#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.
A’ja Wilson confirms status as generational great with historic WNBA Finals performance (CNN) “I think that’s what defines us is you’ve got to be great when the lights aren’t on you. You’ve got to be great when nobody’s in the gym with you. You’ve got to be great when you may not get anything on the end. I think that’s what defines us is you’ve got to be great when the lights aren’t on you. You’ve got to be great when nobody’s in the gym with you. You’ve got to be great when you may not get anything on the end.“ I’ve been thinking a lot about FOMO and checking my ego when I envious when I see a specific post. When this feeling creeps up, I immediately push it through my mental filter and ask myself “if I never posted about it or showed up in the pictures, would I still want to be there?” I have yet to answer “yes.” And when those feelings inevitably creep up again, I’m going to remind myself of this A’ja Wilson quote. Will being in that room help me be the great CEO, mom, wife, daughter I want to be? Will it help my health? If the answer is no, then I’m in the room I’m meant to be in to achieve these goals. I’ve also been pruning who I follow on social media, muting and unfollowing the accounts that make me feel icky and following accounts like Wilson, Bobbi Brown (especially after reading Grace Atwood’s review of her book), and Amy Shah. I want to be inspired and motivated when I scroll (and to seek excellence in my personal roles as much as my professional ones). Wilson’s leadership, both on the court and in off-court leadership within the league, inspires me deeply. She speaks about joy as much as seeking greatness, and this piece is a reminder of prioritizing both, on your terms. It’s also a reminder to get partial season tickets for the Liberty next season. Cervical cancer could be eradicated. But not with Medicaid cuts and anti-vax politics. (The 19th*) If there was a vaccine that could potentially eradicate prostate cancer, it would be available on demand at every pharmacy, and men would get the day off to “recover” from said vaccine. Instead, the HHS is deliberately increasing the cervical cancer rate in our country by gutting basic gynecological care to the most vulnerable in our country (because the main provider happens to provide abortions in the states where it’s still legal to perform them). This isn’t hyperbole. And this is deeply personal to me, as I didn’t get the vaccine when I was younger (and my cervical dysplasia was advanced by the time I did get it). I had a hysterectomy over two years ago to prevent an inevitable cervical cancer diagnosis. I’m one of the lucky ones. Most of the women in this country, many who face the same prognosis as I did, are not. Getting screened with a Pap smear is rare, and most cannot travel to the nearest specialist to get the procedure or advanced care. Other countries are on track to eradicate cervical cancer through frequent screenings and HPV vaccine administration (Portugal is one, with Australia to follow a few years later). Indonesia, Nigeria, and Samoa are on track to meet these targets by 2050. I’ll say it again—this is a deliberate choice. One choice I’m making is for my sons to get the HPV vaccine as soon as they are able (Rho has received his first dose, and Rhaki will have his as soon as it’s offered to him). ... Keep reading with a 7-day free trialSubscribe to hitha to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. A subscription gets you:
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