Hello my darling friend,
This is a letter to you. No matter who you are, who you voted for, or what side of the political divide you find yourself on.
I know it’s been… a week. But it’s also been years of stress and divisiveness, no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on. And this level of so many inputs, podcasts, tv shows, forms of social media, and just the CONSTANT DIN of problems, is NOT NATURAL. We simply are not built to be at a 15 out of 10 cortisol high, 24/7, FOREVER. So if you’re exhausted, burnt out, and ready to throw in the towel - I don’t blame you. That just makes sense given the circumstances.
Honestly, I went back and forth about whether or not to get political in this newsletter when it hit me that what I should be is radically transparent. I want to tell you exactly what my mission is so you never have to guess where I am coming from.
The only reason I write or do any of the things I do is because I want to make you feel less alone. Full stop.
I want to be a friend to you, to hold your hand in tough times, and help to lift you up in good times. I want you to know that you belong, and that, not only that, you are made of mother f*cking stardust! I think the world would be a vastly different (and dare I say - better) place if we understood that we are worthy just because we are born and that we have the power and agency to create lives we f*cking love. This is urgent because to do otherwise is a serious act of ingratitude to the fact that we were born at all.
Why am I so committed to you? Well, that’s a little more selfish. Because it’s the way I make meaning of what I endured in my own life. I did not choose my circumstances but I sure as f*ck can decide what I do with them. Growing up in neglect and abuse was a pretty un-fun way to live and left me with soul-level wounds I didn’t know how to heal. GAWD DAMN did I need a friend, or someone just slightly further down the road from me to mentor me, see me, and love me. And that’s who I want to be to you. Your friend in the dumpster fire.
Forget about who won the election for a minute: it’s not amazing that we live in such divided times where two halves of the country see things so differently. It’s not amazing that despite having the highest GDP in the world, and probably in history, we seem to be spiritually and relationally impoverished and isolated and no one is coming to our rescue. “Bars” as my Lyft driver said to me this morning when I went on this exact same rant at 6:30 AM.
WE, YOU AND I, WE must be the change. Cynicism is a choice. So too is hope. I’m writing this with tears in my eyes.
I woke up on Tuesday with great clarity that these times call on us to figure out how to find common ground, how to love, how to make this place beautiful, no matter how difficult that will be. If you came to planet earth for ease or a calm moment, I’m sorry to say, those things are not guaranteed. Instead, we can get right with ourselves so we have the emotional health and resources to get the world right. In fact, we are the world. And that is why self-care, when done authentically, is always community care. You are a part of this community and oh man do we need you in good health.
So rest, relax, kick up your feet, binge whatever the f*ck you want (for me, The Sopranos) even knowing the dangers around us. Maybe because of them. Cry your eyes out, celebrate if you must but I pray celebrate with the compassion you would have wanted had the outcome been different. It does us no good to run ourselves ragged or deny how we feel. Take care of yourself this weekend and know that from the bottom of my soul, I love you. No matter what.
In The Glow Getters (my journaling community) I’m going to give you journaling prompts to nourish your soul.
T$ Stamp of Approval:
Post-Election Tips and Resources for your mental health. You deserve self care - it’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity!
The poem I am reading again and again and that is helping me FEEL this complicated moment. Good Bones by Maggie Smith.
My Rabbi’s take on the election and the choice between hope and cynicism
Glow Getter of The Week:
Every week I feature one member of “The Glow Getters” my paid, “inner-circle” community. Think of it as my tree house! Readers get journal prompts, supportability groups, and much more!
Let’s meet our Glow Getter, Lynsey.
How did you find A Little Thing That Helps?
I found the Glow Getters at a particularly low point in my life. To keep an extremely long and sordid story short, I am in the process of divorcing my husband of 17 years. That process has morphed into a catalyst for many more changes in my life; some good, some leaving much to be desired. Over the summer, a friend saw T$’s Buy the F*cking Lilies book at the bookstore and sent me a picture. I immediately downloaded it on Audible and had the best time meeting a new friend and discovering how to better take care of myself. The invitation to be a Glow Getter at the end of the recording was the push I needed to check out the community. The rest is history. (Of course I’m also reading Glow in the F*cking Dark now.)
What is your favorite part about being a Glow Getter?
My favorite part of this community is the challenges. I’m getting better at actual participation and writing my responses, but even when I don’t, the prompts make me go down a rabbit hole of self-reflection and challenge me in the best of ways. There is always a fresh perspective to discover, and Bonnie has been so warm and welcoming.
Testimonials:
Your wins, trials, tribulations, and thoughts. It’s all welcome here. I would love to hear what resonates with you from this week’s newsletter, and what didn’t!
“I found Buy Yourself the F-ing Lilies several years ago when I was at my lowest, questioning life. Reading that book, it was like I had a friend. You were rooting me on telling me not to give up. Thank you. I worship your books like bibles.” - Skye
Preview of This Week’s Glow Getters:
Journal prompts to nourish the soul!
Thank you for being there for all people.
Thank you ❤️