Oh yes yes. I've been saying the same amongst my posse, but not as beautifully. We are here, now, doing the work we've always done and are meant to do going forward. More important than ever. Somewhere here in Substack land I read ( I hope I'm forgiven for not remembering who so I could attribute appropriately) that your pain does not give you the right to hurt others with your response. We must stop traumatizing each other.
Thank you for sharing this….everyday I remind myself to “remember who I want to be - especially in my responses and reactions to others. I also include empowering beliefs for motivation and one is ‘Be the Light’. Thank you for reminding me what ‘be the light’ means.
Thank you for this, Julia! Let us be the light, do something to give hope, to keep democracy alive in our towns and neighborhoods. No more doom talk, finger pointing, woe is us. I’m worried and unsettled… but we’ve always got empathy and decency. Always a joyful fighting spirit. You’ve nailed it here! ☺️🙌🙏
I love this! I completely agree. And as much as times are difficult now, more so for some than others, we do historically live in better times.
I often sit and think of my ancestors who’d only dream of being able to walk into a supermarket food section and buy whatever they liked. Even my grandparents couldn’t afford things like meat at my age, and I touched their hand and sat round their tables. They’d be so impressed by the life I lead with my car and my house that has heating! My grandma didn’t have proper heating in her house till my aunty, who lived with her, knocked down the family home and built a newer one. They didn’t have a phone line in the house until my dad was well into adulthood. That children don’t die like they used to, that vaccines exist to protect us all.
Perhaps a little bit of a side line but I like this 💚
I appreciate your encouragement to be a light. We can all be a light, although, mine feels more like a flicker right now. As you might know, I shared a few of your encouraging words in my most recent piece. Thank you for writing.
I saw that and thank you. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment but not giving up. Connecting with those I love and reminding us all of what really matters- being that light, even if we do gutter out once n a while. That, too.
I fully believe that what we focus on, shapes our lives. Constantly focusing on complaining, railing, arguing, gloating, prodding, name calling and fighting creates a life of suck. Why would anyone choose to do that to themselves?
Say yea to life, or say no. Those are the only two choices. I say yes.
Beautifully said, Julia. Why is the world so negative? I think it's easier for people to be negative than find the inner light and shine it externally. Even in the darkest of times, there is light. Thank you.
I'm trying some experimental things right now, having leisure (since not working yet/again/maybe ever) and knowing others who are in a world of hurt. This week I invited a friend to come to the library with me to pick a book and sit together to read. Just read, side-by-side, and to do it in one of the safe havens of the country: a library. (I also got her to sign up for a library card and to download Hoopla and Libby, then explained the amazing California benefit we have: we can get a card at ANY LIBRARY in the state, and then be able to add their digital content into our searches so we can find a book from far afield.)
Support our libraries
Support your friends who can be calmed by the presence of books and by sitting with you
What's not to like? It's also really good to go somewhere that you don't HAVE to talk. I'm not ready to talk reasonable and calmly yet, so it helps me too. See what you think!
Oh yes yes. I've been saying the same amongst my posse, but not as beautifully. We are here, now, doing the work we've always done and are meant to do going forward. More important than ever. Somewhere here in Substack land I read ( I hope I'm forgiven for not remembering who so I could attribute appropriately) that your pain does not give you the right to hurt others with your response. We must stop traumatizing each other.
Such wise advice. Somebody needs to hold a candle aloft. It may as well be me. You. Us.
Let's do just that.
Thank you for sharing this….everyday I remind myself to “remember who I want to be - especially in my responses and reactions to others. I also include empowering beliefs for motivation and one is ‘Be the Light’. Thank you for reminding me what ‘be the light’ means.
It's when we most need it from each other that we forget how to be it for ourselves first. Thanks, Debra.
Thank you for this, Julia! Let us be the light, do something to give hope, to keep democracy alive in our towns and neighborhoods. No more doom talk, finger pointing, woe is us. I’m worried and unsettled… but we’ve always got empathy and decency. Always a joyful fighting spirit. You’ve nailed it here! ☺️🙌🙏
Thank you Joan.
Beautiful
I love this! I completely agree. And as much as times are difficult now, more so for some than others, we do historically live in better times.
I often sit and think of my ancestors who’d only dream of being able to walk into a supermarket food section and buy whatever they liked. Even my grandparents couldn’t afford things like meat at my age, and I touched their hand and sat round their tables. They’d be so impressed by the life I lead with my car and my house that has heating! My grandma didn’t have proper heating in her house till my aunty, who lived with her, knocked down the family home and built a newer one. They didn’t have a phone line in the house until my dad was well into adulthood. That children don’t die like they used to, that vaccines exist to protect us all.
Perhaps a little bit of a side line but I like this 💚
Hi Julia,
I appreciate your encouragement to be a light. We can all be a light, although, mine feels more like a flicker right now. As you might know, I shared a few of your encouraging words in my most recent piece. Thank you for writing.
I saw that and thank you. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment but not giving up. Connecting with those I love and reminding us all of what really matters- being that light, even if we do gutter out once n a while. That, too.
This is such a valuable insight.
I fully believe that what we focus on, shapes our lives. Constantly focusing on complaining, railing, arguing, gloating, prodding, name calling and fighting creates a life of suck. Why would anyone choose to do that to themselves?
Say yea to life, or say no. Those are the only two choices. I say yes.
Beautifully said, Julia. Why is the world so negative? I think it's easier for people to be negative than find the inner light and shine it externally. Even in the darkest of times, there is light. Thank you.
I'm trying some experimental things right now, having leisure (since not working yet/again/maybe ever) and knowing others who are in a world of hurt. This week I invited a friend to come to the library with me to pick a book and sit together to read. Just read, side-by-side, and to do it in one of the safe havens of the country: a library. (I also got her to sign up for a library card and to download Hoopla and Libby, then explained the amazing California benefit we have: we can get a card at ANY LIBRARY in the state, and then be able to add their digital content into our searches so we can find a book from far afield.)
Support our libraries
Support your friends who can be calmed by the presence of books and by sitting with you
What's not to like? It's also really good to go somewhere that you don't HAVE to talk. I'm not ready to talk reasonable and calmly yet, so it helps me too. See what you think!