These lines from David Brooks caught my attention this week:

It’s rare that we have a chance to experience the whoosh of fresh air that unmasking brings in such a literal way. Now we all know how great it feels to breathe more easily, to feel less impeded and more connected. We can recognize the full splendor of air and light and other human faces in all of their precious glory.

Dear ones, our other masks are harder to remove, and they’ve been there longer. We might not even remember what it’s like when they are off. They might be fused onto our skin.

Still, imagine the possibility if we peeled these away too. Imagine the deep, clean, effortless breaths we could take.

Whoosh.

Artwork from Eilis O’Connell, thanks to the MassArt spring auction. MassArt is the only public art college in the US, well worthy of our support!

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A PERFECT “WELCOME BACK” GIFT

If you find yourself wanting to reflect on this past year, or to contemplate better times to come, we hope you might consider turning to Month of Sundays, which can be found at all of your favorite booksellers. One newly vaccinated friend recently mentioned that she’s bought a stack of books to gift as she begins to reconnect with loved ones who have been apart, as a way to say, “welcome back.”

Thank you to those who have supported this endeavor to date, where proceeds have allowed us to give more generously than usual to some of the most vital nonprofits around.  We designed the book to be evergreen, and hope it will bring comfort and connection through times of ease and times of challenge alike.