expiration dates, expiring dynasties, and nontoxic advice
#5SmartReads - December 10, 2024
#5SmartReads is a Webby-honored weekly news digest that amplifies underreported news and underrepresented perspectives. My goal is to help you stay informed without being overwhelmed, and to embrace nuance and reflection over picking a side.
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From doctor to brutal dictator: the rise and fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad (The Guardian)
‘Good riddance’ doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about the deposing of Bashar al-Assad, a murderous dictator who fled Syria and whose family’s 50+ year rule has come to an end.
Bashar projected himself differently than his father - a progressive, youthful leader who sought to bridge Syria with the west. His family watched American films and went out for casual dinners in Damascus. Asma al-Assad, his wife, received glowing press for her charitable efforts (and landed a glowing feature in Vogue that was nearly scrubbed from the Internet - you can still access it here).
In reality, he continued his father’s brutal dictatorship that detained, tortured, and killed hundreds of thousands - and displaced millions more over the past 15 years. While the United States shoulders a fair amount of blame for allowing al-Assad to cross the ‘used chemical weapons on his own people’ red line 12 years ago, Bashar managed to hold onto power with the support of Iran and Russia.
With both foreign parties facing their own challenges, their declining support created the necessary path for al-Assad’s removal from power (but also a safe haven, as he and his family were granted asylum by Putin and are settling in Russia).
May this be the turning point for peace that millions of Syrians deserve.
I love the idea of coming home to ephemeral things - an old hobby, book, or role I once held. I resist the urge to declare I’m closing a chapter, and have replaced it with “it’s not a priority right now, but I’m open to picking it back up one day.”
Now that I think about it, books may be the exception to that rule. I’m forever re-reading my old favorites.
’s words summed up my own journey with #5SmartReads this year:“You can put anything down at any time, for days or weeks or years, and pick it back up again when it feels right. (Or maybe when it’s felt right for so long now that you simply can’t stand to put it off any longer. Getting sick of yourself can be a huge motivator.)
The world is changing, once again, demanding that we change with it. Take the time you need to process, grieve, scream, cry, sleep, heal, regroup, be with your people, come back to the core of who you are. Then, when you’re ready — return.”
We’ve been programmed to believe that we need to be doing more, doing better, dreaming bigger. What if we gave ourselves the space to pause, and pivot, and pick things back up - and celebrate these moves the way we honor promotions, new jobs, or awards?
Like Jillian, I started running again this fall. At first, I dismissed it and minimized it when bringing it up with friends (“Running is generous, it’s really more of a slow plod”). But returning to something I’ve had a joyfully noncommittal relationship felt wonderful - a chance to bridge my 40 year old self with the 23 year old who ran half marathons, and creating a memory for my future self to reconnect with one day.
#5SmartReads is all about helping you feel smarter this week.
If you want to feel better but feel overwhelmed on what to do, check out this month’s plan (mindfulness practices, workouts, meals, and more):
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