Hi friends,
I’ve been up since about 4:30am. I tried several times (unsuccessfully) to go back to sleep, but Daylight Savings Time, work-related anxiety, my fluctuating coffee consumption, and my melatonin gummies are truly not letting me win.
There’s a lot on my mind this morning. I’m staring down a very busy day. I’m thinking about the content of a lot of the articles I’m about to share with you (TW: they’re intense and heavy). I’m thinking about the cumulative effect of living during a year-long pandemic that has disproportionately impacted people who look like me. And, I’m thinking about how to have fun today, because I need to feed my spirit. I’m learning (continually, repeatedly) I can do all of those things at the same time. Anger, joy, grief, and confusion can all co-exist.
Relatedly, I like this poem and the poet’s explanation of it. My favorite line from it reads, “This year, mornings imply an act of bravery.” It’s OK to admit things are hard right now. In fact, I think that’s where bravery begins.
What I’m reading/chewing on/sitting with/meditating on
Take your time with these, beloveds. There’s a lot here.
She’s phenomenal. Curious to see what she does next.
This is great news. But…sigh. The movie was good, though.
It’s been a year since Louisville PD murdered Breonna Taylor. I’m still sitting with these articles written about her life by Zeba Blay, Jenna Wortham, and Ta-Nehisi Coates.
There’s a lot to this story and quite honestly it makes my soul tired. I cannot imagine the everyday anguish these families experience. There’s this ongoing trend of individual Black people building their brand and profiting off of Black struggle and Black death; it makes me very uncomfortable and angry. Please research the folks called out in the families’ statement, share the families’ statement if you feel inclined, and reconsider boosting the platforms of those mentioned.
TIME released its profile on Elliot Page this week. I strongly suggest reading it and this article, too.
That thing that happens in this country very often happened again last night. I am continually horrified by our capacity for violence.
If you know yourself and know now is not the time to read any of the material above,
read this poem.
and this poem.
and maybe jam to this little playlist.
Have a really good day, okay? Be kind to yourself and as patient as you can be with those around you.