Yes, yes, yes. I read that substack too and listened to the on being episode with Adrienne Maree Brown. It was so helpful to me. Stepping out of the patterns of “doing” from a guilt/obligation makes me think of the Howard Thurman quote: “Don’t ask what the work needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it, because the world needs more people who have come alive. “ Always appreciate your honesty and wisdom Mary. ♥️
Beautiful! I love this line : I don’t think that the way towards a more beautiful, just world is through shoulds and shame. Instead, I think it is more about aligning who we are with what we hope for and desire. 💚💚💚
This resonated with me so much! February is hard. My mantra these days is "I'm doing the best I can with what I have." And escaping when I need to into fantasy fiction. I also did not bake cookies. Thank you for sharing your humor and authenticity.
"It wasn’t hard to make them because I had time and the right ingredients on hand, but most of all I had the desire."
That last part ... how easy it is to do the things even/especially the unnecessary things when there is the desire.
Will you share the lemon ricotta blackberry muffins (because I'm now remembering I might have blackberries in the freezer ... and if I don't I bet they would be good with raspberries or blueberries.
Hi Sara. 🥰 Here’s the basic recipe. The original recipe calls for blueberries. I’ve made it with most berries at this point. I substitute oil for butter and whole wheat flour and I’ve also made with honey if I have it on hand. Our ricotta sometimes has parsley in it so that’s been in the mix too. Let me know how it turns out. https://thisdelicioushouse.com/blueberry-ricotta-muffins/#recipe
Oh this is delightful and such a relief. Why is it we need to hear other people say this before we believe it, even though our insides have hollered it at us multiple times a day since the dawn of time? I do not know. I need to read this a couple more times. I am having one of those BAD teaching days where I think I might be of more use as a ditch digger...thank you for your words.
Ah, Mary. I think being honest about what you're feeling (and not feeling) is a critical part of staying afloat during these difficult times. I struggle a bit with the notion of rest as resistance, because I'm aware that there are folks who have no option for rest. For me, I want to be sure I'm not using rest as an excuse to do nothing. I don't think that's the case here. I think you are doing a lot and just need to gravitate toward the doing that feeds the desire to keep going. Nobody's activism looks the same, but every little bit helps. If staying with it means you take time to reassess, so be it. Better that than burning out.
Thank you for sharing this. I struggle with rest as resistance too (in many ways) and I think it means something different to me as middle aged white woman than it does to Black women and women in the BIPOC community and yet I still think in a patriarchal, capitalist culture it also rings true for me. I also agree with Matt Haig that saying no is actually saying yes to your life sometimes, to the “space you need to live.” I’m trying to go deeper into what I’m already doing and then think about if there are other places for me to move from but I don’t want to do something out of guilt or shame or because others are doing it.
Yes, yes, yes. I read that substack too and listened to the on being episode with Adrienne Maree Brown. It was so helpful to me. Stepping out of the patterns of “doing” from a guilt/obligation makes me think of the Howard Thurman quote: “Don’t ask what the work needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it, because the world needs more people who have come alive. “ Always appreciate your honesty and wisdom Mary. ♥️
"Ask what makes you come alive..."
What a keeper quote.
Totally concur. 🥰
That is a beautiful quote. It fits perfectly! 🥰
Beautiful! I love this line : I don’t think that the way towards a more beautiful, just world is through shoulds and shame. Instead, I think it is more about aligning who we are with what we hope for and desire. 💚💚💚
Thanks Katie for reading and sharing. I’m leaning into those words as well.
This resonated with me so much! February is hard. My mantra these days is "I'm doing the best I can with what I have." And escaping when I need to into fantasy fiction. I also did not bake cookies. Thank you for sharing your humor and authenticity.
Thanks for reading! That’s a good mantra. Also, I agree on fantasy fiction. I love escape reads. What are you currently reading?
I just finished Emily Wilde's Compensium of Lost Tales. It's the third and final book in the series and I really enjoyed it. 😊
I love this reminder to find balance and ease where we can. I bet your “homemade” cookies were delicious! 😀
I love the word ease. It’s another four letter word I learned from yoga with Adrienne.
Love the writing. "Last Child in the Woods" was incredibly powerful (book)
Thank you Megan! That one has been on my TBR list for a minute. Thank you for the reminder.
"It wasn’t hard to make them because I had time and the right ingredients on hand, but most of all I had the desire."
That last part ... how easy it is to do the things even/especially the unnecessary things when there is the desire.
Will you share the lemon ricotta blackberry muffins (because I'm now remembering I might have blackberries in the freezer ... and if I don't I bet they would be good with raspberries or blueberries.
Hi Sara. 🥰 Here’s the basic recipe. The original recipe calls for blueberries. I’ve made it with most berries at this point. I substitute oil for butter and whole wheat flour and I’ve also made with honey if I have it on hand. Our ricotta sometimes has parsley in it so that’s been in the mix too. Let me know how it turns out. https://thisdelicioushouse.com/blueberry-ricotta-muffins/#recipe
Thanks! I need to get some ricotta and we'll give it a try :)
Oh this is delightful and such a relief. Why is it we need to hear other people say this before we believe it, even though our insides have hollered it at us multiple times a day since the dawn of time? I do not know. I need to read this a couple more times. I am having one of those BAD teaching days where I think I might be of more use as a ditch digger...thank you for your words.
That is one of the less fun parts of the job. Read, rest, return. You got this! Big, giant hugs!
Ah, Mary. I think being honest about what you're feeling (and not feeling) is a critical part of staying afloat during these difficult times. I struggle a bit with the notion of rest as resistance, because I'm aware that there are folks who have no option for rest. For me, I want to be sure I'm not using rest as an excuse to do nothing. I don't think that's the case here. I think you are doing a lot and just need to gravitate toward the doing that feeds the desire to keep going. Nobody's activism looks the same, but every little bit helps. If staying with it means you take time to reassess, so be it. Better that than burning out.
Thanks for your honesty here. Much appreciated.
Thank you for sharing this. I struggle with rest as resistance too (in many ways) and I think it means something different to me as middle aged white woman than it does to Black women and women in the BIPOC community and yet I still think in a patriarchal, capitalist culture it also rings true for me. I also agree with Matt Haig that saying no is actually saying yes to your life sometimes, to the “space you need to live.” I’m trying to go deeper into what I’m already doing and then think about if there are other places for me to move from but I don’t want to do something out of guilt or shame or because others are doing it.
Thanks foe the reminder to sometimes juat say no and do what is best for ourselves.
Thanks for reading and sharing!