Are you taking a look around and feeling like you need some good stuff? Not, like, you should give up on being a responsible and informed citizen, but maybe put msnbc on mute for a minute and focus on things that are smart or beautiful or remind you that humans are capable of brilliance and innovation and not just destruction?

So, let’s keep it simple and think of three good things. That’s easy, right? Ok, I’ll go.

1. Tom Wolfe

Whenever I read a Tom Wolfe book I have to, every 50 pages or so, stop and remind myself that an actual human being wrote the darn thing. His books are so rich and layered and bright, it feels like maybe they were churned out by a magical book making machine or left behind by visiting aliens.

I’m currently reading Back to Blood and (maybe the 95 degree heat and 100% humidity in NY helps), but I feel Miami in its pages. I aspire to be 1/100^th of the writer Tom Wolfe is.

And, seriously, the guy can put together an outfit.

2. This little poem that was read aloud to me and my coworkers last week:

Take care of your Thoughts for they become Words.
Take care of Words for they become Actions.
Take care of Actions for they become Habits.
Take care of Habits for they will form your Character.
Take care of your Character because it will form your Destiny.
and your Destiny will be your Life.
– Dalai Lama.

It’s a gentle reminder that our thoughts are powerful. And, how empowering, right? We are all in some way capable of guiding our thoughts and, therefore, guiding our destiny and life.

3. Beyonce tickets

So, I made a life choice to see Beyonce in concert this December instead of pay for my future children’s college education. I’m ok with that.

There is something about Beyonce that inspires me to be a better person. Like, I watch her sing a song and I want to dance, laugh, cry, do crunches, study feminist theory, volunteer in my community and be generally fierce at all at the same time. That’s power.

3.5ish Unofficial, not yet finalized good stuff

So, I’ve got some stuff brewing in the book department…

Good stuff. But, it’s all sort of just shy of official, so the paranoid, superstitious little voice in my head won’t let me shout the good stuff from the rooftops, which is what I’d really like to do. But, hopefully soon…

Question: Got some good stuff to share?