For the Birds: Full moon truth & beauty

We must keep telling each other: "I see you. You're not alone." This is not redundancy. It is the chorus of the song. (Plus: a gift for paid readers.)

Thanks for being here! These letters are born of my own artistic vision, but they carry the hope of encouraging you in yours. Paid readers gain access to The Resiliency Circle & receive one nourishing prompt, tool, or worksheet every month.

Near Yaquina Head Lighthouse, in Newport, OR

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Dear readers, friends, & creative allies,

I’m tired. Are you tired?

Yes, and somehow it already feels like winter.

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I am saving my energy this month for a few focused things: November’s Resiliency Circle. My monthly clients and writing students. A new art practice container I’ll be entering as a mentee.

And my first real haircut in a long time.

I miss shaving my head, those years of predictability and self-reliance.

And though growing my hair back out was an intentional choice, I miss the feeling of taking off an entire piece of me in one fell swoop.

I miss the unique sensation of clean independence.

I miss not having to make as many daily decisions.

Talking about hair has always felt like a way to talk about other things, too.

~~~~~

Why am I writing to you twice in one week?

I don’t know. I don’t know.

I am following an impulse.

I wanted to say, I see you, friend. You are not alone.

I wanted to share some recent small joys—stories, poems, and videos from people singing songs of truth and beauty. (Plus one good / funny alien.)

I wanted to remind you that paying close attention to what’s happening in the world is, first of all, an act of compassion.

I wanted to remind you that you are happening in the world, too.

And I wanted to offer a gift to my paid readers, who might be craving thoughtful guidance as we round the bend of another long, creative year.

May you find a useful mix of solidarity, inspiration, and interest below,

xoxo, S

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Things focusing my attention & giving me hope (plus one belly laugh)

1) “justice is coming towards us”

By Graciela Lotharius

Too Much in Jeopardy

2) “Anything can come to stand for something more than itself.”

By

Jody Frank

Little Blue House in the Hurricane

3) “The most basic wish”

Featuring Saleh Jaber and Sama Njim

4) “Unless we connect with the basic human needs that underpin behavior we don’t understand, we will be stuck outside of connection forever.”

By

Gail Marlene Schwartz

When Just Becomes Injustice

5) Plus this: “I want something from an alien.”

6) And lastly, a gift for paid readers <3