Living in this American-dystopian-nightmare can take its toll. The endless fucking news cycle. Sometimes the headlines I read and the videos I watch are just too big to really sink in and I feel numb. I want to feel big feelings break up the loop of negativity and doom spiral.

Here are the things that have been working for me:

An openness and willingness to give and receive love

A lot of BOOKS, MOVIES, and MUSIC

Supporting small businesses + thrifting + artists

Mutual aid

Community

I think during times of distress and uncertainty, it’s easy to retreat into a private headspace to protect peace. I think we tell people “I don’t want to talk about the news or politics right now” as a coping mechanism so we don’t have to feel any anxiety or stress but I think that’s more harmful than just having discussions with safe people.

I think talking about it and getting everything out that’s weighing heavy on your heart and mind is better in the long run. Keeping everything all bottled up in your own head can create a sort of vacuum where all of the negativity is going in but nothing’s coming out. Having a small circle of people you can talk to about heavy things going on right now is really healthy

SOFT AS BONES by Chyana Marie Sage is the first memoir I’ve ever read all the way through and I loved the experience. It was exactly what I needed to exercise empathy and walk in someone else’s shoes for once—to get out of my own head and my shit and take on someone else’s hurts and failings and victories. Really good stuff—highly recommend.

I also recently read COFFIN MOON by Keith Rosson (audiobook) and KING SORROW by Joe Hill (also audiobook) and had the best possible reading journeys ever with both books. I love them. ALL THE STARS. New all-time favorite novels. The links go to my reviews. I laughed, I cried, I felt all these big feelings while I went for my daily walks and they gave me life. They truly and completely devastated me and built me back up. Speaking of which…

I haven’t watched a film this beautifully devastating in a long time. It gutted me. A whole life from beginning to end, detailing the moments of living—love won, love lost. Grief, pain, guilt…and the full scope of what it means to be human and risk giving your love in this fucking transient time that we have here together where none of this is guaranteed.

Goddamn this one hurts so good. Joel Edgerton gave everything and I hope he wins something to honor this performance.

Thank goodness for Bon Iver, Florence + The Machine, and Alabama Shakes

Bon Iver’s new album SABLE fABLE is a treasure. A gift. Cover to cover, no skips, pure love piped through the speakers straight into my veins. Justin Veron is A PREACHER sent to minister to the emotional needs of the people like a soothing balm.

Also, Alabama Shakes got back together and we saw them in Seattle and Brittany Howard BROUGHT CHURCH and we WORSHIPPED and her voice carried us all home and that’s a fucking fact.

I have tickets to see Florence + The Machine in May and I’m ready to bury my body there at the altar. I’m ready to be cursed.

Lastly,

In this time of the rise of AI and the oligarchy, there has never been a more important time in YOUR life, to reject corporations and billionaires by giving your hard earned money to small businesses, artists, and independent entities. We went to a Vintage + Craft fare yesterday in my city and it made me tear up seeing the MASSIVE turnout. A line around the building to get in and give real people our real money. It was beautiful

Love you guys

xx