When is our collective last straw?

Embracing how we show up.

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Image Description: An illustration of a large abstract character leaning against the ground, crying. The character’s tears create puddles of water, where you then see a duplicate of the same character swimming in one of the tear puddles. Trees are in the ground and stars are in the sky. “Allow Grief to Move You!” is handwritten in the illustration.

I remember having lunch with an old friend after our current president was elected and hearing him sigh with relief that he didn’t have to do any more work to be involved in politics now that the president had been elected. I felt a lump in my throat that paused me from explaining to him that there would always be work to do regardless of who was in office. So much of advocating for yourself is speaking up; even then, you can get tired of doing so to a certain degree. Being a Disabled Non-Binary Queer person, I don’t have the luxury to sigh of relief when it comes to the aftermath of any electoral political race. People’s privileges speak loudly to me whenever the world is in crisis.

“Every day of your lives is practice in becoming the person you want to be. No instantaneous miracle is suddenly going to occur and make you brave and courageous and true. And every day that you sit back silent, refusing to use your power, terrible things are being done in your name.” — Audre Lorde, 1989 Oberlin College commencement address.

When COVID began to hit the U.S., it was the last straw for me, but not everyone. It started changing me and my belief systems in ways I wasn’t anticipating. It opened me up to learn more about Disability advocacy and history that I wasn’t as attentive to before. When George Floyd was murdered, it was the last straw for more people; as tragedies of the world have continued to amplify collectively, more and more folks are experiencing what their last straws are.

I have been in a lot of frustration lately, frustration with how the government refuses to call for a ceasefire, frustration at the police in the way they violently treated peaceful protestors in Atlanta, seeing people getting charged as domestic terrorists for caring about a forest, and the list could go on. In response, I amplify information on my little phone, even if I get temporarily shadowbanned by Instagram. I bring snacks & water to a local care space after a beautiful mass action. I take walks with new friends in a park to admire how colorful the leaves are during this Fall season. I hold space for my partner and my friends as we continue to process the rapid changes in the world. My partner and I created space for people to make art at our monthly community art-making day this past Sunday. I called my representatives. I don’t have the answers to solve any of these woes; I need to be in the feelings and do what I can to show up.

Image Description: A screen capture of an Instagram post from @thecollectress which says “Have you miscalculated your capacity? It happens, instead of shaming yourself because you don't have it in you, scale back. That doesn't mean stop, it means your capacity isn't just about trying to meet what you want to do but what you can do that requires flexibility. Plan ahead, political sustainability isn't just about our reactions, but our forethought of where we will be emotionally, financially, socially in the future and how that may impact how we can or want to show up.”

I think there will be multiple “last straws” for us to have a “last straw” collectively. I continue to witness this play out as we open ourselves up to more injustices. Please don’t let the world's grief stall you. If you feel anger and sadness, how can you sustainably show up in community? What can you provide? What is preventing you from showing up in your integrity?

Four things for you

1. “Palestinian resistance is decolonized medicine in practice”

   Cosmic Anarchy

2. My heart, oh, Palestine

3. A soft soothing playlist that I have made that helps me move through difficult times.

4. I’ve been reading Lama Rod Owens’s new book “The New Saints” and there’s so many amazing takeaways from it.

Self-promo things

Thank you to those who have purchased a paid subscription and read my piece from September. There’s more afoot for my paid subscribers as I navigate the balance between what I share publicly and privately.

Image description: A photograph of a group of people in masks drawing and crafting inside of our “Community Art Making” event.

My partner and I’s last “Community Art Making” of 2023 at Charis Books in Atlanta will be on December 10th from 2-4pm. Masks are required!

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As always, thank you so much for taking the time to read my newsletter, and I look forward to sharing things with you soon! I hope that you are staying safe and well. <3