February 2025
Joy is a Form of Resistance
Where to begin?
{deep breath in; longer breath out}
I’ll start by letting you know that my dog is still alive. Skinny, but wagging his tail every morning and eating enough each day to be able to greet the next.
I’m going to share a few favorite helpful and informative resources below, and I welcome the chance to learn about yours. First, I want to reiterate that we must not succumb to despair. We need to actively seek joy and community.
Yes, and...Scrappy Affirmations events are a wonderful way to do that. In December, I made a “mood board” that shows how I want people to feel at and after our programs. At the top, the collage notes, “There’s a big possibility you’re going to...“
Based on the feedback from last weekend’s forest bath, I’m hitting the mark. I was balm for the soul.
Special shout-out to Mother Nature for providing us with mild temps and a fresh blanket of snow!
We need to guard and nourish our mental and physical health. We also need to be realistic about what might be ahead. {I wrote and then deleted an analogy about where I think we’re going. One person’s realism might be another’s pessimism. Reach out if you’d like to know and discuss.}
At best, our collective near-term future is going to be chaotic. It’s going to demand flexibility. One way to find this flexibility is to envision a variety of outcomes, not just the ones you hope for. We need to entertain the possibility of our wildest successes as well as some of our deepest fears. Jane McGonigal’s book, Imaginable, is an excellent primer for both.
Take care of yourself.
Quick reminder: Hot Flashes is next week. Join me Wednesday, the 26th, at Secret World Books in downtown Highland Park. There’s a full line-up of, as one storyteller put it, gynecological adventures. It’s going to be a blast! This is your ticket to joy and community!
Save your spot for Chicago’s *hottest* storytelling show.
Helpful Resources
Action can help reduce anxiety.
Last week, I somewhat spontaneously took the action of speaking in front of my village board with a friend. Please do this! Here’s what I like about what we did:
Two voices are better than one. Speaking out is more fun and feels safer with a friend.
We called out illegal actions taken by the executive branch and got them on the public record.
We pointed out how those federal actions might impact our community.
We made it clear that we don’t expect our village officials to change the federal government, but we do expect every person in the room to take responsibility for supporting up our diverse community.
Other ways to take action:
On February 28, flex your consumer muscle by not spending any money. At least not at big box stores.
Shannon Downey, AKA @BadAssCrossstitch, wrote a fantastic book on activism to help you get through times like these. She also hosts a Patreon group, The Joyful Menace Society, full of advice, interviews, inspiration, community, and occasional embroidery patterns, too. I’m a proud supporter of her work.
My Trusted New Media News and Information Sources
Under the Desk News with V Behar provides daily (or more) news updates with context in small bites.
Jessica Craven explains issues and does things like record herself calling her elected officials, making it easy for others to do the same.
Liz Gumbinner puts out a steady stream of personal + political content on Instagram. Her Substack walks that same line, often with a reassuring tone. Liz is an old-timey blogger friend. I think her voice is important and recently became a paid subscriber to support her work.
Jessica Valenti is on Instagram with Abortion Every Day. And my friend Debi Lewis runs a Reels series, Breakfast with My Bodily Autonomy.
For climate news, check out Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Now that we can’t count on information from the CDC, you might lean into early COVID favorite, Your Local Epidemiologist.
CIDRAP is useful for viral news of the old-fashioned kind. If you don’t read about things like H5N1 Avian Flu and Monkey Pox on the regular, this site may cause overwhelm.
On the lighter side, my friend Chai Wolfman is currently serving up a daily dose of hope. She also makes a lot of heartwarming art that you can own for under $50.
I still listen to and support NPR and check with with fan-favorites, like Heather Cox Richardson, Rebecca Solnit, and Robert Reich. Please share your favorite non-mainstream media sources of news.
Let’s Eat Cookies and Talk About Death
Our first storytelling night will take place on Wednesday, March 19 at Secret World Books in Highland Park. Tickets are available now!
The cast is already in place. It’s a fantastic group of humans. I’ll be back in March with more details.
Reach out to schedule a Let’s Eat Cookies and Talk About Death session with your friends or family.
Until Next Time...
I’m not saying there will be an internet blackout and you’re going to need this, but I’m not not saying it.
This one is more fun: chocolate dominoes.