Introspection is productive, rumination is not: it's repetitive, negativistic, & often self-flagellating - and thus a major risk factor for anxiety & depression.
There is an important difference between introspection and rumination. Time spent alone in thought can be positive—a rich environment for personal growth and creativity, but it can also be dangerous when we are negatively turned against ourselves.
Introspection can be a process of healthy self-reflection, examination, and exploration, which is good for your well-being and your brain.
Lisa Firestone, Ph.D. Compassion Matters blog and author, with Robert Firestone & Joyce Catlett, of The Self under Siege
Recently I started having dinners for ‘interesting’ people. They have been fortifying. And no doubt some of you reading will end up in my tiny flat in Wandsworth at some point for a late dinner!
I noticed recently that I have a lot of friends with Wikipedia pages. I don’t have one.
It came up because of the ‘interesting’ dinners. I hadn't thought about it before but was inviting people who don't know each other round for a dinner so figured I would send them all a bio of sorts of each other from Wikipedia and came across this one for my friend Jules.
I met him at my local and his son did a couple of days work experience for me when I was doing organising for the Nationality and Borders Bill protest outside the House of Lords in January.
On Wikipedia my 'bio" is attached to Media Diversified. And I realise that's probably one of the reasons my work (films, writing) has never been critically engaged with.
Looking at all their Wikipedia pages and author pages I realise I had been subsumed by Media Diversified. So have recently taken steps to remedy that seeing as I am trying to get a book published! On the 8th March - International Women’s day the following is happening in Glasgow:
Celebrating Women Working in Documentary Filmmaking
Join us at the Point on International Women's Day for a screening of "The Super Ladies" - a documentary film by London- based filmmaker Samantha Asumadu. The documentary follows three female rally-drivers, competing to beat their male counterparts in The Pearl of Africa Rally - one of Africa's toughest motor races.
The three women exemplify changing gender dynamics in Africa - and not just on the race course: business women, pop-singers, teachers & mothers, they also have to battle for the respect of their male competitors. Will they win out on race day? It is a daunting challenge - and a race with a dramatic outcome.
This will be followed by a Q&A with Samantha Asumadu about her filmmaking process and the personal story of how the film came to be made.
And there will be a profile of me coming out in the next few weeks in a trusted newspaper.
I am also speaking here on Monday:
and at the Museum of Homelessness on the 10th March. I wrote about homelessness in 2018 for Ceasefire magazine: Britain’s homelessness crisis shames us all
Back to Wikipedia, it did get more interesting when I tried to find the wiki of my old boss Sir Alan Parker (not the dead one) as he was friends with Tony Blair and I wanted to get a quote from Sir Tony for my next exclusive in Open Democracy Turns out Sir Alan Parker former CEO of Save the Children doesn't have one. His brothers do - one is a semi-famous actor - and the other is a film director, but the PR Guru doesn't..? Now THAT is influence.
To end, working on articles and generally working gives me less time to ruminate. Working on articles about injustices (why I wanted to get in touch with Sir.Tony gives me perspective. I'm grateful.
Here’s the menu for my dinner on Wednesday and a cheeky photo of me and Guilaine.
Stuffed Grape Leaves with Gorgonzola
1 (8-ounce) jar grape leaves, drained and rinsed*
3/4 cup green olives, chopped
3/4 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup Gorgonzola Cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
5 tablespoons basil leaves, freshly-chopped
4 Roma tomatoes (plum tomatoes), seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored and chopped
3 1/2 tablespoons garlic, freshly-chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
AND
Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas
3 cups cubed butternut squash
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 red pepper, stemmed, seeds removed, and chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
15 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups red enchilada sauce, I use our homemade sauce
12 corn tortillas, can use flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
Garnishes: avocado, jalapeno slices, cilantro, queso fresco
Have a great day
Sam
P.s