I can forget! I can be so self-absorbed, so centered in my small little life (wonderful by the way) that I can forget what's happening 'out there.' I don't know what this says about me, but it is the truth. Sometimes, I catch a bit of news on the radio about the latest and greatest bungle from DT and I feel fear just cut through my body. Then I feel anxious. Your essay each week, helps me ground into more of the middle; which is the desired state these days. Thanks you!
Jan, I'm right where you are -- no one can possibly process all of what's happening. We have to take it in small doses in order to cope, and then take what actions we can, which not only benefit us, but the whole. All my relations.
I don't think I ever quite forget what's happening out there - it's always troubling me at some level even when I am most absorbed in the things I truly love (my animals, nature, the baby I nanny for, creating...), but now more than ever before, terror slices through me and threatens to make me lose my ground. That is why I am so appreciative of posts like this one today, and also Marisol Muñoz Kiehne's "Ponderings" (https://marisolmunozkiehne.substack.com/?r=7rnsj&utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web )
I don't think we're supposed to completely forget, but we do need to be able to take breaks that nourish our hearts and souls. Animals and babies can help us to see hope and inspire us to take action. They cannot take away our creativity or our humanity. And thank you for sharing this link. Big hugs, Margo.
Stephanie, your words are a clarion call to action and connection in these challenging times. Thank you for reminding us of the love, strength and healing we can find in creativity, kindness and unity. Today, as I write, these Beatles lyrics on a loop: “No, I get by with a little help from my friends, mm, get high with a little help from my friends, mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends!” I love how communities, all across planet blue, are holding hands and hearts for each other during these turbulent times.
Deborah, I so love the reference to the Beatles lyrics -- they are perfect for these times! Thank you. And may we continue to get by with a little help from our friends. Stand united.
So very grateful for women like you, Trude. Because you're here, I feel less alone and standing together feeds the courage and strength we need to get through these times.
Thank you, Stephanie. I feel the same way resonated deeply with your post and the hope within it without turning away from the serious nature of what we are facing. Through relationship building one by one as we are doing right now the way will become clear. I’m sure of it. Each one of these connections counts in ways we cannot see. However they are very powerful… Yes, For all our relations. There are many invisible helpers along the way in the unseen world.
A wonderful call, Stephanie! Thank you. And we're thinking on similar lines: I just wrote on turning to nature for stillness and focus to help us not be paralyzed and clear our minds and hearts to act. As the musician Allison Russell says at the beginning of her concerts:
I love the metaphor - the freeze of moral courage. Oh man, does that describe a lot. Once again, your words are so inspiring. Have you ever thought about running for office of some kind? You are the sort of leader we need. I kid you not!
I have to admit, I often have trouble finding/feeling gratitude these days. Of course, I am grateful for many things and many people, but it's hard to not hold onto the anger and the disappointment I continue to feel since Nov 5. I still feel so let down buy folks who voted for Trump and even more so by the leaders who have lost moral courage to actually lead. It feels like Congress has collapsed. Given up their power. The GOP collapsed quite some time ago.
"True leadership fosters hope, builds bridges, and unites—not through brute force, but through the steady hand of wisdom and integrity.
And so, we must opt out of fear. We must reject paralysis."
Those words are stunningly powerful, Stephanie. Your words, in themselves, are examples. I will try to opt of fear and anxiety. I will reject paralysis. I will try to practice kindness and gratitude more mindfully - even when I feel like doing neither.
Thank you for another beautiful, inspiring post. I know I say that often, but you keep churning them out! And congrats on getting 1200 new subscribers from one post. That's amazing and well deserved, my friend. Sounds like many readers agree with me regarding your terrific writing.
You're not alone in having to work for gratitude in these days. I'm right there with you. It's intense out there! I think it's all practice though, and some days practice comes with a fair dose of anger and disappointment. My philosopher/poet self needs to dig around in words and feelings and make written expression for this epic we've become a part of. And I'm so grateful for the community I've found here that allows me to share that.
May we continue to practice and grow, and to one day find meaning in these strange times. Sending you biggest of hugs, Nancy.
Congratulations on the growth of your subscriber base, Stephanie. Isn't it a joy to know that we've found a place where we wonderful crones can be who we are and know we'll meet sisters here?
I consider myself an honorary sister. And I’m very proud of that.
(By the way, I didn’t self-proclaim that title as doing so would not have been appropriate—rather, that was bestowed upon me by some true members of the Sisterhood.)
However you got that title, I am honored to have you here. And I so appreciated your piece on All My Relations -- it was very inspirational and thought provoking for me. Big hugs.
Way to bring a grin to my face! Thank you Cherie -- This group of readers is part of the reason I'm able to stand strong -- that we're able to stand strong. Together we can find the courage necessary to move forward as a force for good. Biggest of hugs.
I woke up again at three this morning with all the horror of what’s going on teeming in my brain and decided that the only way I know how to get through all of this is to be grateful for all I still have and be willing to fiercely protect all I hold dear. And to not let them stop me making art. And then I read your encouraging words, gratitude, creativity and kindness, which sums up how I feel , thank you.
Thank you for being here, Janee. We all struggle and then rise again. It's the daily occurrence that can be so exhausting. We have each other, in kindness and creativity. May our strength grow from the knowledge that we are not alone.
We are all looking for tools to deal with overwhelm these days, Robert. I downloaded a meditation app on my phone that I can listen to when I wake up at night. Sending you love, hugs and goodwill, my friend.
I can forget! I can be so self-absorbed, so centered in my small little life (wonderful by the way) that I can forget what's happening 'out there.' I don't know what this says about me, but it is the truth. Sometimes, I catch a bit of news on the radio about the latest and greatest bungle from DT and I feel fear just cut through my body. Then I feel anxious. Your essay each week, helps me ground into more of the middle; which is the desired state these days. Thanks you!
Jan, I'm right where you are -- no one can possibly process all of what's happening. We have to take it in small doses in order to cope, and then take what actions we can, which not only benefit us, but the whole. All my relations.
I don't think I ever quite forget what's happening out there - it's always troubling me at some level even when I am most absorbed in the things I truly love (my animals, nature, the baby I nanny for, creating...), but now more than ever before, terror slices through me and threatens to make me lose my ground. That is why I am so appreciative of posts like this one today, and also Marisol Muñoz Kiehne's "Ponderings" (https://marisolmunozkiehne.substack.com/?r=7rnsj&utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web )
I don't think we're supposed to completely forget, but we do need to be able to take breaks that nourish our hearts and souls. Animals and babies can help us to see hope and inspire us to take action. They cannot take away our creativity or our humanity. And thank you for sharing this link. Big hugs, Margo.
Stephanie, your words are a clarion call to action and connection in these challenging times. Thank you for reminding us of the love, strength and healing we can find in creativity, kindness and unity. Today, as I write, these Beatles lyrics on a loop: “No, I get by with a little help from my friends, mm, get high with a little help from my friends, mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends!” I love how communities, all across planet blue, are holding hands and hearts for each other during these turbulent times.
Deborah, I so love the reference to the Beatles lyrics -- they are perfect for these times! Thank you. And may we continue to get by with a little help from our friends. Stand united.
Gratitude, creativity and strength,!
Onward!
Thank you. Your words spoke directly to me, and helped me remember many important things. I agree with everything you wrote.
We can help each other remember the important things. Big hugs, Margo.
Thank you Stephanie. You are where I am. Courage.
Courage, my friend! Courage on!
Thank you… You inspired me and touched my heart with comfort … so very grateful for your writing!
So very grateful for women like you, Trude. Because you're here, I feel less alone and standing together feeds the courage and strength we need to get through these times.
Thank you, Stephanie. I feel the same way resonated deeply with your post and the hope within it without turning away from the serious nature of what we are facing. Through relationship building one by one as we are doing right now the way will become clear. I’m sure of it. Each one of these connections counts in ways we cannot see. However they are very powerful… Yes, For all our relations. There are many invisible helpers along the way in the unseen world.
I love this: each one of these connections counts . . . Thank you so much for sharing your insights and goodwill.
A wonderful call, Stephanie! Thank you. And we're thinking on similar lines: I just wrote on turning to nature for stillness and focus to help us not be paralyzed and clear our minds and hearts to act. As the musician Allison Russell says at the beginning of her concerts:
Our circle is unbroken
Our circle is whole
None above
None below
All equal
Under the listening sky
Blessings to you.
Vitamin N can help us heal, and as you say, clear our minds. Thank you for your thoughtful comment and the sweet Allison Russell blessing.
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have discovered you, especially at such a time as this…💞
Thanks Donna. It's soothing to have so many kind, like-minded women to remind us that we are never as alone as we think are. I'm grateful to meet you.
I related totally to this post. I appreciate the framing of creativity, kindness and gratitude as actions more important than ever now.
May we root our actions and activism in the rich soil of creativity, kindness and gratitude. Thanks for being here, Robin.
Hi Stephanie,
I love the metaphor - the freeze of moral courage. Oh man, does that describe a lot. Once again, your words are so inspiring. Have you ever thought about running for office of some kind? You are the sort of leader we need. I kid you not!
I have to admit, I often have trouble finding/feeling gratitude these days. Of course, I am grateful for many things and many people, but it's hard to not hold onto the anger and the disappointment I continue to feel since Nov 5. I still feel so let down buy folks who voted for Trump and even more so by the leaders who have lost moral courage to actually lead. It feels like Congress has collapsed. Given up their power. The GOP collapsed quite some time ago.
"True leadership fosters hope, builds bridges, and unites—not through brute force, but through the steady hand of wisdom and integrity.
And so, we must opt out of fear. We must reject paralysis."
Those words are stunningly powerful, Stephanie. Your words, in themselves, are examples. I will try to opt of fear and anxiety. I will reject paralysis. I will try to practice kindness and gratitude more mindfully - even when I feel like doing neither.
Thank you for another beautiful, inspiring post. I know I say that often, but you keep churning them out! And congrats on getting 1200 new subscribers from one post. That's amazing and well deserved, my friend. Sounds like many readers agree with me regarding your terrific writing.
You're not alone in having to work for gratitude in these days. I'm right there with you. It's intense out there! I think it's all practice though, and some days practice comes with a fair dose of anger and disappointment. My philosopher/poet self needs to dig around in words and feelings and make written expression for this epic we've become a part of. And I'm so grateful for the community I've found here that allows me to share that.
May we continue to practice and grow, and to one day find meaning in these strange times. Sending you biggest of hugs, Nancy.
Congratulations on the growth of your subscriber base, Stephanie. Isn't it a joy to know that we've found a place where we wonderful crones can be who we are and know we'll meet sisters here?
Thank you, Susan. I couldn't agree more -- this is a wonderful community for sisterhood and I am grateful. Big hugs.
I consider myself an honorary sister. And I’m very proud of that.
(By the way, I didn’t self-proclaim that title as doing so would not have been appropriate—rather, that was bestowed upon me by some true members of the Sisterhood.)
However you got that title, I am honored to have you here. And I so appreciated your piece on All My Relations -- it was very inspirational and thought provoking for me. Big hugs.
♥️♥️ You are on my gratitude list,Stephanie.
Way to bring a grin to my face! Thank you Cherie -- This group of readers is part of the reason I'm able to stand strong -- that we're able to stand strong. Together we can find the courage necessary to move forward as a force for good. Biggest of hugs.
Scared by greed’s cruelty,
saddened by fear’s silent freeze.
We dare to cry, loud.
...
Call to awareness.
We shed tears, tend, toil, try, thank
all our relations.
Beautiful and inspiring! Thank you so much, Marisol.
I woke up again at three this morning with all the horror of what’s going on teeming in my brain and decided that the only way I know how to get through all of this is to be grateful for all I still have and be willing to fiercely protect all I hold dear. And to not let them stop me making art. And then I read your encouraging words, gratitude, creativity and kindness, which sums up how I feel , thank you.
Thank you for being here, Janee. We all struggle and then rise again. It's the daily occurrence that can be so exhausting. We have each other, in kindness and creativity. May our strength grow from the knowledge that we are not alone.
Stephanie, this is a gem—thank you for sharing this wisdom and encouragement!
Thanks for being here, Amy. We are stronger together. Big hugs.
Read this piece in the early morning hours. Couldn’t sleep, mind racing, breathing off, BP/P up, then I read your calming words. Thank you.
We are all looking for tools to deal with overwhelm these days, Robert. I downloaded a meditation app on my phone that I can listen to when I wake up at night. Sending you love, hugs and goodwill, my friend.