One dream that needs to hibernate is my habit (at age 84) is one of fear for the future of our country’s democracy. I resolve to read books about hope, to continue daily reading of Heather Cox Richardson’s substack. As a historian, she reminds us that our country has weathered many challenges in the past. Our immediate family, adult grandchildren included, will VOTE BLUE in just a few weeks. 🩵
Along these lines, both Roxane Gay and Krista Tippett recommend marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's new book, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures.
Yes! And check out the Solutions Story Tracker which is full of interesting responses that citizens are architecting: https://storytracker.solutionsjournalism.org/. Always recalibrates my sense of reality in this country and beyond.
Thank you for these beautiful questions, Courtney. One place I am trying easier (I love that phrase!) is with my parents who are conservative Republicans and as an added layer of complexity, my Dad is going through chemo right now. I am holding all things gently, remembering and honoring the impermanence of all beings and situations. That helps with my immediate family and our country right now.
We try to get to the Pacific Ocean once a year. It isn't that far away from where I live, but because of my caretaking responsibilities, it is hard to get there. We are going in two weeks for five days!
Thank you for this lovely set of questions. I loved the idea of "trying easier" and also found it interesting that the 'activity' I wanted to stop doing ended up being more about setting aside unhelpful emotions/attitudes.
I love these questions Courtney - thank you for taking the time to compile and share them. I live in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) and have saved them and noted them in my calendar for next March when our Autumn Equinox next comes around. We have just passed our Spring Equinox - I don't suppose you have something ready to go for that?
Thank you so much Courtney! Such great questions! I burned the cranberry sauce this morning but was able to separate the true flavor from the bitter, just in time. There sat my morning question in a bowl, rich in metaphor, shining ruby hues, and nourishment. All this on a very busy morning of picture day at my nephew’s school and caregiving, in our multigenerational home. My question..: “Did you notice what your memories are being made of in this moment?” And so I set about making one more with my elderly mom as we sat and listened to Beth Nielsen Chapman’s beautiful song, “Years”, as my nephew’s memories and thoughts would be captured in the flash of a moment’s smile for years to come.
Thanks for your inspiration! The questions took us away for awhile from our regular dinner table discussion about the election and wars(but only briefly). My oldest granddaughter Mia shares my preoccupation with Audre Lorde so we recommend the new biography of her by Alexis Gumbs, “Survival is a Promise “, a new personal perspective on her relationship with other black lesbian activists who wrote immortal poetry. For me, Angela Davis stays on top so I was glad to read about her admiration for Lorde.
This may sound like heavy dinner table conversation that overlooked most of your brilliant questions but as I said, compared to our constant focus on Palestinian suffering it’s relatively light. Of course, the expansion of the war in the Middle East dominated our thinking.
Mia and Sierra are strong pacifists like me so you might guess many of our responses to the other questions. DD
One dream that needs to hibernate is my habit (at age 84) is one of fear for the future of our country’s democracy. I resolve to read books about hope, to continue daily reading of Heather Cox Richardson’s substack. As a historian, she reminds us that our country has weathered many challenges in the past. Our immediate family, adult grandchildren included, will VOTE BLUE in just a few weeks. 🩵
Along these lines, both Roxane Gay and Krista Tippett recommend marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's new book, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures.
It is next up in my reading pile.
Yes I know and love Ayana: https://courtney.substack.com/p/no-right-to-give-up-on-this-magnificent
Yes! And check out the Solutions Story Tracker which is full of interesting responses that citizens are architecting: https://storytracker.solutionsjournalism.org/. Always recalibrates my sense of reality in this country and beyond.
Thank you for these beautiful questions, Courtney. One place I am trying easier (I love that phrase!) is with my parents who are conservative Republicans and as an added layer of complexity, my Dad is going through chemo right now. I am holding all things gently, remembering and honoring the impermanence of all beings and situations. That helps with my immediate family and our country right now.
Sending you love in those intertwining journeys. Sounds hard and like a perfect candidate for trying easier.
I love these questions! They are genderly universal and allow safe diving into our deeper selves.
The thought of gathering together of a certain tribe with doing this excercise intrigues me.
Thank you!
Go for it! I hope it's fruitful.
We try to get to the Pacific Ocean once a year. It isn't that far away from where I live, but because of my caretaking responsibilities, it is hard to get there. We are going in two weeks for five days!
I love this for you! Enjoy the vastness.
Thank you for this lovely set of questions. I loved the idea of "trying easier" and also found it interesting that the 'activity' I wanted to stop doing ended up being more about setting aside unhelpful emotions/attitudes.
I love these questions Courtney - thank you for taking the time to compile and share them. I live in the Southern Hemisphere (Australia) and have saved them and noted them in my calendar for next March when our Autumn Equinox next comes around. We have just passed our Spring Equinox - I don't suppose you have something ready to go for that?
Not yet, but here's one: what's ready to burst open in you?
Thank you so much Courtney! Such great questions! I burned the cranberry sauce this morning but was able to separate the true flavor from the bitter, just in time. There sat my morning question in a bowl, rich in metaphor, shining ruby hues, and nourishment. All this on a very busy morning of picture day at my nephew’s school and caregiving, in our multigenerational home. My question..: “Did you notice what your memories are being made of in this moment?” And so I set about making one more with my elderly mom as we sat and listened to Beth Nielsen Chapman’s beautiful song, “Years”, as my nephew’s memories and thoughts would be captured in the flash of a moment’s smile for years to come.
Gorgeous. How lyrical.
Thanks for your inspiration! The questions took us away for awhile from our regular dinner table discussion about the election and wars(but only briefly). My oldest granddaughter Mia shares my preoccupation with Audre Lorde so we recommend the new biography of her by Alexis Gumbs, “Survival is a Promise “, a new personal perspective on her relationship with other black lesbian activists who wrote immortal poetry. For me, Angela Davis stays on top so I was glad to read about her admiration for Lorde.
This may sound like heavy dinner table conversation that overlooked most of your brilliant questions but as I said, compared to our constant focus on Palestinian suffering it’s relatively light. Of course, the expansion of the war in the Middle East dominated our thinking.
Mia and Sierra are strong pacifists like me so you might guess many of our responses to the other questions. DD
Oh I didn't know how much I needed these questions. Thank you!