THIS WORLD . . .

asks a lot of us.

Prevailing systems and structures manufacture an overwhelm, particularly fraught at this time of year, that is meant to obscure simple truths: we are here on Earth to connect - to the land, to ourselves, and to each other. 

So the question becomes, amidst all of the intensity, how do we strip things back to the basic elements? How do we cut out the noise? How do we tap into (and trust) what we feel in our bodies and our hearts?

The first step is always to acknowledge the truth. When we do an energy audit, we find that we engage in so much more toil - expend so much more effort, so much more money, so much more worry - than the benefits of these behaviors yield.

In contrast, the things that fuel us come freely - really seeing and appreciating someone or something and letting them know it, being open to receiving the same level of love and connection that you put out into the world, helping people in need, and asking for help when you need it. These meaningful experiences ground us and bolster our communities, one small act at a time. Never underestimate this power.

As we enter into the cultural vortex that many of us know as 'the holiday season,' we encourage you to find some quiet space to reflect on what feels right deep inside your body, and move toward the people, places, and practices that enliven your spirit in generous ways. They may look different than the cultural norms - and still we encourage you to explore them in ways that we suspect will inspire others, and in ways that might surprise you.

Here's a story from a reader that surprised and inspired us:

"Yesterday the farm crew I work with had our end of year review meeting to go over how the year went and how to improve.  At the end of the meeting, one of my coworkers gifted all of us soap that she hand-crafted, one scent specifically made for each of us, and my own scent was by far my favorite (evergreen-pine).  Such a lovely way to celebrate our team and truly made my day!"

To feeling our way, 

Tay + Dor

photo by Estefania Trujillo Preciado

tidbits...

resources on anti-racism, environmentalism and food culture AKA stuff we're reading / listening to / watching / noticing / thinking about / captivated by this Tuesday . . .
 

Do One Small Thing . . . tell us: tap in to feel and reveal one thing that you need right now - and voice it to someone (to a friend, to us, out loud to your ancestors). If you need a starting point, see the meditation offering from Megan Leatherman below.

What can Giving Up afford you? Let Natalie Deryn Johnson guide you through a 5-day practice to find out.  

For those in need of a deeply nourishing cry, work your way through this carousel by Behida Dolic, who shares the depths of her friendship with Charlie. May everyone have a Charlie in their life. May everyone be a Charlie for someone else. 

The unfolding series of zines, conversations, stories, and workshops around reimagining the nuclear family from Sara Sadek are nothing short of revolutionary. 

I just added a new title - Worry Medicine by Nina Montenegro - to Tay's Favorites booklist in our Bookshop.org shop. As a reminder, if you are looking to purchase any new titles to read or gift we'd be so grateful if you purchased them through our 'storefront'. 

Consider investing in artwork - these prints at the intersection of words and art are doing it for us this week: 'Interdependence Revives Our Connection to the Earth' from Just Seeds and this green + gold lettered print from Tenderheart Press. 

Megan Leatherman back with an 11 minute meditation on Becoming the Autumn. 

This podcast came to me via two completely different routes last week, and I'm still savoring every minute of the mindful conversation between Ocean Vuong, Brother Phap Huu (the Abbot of Plum Village), and Joe Confino: "Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship" from The Way Out is In.

"We are not bereft. We are not alone. We are part of this dreaming earth. There are many forms of sweet, soul medicine available to us like friendship, imagination, beauty, ritual, and many others." - Francis Weller's newsletter offers reading and listening to connect with yourself and others.

Have you signed up for Dorothy's dedicated monthly writing newsletter yet? If you like what you read here, you will appreciate her artistry: What the Wolf Wore explores the magic of her prose and poetry.

View and share this free guide to How to Write a More Equitable Job Post, and stay tuned for new resources to deepen this work.

"Plenty has been written about the economic impact of the pandemic on the food industry, but not enough about its lingering effects on the bodies of people whose mission is to nourish us." Read the latest GFJ Story on the creator behind Anjali's Cup, with words by Nicole J. Caruth and photos by Christine Han.

got a tidbit? drop it here for us and we'll share it in next week's newsletter.