3 Things Thursday: Threads of Hope

Sharing some things that brought me hope recently

Hey, friends. I know it’s been a minute. I’ve been through a lot personally with changes at work and processing the election and everything that’s happened since. I started to write something the week before Election Day, and I stopped because I just. could. not. do it anymore. I got a quick flash of inspiration to write, started a post, and almost immediately hit the proverbial wall. My body was just like, “Nope. Even this is too much right now.” So I encourage you to listen to your body. Do the bare minimum that is absolutely necessary. Take care of yourselves and your family. Stay hydrated. Remember to breathe. We got this.

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1. In case you missed it, my friend and I released the first two episodes of our podcast, Open Minds Unleashed! The goal of the show is to discuss controversial topics with an open mind, and we kicked it off with a couple doozies. :)
   ~ Episode 1: Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation - We recorded this episode after I attended my first South Asian wedding where I was encouraged to wear traditional attire. This prompted a great discussion about where we draw the line between appropriation and appreciation and developing meaningful relationships where we enjoy sharing in each others’ traditions.

   
   ~ Episode 2: How to Talk Politics Without Losing Friends - I mentioned this in an Instagram reel before this episode dropped, but we recorded in June before a lot of changes happened in the U.S. Presidential race. We released it right before the election, and even having recorded it so long ago, we still think the information is relevant as we move forward from a divisive election season.

2. Speaking of politics, I was thankful to be able to have productive discussions with friends who voted differently than me. One of the principles we talk about in our 2nd podcast episode is not assuming the worst about someone based on how they voted, and I think this is so important to remember.
   
   I recently read (paraphrasing) that limiting your social circle based on your political preferences is a privilege, and I really felt that. Having grown up in rural PA as a Democrat, I was surrounded by people with different political leanings. We run into people at the grocery store or support local businesses without knowing how they voted. (Or maybe we do, but it doesn’t change how we go about our day.) We see them as human beings and care about them and their families. In smaller communities, there’s less anonymity, and you can’t always shut out everyone who doesn’t agree with you or easily find a different friend group.
   
   I recognize that not everyone has the emotional capacity to engage in these discussions, and that’s okay too. While avoiding these conversations is a luxury, so is feeling safe enough to have them. If you can do this in a respectful way while honoring your own needs, it’s worth it to keep building those bridges.

3. In these last few weeks, I’ve been especially grateful that I decided to sign up for Jillian Parkhurst’s Foundations somatic course. For those who don’t know, somatic work helps to build emotional resilience and body awareness through practices like movement, breathwork, grounding, touch, etc. I had known about somatic work and experienced tastes of it in other workshops I’ve attended, and had a feeling I might benefit from learning more. Finding ways to listen to my body, regulate my nervous system, and move energy has been invaluable, and I’m so glad I have this knowledge in my toolbox. If you think you would benefit, I highly recommend checking out Jillian’s offerings.