I’m as addicted to the news cycle as most, but am focusing more on love and light for my 12-year-old dog, who was diagnosed with cancer last week. His condition has given me pause and helped me reconnect to the spirit of life—as I know all he needs and wants right now is some love and attention (his cancer can’t be treated; the vet said just to keep him comfortable).
I repotted my 30 year old ficus yesterday. I bought it in the 90s in a 6 inch pot. It now lives, after several repottings over the years, seven feet tall and roots untangled, in a 20 inch pot on my patio. It's leaves are already greener and more supple. It waves in the breeze. This brings me joy.
I want to be attentive to what I write here because I love what I just read about Suzanne's ficus and how her care for it has supported its natural design to thrive and grow. How can we not be grateful for activities that provide us with the respite, relief and confidence we need to keep going? (And Judy, I relate, and wish both you and your dog the comfort you can find.) Love and joy can give us the fortitude to go on...though I would not, in and of themselves, call them acts of "resistance." Joy per se, in and of itself, isn't going to stop ICE. I also admit to being a bit fatigued by hearing that I should find "joy" in the midst of hell, but that's obviously just my limitation. Interestingly, though, "love" may be an act of resistance. In every regime's attacks on those it scapegoats, there have been neighbors and friends who reached across the divide to save those who were endangered. This is well documented in the Holocaust. Yet that is hardly the only incidence. In India, during the violence in 1984, there were Hindus who saved their Sikh neighbors. During the Yugoslav Wars, from 1991 to 2001, there were Serbians who saved Croatians from violence. And though I don’t know enough about Biafra, Sri Lanka, Sino Japanese warfare and every other place that humans have resorted to violence, I would bet there were those who saved their neighbors. So “love” as action, as connection, can be resistance. And love in its broadest expression—justice--is definitely a motivation for resistance. Today when we see protests and actions taken by those not endangered by ICE for those who are, we see love in the form of justice at the core of resistance. And we see something else largely missing in U.S. history--solidarity, the understanding that one targeted is all targeted and that our shared humanity and vulnerability are greater than our differences, and worth fighting for. Should the United States survive the savagery of the current administration, I believe that solidarity will be the foundation of a recast republic.
I love how you're intentionally choosing to let in love and joy, Paul!
I'm actively doing the same. I'm trying to stay just informed enough without creating my own unnecessary chaos. And I'm going out of my way to have dinners with friends and not talk about politics at all (even though we're all on the same page). I'm also planning our annual 4th of July party and zoning out to music instead of doomscrolling. I was watching an Instagram reel yesterday and the woman was reminding us that though things are extraordinarily tough right now, the sun still rose and the birds were still chirping, and that we can still choose joy and light. Her message, and yours, were just the reminders I needed to refocus my needs and reconnect with my joy. So thank you!
I hope you have the most incredible time at your son's wedding!
I want to be attentive to what I write here because I love what I just read about Suzanne's ficus and how her care for it has supported its natural design to thrive and grow. How can we not be grateful for activities that provide us with the respite, relief and confidence we need to keep going? (And Judy, I relate, and wish both you and your dog the comfort you can find.) Love and joy can give us the fortitude to go on...though I would not, in and of themselves, call them acts of "resistance." Joy per se, in and of itself, isn't going to stop ICE. I also admit to being a bit fatigued by hearing that I should find "joy" in the midst of hell, but that's obviously just my limitation. Interestingly, though, "love" may be an act of resistance. In every regime's attacks on those it scapegoats, there have been neighbors and friends who reached across the divide to save those who were endangered. This is well documented in the Holocaust. Yet that is hardly the only incidence. In India, during the violence in 1984, there were Hindus who saved their Sikh neighbors. During the Yugoslav Wars, from 1991 to 2001, there were Serbians who saved Croatians from violence. And though I don’t know enough about Biafra, Sri Lanka, Sino Japanese warfare and every other place that humans have resorted to violence, I would bet there were those who saved their neighbors. So “love” as action, as connection, can be resistance. And love in its broadest expression—justice--is definitely a motivation for resistance. Today when we see protests and actions taken by those not endangered by ICE for those who are, we see love in the form of justice at the core of resistance. And we see something else largely missing in U.S. history--solidarity, the understanding that one targeted is all targeted and that our shared humanity and vulnerability are greater than our differences, and worth fighting for. Should the United States survive the savagery of the current administration, I believe that solidarity will be the foundation of a recast republic.
Thank you so much for this grounding reminder. Our oldest just graduated from college and being able to celebrate as a family together- away from our phones and the news- for two whole days was incredibly lifegiving. We ate delicious food, laughed a lot, cheered for him, and for the hope and goodness all of the graduates were bringing to the world, walked around Chicago in the sunshine and took silly pictures. It was pure, unbounded joy- and it really did feel like resistance!
I decided to write a very honest post today about how difficult it is to keep up with all the deep thinkers that I’m following here on Substack... and ask for help and ideas. I’d love to hear yours, Paul.
I’m as addicted to the news cycle as most, but am focusing more on love and light for my 12-year-old dog, who was diagnosed with cancer last week. His condition has given me pause and helped me reconnect to the spirit of life—as I know all he needs and wants right now is some love and attention (his cancer can’t be treated; the vet said just to keep him comfortable).
I repotted my 30 year old ficus yesterday. I bought it in the 90s in a 6 inch pot. It now lives, after several repottings over the years, seven feet tall and roots untangled, in a 20 inch pot on my patio. It's leaves are already greener and more supple. It waves in the breeze. This brings me joy.
No small feat! 😍
I want to be attentive to what I write here because I love what I just read about Suzanne's ficus and how her care for it has supported its natural design to thrive and grow. How can we not be grateful for activities that provide us with the respite, relief and confidence we need to keep going? (And Judy, I relate, and wish both you and your dog the comfort you can find.) Love and joy can give us the fortitude to go on...though I would not, in and of themselves, call them acts of "resistance." Joy per se, in and of itself, isn't going to stop ICE. I also admit to being a bit fatigued by hearing that I should find "joy" in the midst of hell, but that's obviously just my limitation. Interestingly, though, "love" may be an act of resistance. In every regime's attacks on those it scapegoats, there have been neighbors and friends who reached across the divide to save those who were endangered. This is well documented in the Holocaust. Yet that is hardly the only incidence. In India, during the violence in 1984, there were Hindus who saved their Sikh neighbors. During the Yugoslav Wars, from 1991 to 2001, there were Serbians who saved Croatians from violence. And though I don’t know enough about Biafra, Sri Lanka, Sino Japanese warfare and every other place that humans have resorted to violence, I would bet there were those who saved their neighbors. So “love” as action, as connection, can be resistance. And love in its broadest expression—justice--is definitely a motivation for resistance. Today when we see protests and actions taken by those not endangered by ICE for those who are, we see love in the form of justice at the core of resistance. And we see something else largely missing in U.S. history--solidarity, the understanding that one targeted is all targeted and that our shared humanity and vulnerability are greater than our differences, and worth fighting for. Should the United States survive the savagery of the current administration, I believe that solidarity will be the foundation of a recast republic.
I love how you're intentionally choosing to let in love and joy, Paul!
I'm actively doing the same. I'm trying to stay just informed enough without creating my own unnecessary chaos. And I'm going out of my way to have dinners with friends and not talk about politics at all (even though we're all on the same page). I'm also planning our annual 4th of July party and zoning out to music instead of doomscrolling. I was watching an Instagram reel yesterday and the woman was reminding us that though things are extraordinarily tough right now, the sun still rose and the birds were still chirping, and that we can still choose joy and light. Her message, and yours, were just the reminders I needed to refocus my needs and reconnect with my joy. So thank you!
I hope you have the most incredible time at your son's wedding!
Thank you, Lisa. It was a beautiful wedding 💗
Thank you, Lisa. It was a beautiful wedding 💗
I want to be attentive to what I write here because I love what I just read about Suzanne's ficus and how her care for it has supported its natural design to thrive and grow. How can we not be grateful for activities that provide us with the respite, relief and confidence we need to keep going? (And Judy, I relate, and wish both you and your dog the comfort you can find.) Love and joy can give us the fortitude to go on...though I would not, in and of themselves, call them acts of "resistance." Joy per se, in and of itself, isn't going to stop ICE. I also admit to being a bit fatigued by hearing that I should find "joy" in the midst of hell, but that's obviously just my limitation. Interestingly, though, "love" may be an act of resistance. In every regime's attacks on those it scapegoats, there have been neighbors and friends who reached across the divide to save those who were endangered. This is well documented in the Holocaust. Yet that is hardly the only incidence. In India, during the violence in 1984, there were Hindus who saved their Sikh neighbors. During the Yugoslav Wars, from 1991 to 2001, there were Serbians who saved Croatians from violence. And though I don’t know enough about Biafra, Sri Lanka, Sino Japanese warfare and every other place that humans have resorted to violence, I would bet there were those who saved their neighbors. So “love” as action, as connection, can be resistance. And love in its broadest expression—justice--is definitely a motivation for resistance. Today when we see protests and actions taken by those not endangered by ICE for those who are, we see love in the form of justice at the core of resistance. And we see something else largely missing in U.S. history--solidarity, the understanding that one targeted is all targeted and that our shared humanity and vulnerability are greater than our differences, and worth fighting for. Should the United States survive the savagery of the current administration, I believe that solidarity will be the foundation of a recast republic.
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Thank you so much for this grounding reminder. Our oldest just graduated from college and being able to celebrate as a family together- away from our phones and the news- for two whole days was incredibly lifegiving. We ate delicious food, laughed a lot, cheered for him, and for the hope and goodness all of the graduates were bringing to the world, walked around Chicago in the sunshine and took silly pictures. It was pure, unbounded joy- and it really did feel like resistance!
I decided to write a very honest post today about how difficult it is to keep up with all the deep thinkers that I’m following here on Substack... and ask for help and ideas. I’d love to hear yours, Paul.
Oh wait. I think I understand. Are you referring to this…
https://open.substack.com/pub/meriwalker/p/drinking-from-a-firehose-makes-no?r=4hxsxb&utm_medium=ios
yes i am
I just left a comment on your post. Thank you for reaching out
Hi. Thank you for reaching out. Please help me understand. Tell me more.