Dear Molly…thank you so much for this sub. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you on this topic yet…I should’ve known you were cooking up something titrated and heartfull to both stir and comfort your readers. I was worried this was like a “good vibes only” thing (I know, I know, not YOUR vibe @ all!) but there’s simultaneously such pressure to publicly “pick a side” and I love that you are catering to neither tendency. You have clearly stated your place in all of it, and have also not absolved yourself of the human responsibility of witnessing and feeling and taking actions that you can. Thank you. This really helps me, as I have vacillated between those two extremes (falling into a news despair hangover last week, followed by a wknd of total denial and checked-out-ness.) The messy middle is where it’s at. Thank you for showing us how. <3
Marissa, thanks for knowing that my vibe isn't good vibes only. :) That made me laugh. Yes, you got it right--I didn't want to jump into a quick soundbite just for the sake of being in there or performing or doing what is perceived to be right. I wanted to mix it all into a bowl and at least half-bake it with my own self and layers of in real time conversations with real people so that I felt more sturdy in the messy middle-ness of it, knowing that it's ever-evolving. I really desire to be in the long-game with most things, not quick and fast and done. I suspect also that the two extremes you mentioned are very normal and common. For me too. The great thing is that eventually (and it could take days or years) the two extreme responses guide someone back to a middling.
Yes Molly- I'm so with you on this that art is my way in, and really feels like the only way I can hold an engagement of what's going on in the world without feeling consumed and frozen into feeling devastated and unable to cope. After reading and watching too many videos and pictures and feeling so overwhelmed by all the pain and loss last week, I went to a street mural painting led by my neighbor, artist David Solnit, and painted with dozens of people while others sang powerful songs of liberation. It was such a powerful, meditational space and the most present I've felt in all of this- being in a community making music and art.
I wanted to share an artist named Heba Zaqout whose work I love who was recently killed in one of the airstrikes in Gaza. You can see some of her work here. https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/heba-zaqout/ Thanks for your beautiful list. I'm so grateful.
Dear Molly…thank you so much for this sub. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you on this topic yet…I should’ve known you were cooking up something titrated and heartfull to both stir and comfort your readers. I was worried this was like a “good vibes only” thing (I know, I know, not YOUR vibe @ all!) but there’s simultaneously such pressure to publicly “pick a side” and I love that you are catering to neither tendency. You have clearly stated your place in all of it, and have also not absolved yourself of the human responsibility of witnessing and feeling and taking actions that you can. Thank you. This really helps me, as I have vacillated between those two extremes (falling into a news despair hangover last week, followed by a wknd of total denial and checked-out-ness.) The messy middle is where it’s at. Thank you for showing us how. <3
Marissa, thanks for knowing that my vibe isn't good vibes only. :) That made me laugh. Yes, you got it right--I didn't want to jump into a quick soundbite just for the sake of being in there or performing or doing what is perceived to be right. I wanted to mix it all into a bowl and at least half-bake it with my own self and layers of in real time conversations with real people so that I felt more sturdy in the messy middle-ness of it, knowing that it's ever-evolving. I really desire to be in the long-game with most things, not quick and fast and done. I suspect also that the two extremes you mentioned are very normal and common. For me too. The great thing is that eventually (and it could take days or years) the two extreme responses guide someone back to a middling.
Yes Molly- I'm so with you on this that art is my way in, and really feels like the only way I can hold an engagement of what's going on in the world without feeling consumed and frozen into feeling devastated and unable to cope. After reading and watching too many videos and pictures and feeling so overwhelmed by all the pain and loss last week, I went to a street mural painting led by my neighbor, artist David Solnit, and painted with dozens of people while others sang powerful songs of liberation. It was such a powerful, meditational space and the most present I've felt in all of this- being in a community making music and art.
I wanted to share an artist named Heba Zaqout whose work I love who was recently killed in one of the airstrikes in Gaza. You can see some of her work here. https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/heba-zaqout/ Thanks for your beautiful list. I'm so grateful.
Jen, what an incredible moment to paint and sing alongside others. Thank you also for sharing Heba Zaqout's work.