Ok so this piece resonates so deeply for me on multiple levels. In September of 2024, I attended Liz Gilbert's similar retreat at Kripalu (lol how to say you are a middle aged progressive and privileged white lady without saying you are all that) and it was transformative, or rather solidified a practice I need to do time and again to make sense of my self in this world. Liz's Letters From Love Community replicates part of what I am carrying with me today
Despite all my trauma informed therapy and running and journaling and guided meditation and EMDR, I really can't cry to process my early life trauma but Good God (!!!), I did and could at that retreat with a crowd of people. There was something sublime in the work and the people who sought the work aimed at how we can keep our wits about us despite the cruelties of others (some in our families or neighborhoods or the GD white house and CPAC conventions).
Omg, I love it. I know a ton of pur namesakes who make my skin crawl (uh hem, Queen Elizabethfor starters), but I will happily be in a crew of Lizes with you and Liz G. (In fact, I think if I ever met you two in the flesh, that would check off multiple bucket list bullets!) 😹
After 11 hours of sleep to recover from this weekend, my nervous system slightly more regulated, this was the perfect distillation of the shit storm. Beautifully and powerfully shared Liz. LOVE YOU!
Beautiful and true. I was beating myself up for being on a beach (it’s my frickin 20th wedding anniversary!) and relaxing while people were suffering. I found myself crying and then feeling bad for crying. And I came to a similar realization, which I plan to write about because writing and being good to the people I love is the only thing I can control. My primary unformed thought is that I felt like holding onto it was helping, but it’s hurting me, which makes me LESS able to help others.
The beach - from the time I was tiny - is one of the few things on this earth that makes me unabashedly happy (going back to your inner child question). Even if its too cold and too crowded I still feel better after. I think it’s okay to try to feel better in healthy ways. Feeling shitty all the time changes nothing. Our generation was told that suffering = meaning and I think about that a lot.
I keep telling myself that in the grand scheme of things we are all just star dust floating in space and this too shall pass. That gives my imagination some breathing room.
I've been focusing a lot on personal creative projects these days. It's a good time to dance and make art.
I wanna start out by saying that I usually comment on the content of what you've written without acknowledging what an incredible writer you are. And you really really are a great writer.
But as to the content itself here- this one hits hard. As someone who has very much been in a "surely -I-can-work-harder"/magical thinking bubble sometimes you just have to admit that things are truly out of your hands. And that's very very difficult. But, in the end, you have to align yourself with reality to survive. Saying you have faith/things shouldn't be this way/etc as the flood waters are rising is not going to save you. What's gonna save you is acknowledging the water and getting in a boat. Then you can live to make thing better another day. And there's always another day.
i’m so glad this was helpful for you. also you do more than like 99% if people and i want you to remember that the next time you give yourself a well earned vacation!!
All well said. Our power comes in our vote.... and for everyone who cares, citizen and non-citizen alike, have the power to convince every eligible voter they know to get out and vote in every election. Special elections this year, the full House of Representative, and 1/3 of Senate elections next November, etc. With our collective vote, we have the power to affect, and change, our government. But it takes all of us to convince all the others around us that we have this power.
I saw a car with that "thumbs up Trump" in its driver-side rear door window. It was last Tuesday as we were protesting in front of our no-show GOP representative's branch office.
Liz I hope you know how much you help us all with your work. These pieces help me process this insane dumpster fire of a time and have hope that things are going to be better despite how much the system is stacked against us. You always come with solutions which you embody and implement yourself which is so inspiring. We might not be able to control it all but we can make small impacts with our actions every day just like you do. I hope you feel you can take the time you need to take care of yourself, because we all see how much you care, and how impactful your actions and your words are! Inspired by you! xo
Ok so this piece resonates so deeply for me on multiple levels. In September of 2024, I attended Liz Gilbert's similar retreat at Kripalu (lol how to say you are a middle aged progressive and privileged white lady without saying you are all that) and it was transformative, or rather solidified a practice I need to do time and again to make sense of my self in this world. Liz's Letters From Love Community replicates part of what I am carrying with me today
Despite all my trauma informed therapy and running and journaling and guided meditation and EMDR, I really can't cry to process my early life trauma but Good God (!!!), I did and could at that retreat with a crowd of people. There was something sublime in the work and the people who sought the work aimed at how we can keep our wits about us despite the cruelties of others (some in our families or neighborhoods or the GD white house and CPAC conventions).
omg and all three of us named Elizabeth is sending meeee!!!
Omg, I love it. I know a ton of pur namesakes who make my skin crawl (uh hem, Queen Elizabethfor starters), but I will happily be in a crew of Lizes with you and Liz G. (In fact, I think if I ever met you two in the flesh, that would check off multiple bucket list bullets!) 😹
After 11 hours of sleep to recover from this weekend, my nervous system slightly more regulated, this was the perfect distillation of the shit storm. Beautifully and powerfully shared Liz. LOVE YOU!
everyone must go read komal’s breakdown of the weekend from hell!! https://open.substack.com/pub/lessonslearnedwithkomal/p/this-weekend-destroyed-us?r=8ivfa&utm_medium=ios
STILL PROCESSING
Beautiful and true. I was beating myself up for being on a beach (it’s my frickin 20th wedding anniversary!) and relaxing while people were suffering. I found myself crying and then feeling bad for crying. And I came to a similar realization, which I plan to write about because writing and being good to the people I love is the only thing I can control. My primary unformed thought is that I felt like holding onto it was helping, but it’s hurting me, which makes me LESS able to help others.
i relate to this so hard kari!! but i’m pretty sure that going to the beach makes you a better activist 💕
The beach - from the time I was tiny - is one of the few things on this earth that makes me unabashedly happy (going back to your inner child question). Even if its too cold and too crowded I still feel better after. I think it’s okay to try to feel better in healthy ways. Feeling shitty all the time changes nothing. Our generation was told that suffering = meaning and I think about that a lot.
I keep telling myself that in the grand scheme of things we are all just star dust floating in space and this too shall pass. That gives my imagination some breathing room.
I've been focusing a lot on personal creative projects these days. It's a good time to dance and make art.
I wanna start out by saying that I usually comment on the content of what you've written without acknowledging what an incredible writer you are. And you really really are a great writer.
But as to the content itself here- this one hits hard. As someone who has very much been in a "surely -I-can-work-harder"/magical thinking bubble sometimes you just have to admit that things are truly out of your hands. And that's very very difficult. But, in the end, you have to align yourself with reality to survive. Saying you have faith/things shouldn't be this way/etc as the flood waters are rising is not going to save you. What's gonna save you is acknowledging the water and getting in a boat. Then you can live to make thing better another day. And there's always another day.
i’m so glad this was helpful for you. also you do more than like 99% if people and i want you to remember that the next time you give yourself a well earned vacation!!
i’m a good writer?? look at the beauty of your writing in this comment alone!! ❤️
Brilliant article! I'm always a little scared so I never crash out in a spiral. I microdose doom 😂
microdose doom scrolling!!!
All well said. Our power comes in our vote.... and for everyone who cares, citizen and non-citizen alike, have the power to convince every eligible voter they know to get out and vote in every election. Special elections this year, the full House of Representative, and 1/3 of Senate elections next November, etc. With our collective vote, we have the power to affect, and change, our government. But it takes all of us to convince all the others around us that we have this power.
I LOVE THIS ENERGY
We, the people, are the 4th branch of government. Actually, we are the zero-th branch - we are in the Preamble.
I saw a car with that "thumbs up Trump" in its driver-side rear door window. It was last Tuesday as we were protesting in front of our no-show GOP representative's branch office.
omg i wonder if it’s the same one!!
what does your inner child need to hear?
The teenage mutant ninja turtles rule forever, cowabunga in perpetuity
Liz I hope you know how much you help us all with your work. These pieces help me process this insane dumpster fire of a time and have hope that things are going to be better despite how much the system is stacked against us. You always come with solutions which you embody and implement yourself which is so inspiring. We might not be able to control it all but we can make small impacts with our actions every day just like you do. I hope you feel you can take the time you need to take care of yourself, because we all see how much you care, and how impactful your actions and your words are! Inspired by you! xo
omg thank you!!!