dear Evan Hansen producer Stacey Mindich and her Tony Award winning team were leaning on my book as a guide while re-thinking and re-launching the multiple companies of this fantastic show ... and they had no idea I was a huge fangirl and that their music was part of my book writing soundtrack. OMG, so full circle. Then, Stacey reached out and asked me to join the entire cast and crew to offer a pep talk of sorts on their first day back for rehearsals after more than 600 days shut down in the pandemic. I came away deeply inspired by her and their commitment to being good-ish.
Fast forward to re-opening night on Broadway last week. After a stunning performance, Stacey and team had a surprise planned for the curtain call. Flash mob! The America's Got Talent- famous Northwell Health Nurse Choir suddenly popped out of their audience seats revealing scrubs and holding mics. They mesmerized the crowd in a moving tribute to healthcare workers. While I drenched my mask in tears, my husband managed to capture this incredible 2 minute video. It's been on repeat as my go-to pep talk this week.
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8. Past Issues of Dear Good People
And, of course, Dear Good People is always here for you when you need a pep talk. Writing it helps me keep going in this journey to be the inclusive person I want to be, especially when the discouragement and discomfort overwhelms the sense of purpose and growth. I hope it does the same for you. All of the issues are always free on my website. A handy list also appears below. Let's goooooo ....
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November 2021: Must-See TV
October 2021: Project Declutter
September 2021: What Do Anita Hill and Ted Lasso Have in Common?
August 2021: 7 New Books You May Not Have Heard of … Yet
July 2021: What I Pray For (and What I Don’t)
June 2021: Five Ways You Should NOT Honor Juneteenth
May 2021: What Did I Miss?
April 2021: Tips on How to Read More (Willpower is Overrated)
March 2021: Celebrity Pop Quiz
February 2021: I Still Have My First Laptop From 1992
January 2021: Things That Make You Say… Hmmm
December 2020: Puppies, Procrastination, and Possibilities
November 2020: No Justice, No Joy?
October 2020: Meet Cocoa Bean, Our New Puppy!
September 2020: I May Be Anti-Racist but I’m Still an Ableist
August 2020: 15 Tips For More Inclusive Virtual Meetings
July 2020: 5 Ways You Can Respond When People Post Racist Stuff
June 2020: The 10% More Rule
Here's to 2022!
In the new year, I will keep sending you these bite-sized, evidence-based, action-oriented tips about diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging each month. Please feel free to forward, post, tweet as much as you like - links are below. And, please send me your thoughts and your favorite pep talks - email link is below.
I have also made a lot of progress on my next book recently so I look forward to sharing more in the new year. Stay tuned!
Let's stay strong and safe. See you in 2022.
Thanks for growing with me,
 
This month's artwork credits from top: Katie Sutton (logo), Jeana Marinelli (books), Cocoa (Dolly Chugh), long road (Tegan Mierle @unsplash), Lamp (Aaron Burden @unsplash), Tree (Neil Thomas @unsplash), Kid President (kidpresident.com), Parent and Child (Button Poetry), Valarie Kaur (Sikh Prayer for America), Chadwick Boseman (Howard University Commencement), Pentatonix (guideposts.org), Northwell Health Nurse Choir (Rebecca Michelson/playbill.com), Cocoa (Maya Chugh SIngh).
I thank Morgan Powers for her creativity, problem-solving, and professionalism. Ongoing gratitude to Katie Sutton for help with research, design, and promotion of this newsletter. .
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