If we don’t solidify a belief in the ultimate beauty of the world, independent of anything else, why would we continue to fight for it? Marwan Barghouti said “hopelessness is a luxury.” He’s absolutely right. We have to believe to have any reason at all to persist.

Sacrilege! If you're going to substitute bulgur for anything, use quinoa! (I have to, I'm an Arab with gluten sensitivity. sigh.)

Visit a branch of your local library that you’ve never been to before; sometimes the main branches will have reference books you otherwise can’t borrow, but can look at. Maybe something with interesting pictures? Or a periodical you’ve never read before?