I am particularly enamoured with the weekly pull-out magazine that comes with the SMH: the Good Weekend. So much so that my mum actually saved me all the ones I missed out on while travelling in Tasmania.
Unlike its slightly shallower cousin Sunday Life, Good Weekend always manages to alternatively move me from the verge of tears (especially the Two of Us column), to fist-shaking anger (today's article on the beef industry), to laughter and joy (Dave Eggers' creative tutoring organisation), to quiet introspection (once I finally put it down and process it all).
Here's a nugget of wisdom from today's article on Elton John and his partner David Furnish becoming fathers, by AA Gill:
"It isn't the reluctant acceptance of differences that forges a homogenous society, it is the recognition of similarity, of what we share. Birth, death and marriage should be universal."
Well said.
Aside from Dumbo Feather magazine (which is incredible), to me GW is unparalleled in its honest focus on people, 'ordinary' or otherwise, and their lives and stories, replete with fear, hope, resilience, sorrow, joy and love. The fact that it is simply included with the weekend paper (for a few dollars) makes it all the more sweeter.
Excuse the gushing, but I think it's nice to have little weekend rituals like this. They bring things back into focus, remind me again about what's really important (and what isn't) and help me climb out of my own limited, self-centred headspace for a while and contemplate what it's like for other people who are also "doing life". Writing that can invoke that kind of strong empathy is really an amazing thing that shouldn't be undervalued.
1 comment:
You've just convinced me to give the weekend paper morning ritual a try...I think little traditions like that make life or "doing life" as you put it, so much more interesting...it makes you feel more connected with the world. Loved all your recent posts Kiarz!
Loz xx
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