This week, Chris and I have been volunteering at the Nostalgia Music Festival, which has left me less time for writing Jenesis posts. That's why this week's Saturday Synopsis has been delayed by a day.

My favourite entry this week ("My own headlines") is the story of the 87-year-old man who sees the world through the love of the people around him, rather than through daily headlines in the media. I had forgotten that story, which I had read and written about three years ago.

While I've often thought of myself as a resilient person—able to bounce back quickly from difficulties—I've had my days when I've felt tired or unappreciated or misunderstood. On those occasions, I have found it helpful to temporarily switch my focus from trying to please others to taking care of myself. Sometimes I need to replenish my cup before I can fill other people's cups again.

I have learned through comments on this blog that upbeat posts may be inspiring, but somber posts can be reassuring. We all experience loss, grief, sadness, regret. It is comforting to know that we are not alone, that others struggle with their emotions even years after the death of a loved one, that it does get easier with time.

A friend recently sent me a thought-provoking and heartwarming tale. Someone who was tired of stories about COVID, looting and brutality and who was convinced that this was the new normal said to an 87-year-old man that 2020 must have been a particularly challenging year. The elderly man—who had lived through polio, diphtheria and Vietnam protests—said no; he learned long ago to not see the world through the lens of daily headlines. Instead, he related that he sees the world through the people around him. "I just choose to write my own headlines," he declared. He offered these examples: "Husband loves wife today." "Family drops everything to come to Grandma's bedside." "Old man makes new friend."

One additional tip—which you can do long before you need to ask someone to provide a reference for you—is to keep a list of potential referees. As you go through life, you will encounter bosses, colleagues, employees, clients, teachers, coaches, mentors, volunteer coordinators and others who can be potential referees. Anyone who can speak to your achievements (academic, employment or volunteer) or to your competencies (abilities, skills, personal attributes) could be a reference, particularly early in your career when you may have had fewer managers than someone who has been in the workforce for many years. Keep track of each referee's role (e.g., manager of x program in y organization), contact information, time frame during which they interacted with you, and what they can attest to. The more recent your reference, the better: people who worked with you in the last few years will be best positioned to comment on your current strengths and work ethic, which will be more relevant to a hiring manager than hearing from a referee who interacted with you many years ago.

"You are important and you matter. Your feelings matter. Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your life matters. Always."

— Author unknown

— Kaitlyn M. Yawn, "Will You Ever?"

"Rest is not idle, is not wasteful. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do for your body and soul."

— Erica Layne

"What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone."

— Author unknown

I recently shared with a friend that it's hard to look at our bodies and see and feel changes that can make us sad. But I noted that the amazing thing about getting older, even as our bodies age, is that we can become wiser, more loving and compassionate, and honestly more beautiful. Our true self is who we are on the inside. I told her: "Those who love you—truly love you—see this. I hope you can see it too."