From my sketchbook: Nikki Giovanni

I’m not as versed in poetry as I wish, but about ten years ago, Nikki Giovanni released Chasing Utopia– a short but energetic volume all about abundance and delighting in life.

In many artistic spaces, it’s easier to revere sadness or anger, harder to think of joyful pieces that carry a similar weight. But Chasing Utopia is something we could all learn from.

Some of my favorite bits:

“We’ve got to live in the real world. If we don’t like the world we’re living in, change it. And if we can’t change it, we change ourselves. We can do something.”

“Why would there be a destination when life itself is a journey? You go not to get there but to be there.”