Honor your Rituals!
Even when the world around you is burning. Literally.
All week I watched from afar as the city I called home for nearly all of my twenties set a flame. People I love and have known for years, shared devastating news followed by cries for help. Their childhood homes, current homes, and grandmother's homes, turned to ash in an instant. I’m struggling to understand what comes next.
If I'm being honest, I have been really struggling to use my words this week. Wondering what really needs to be said or shared in these moments. Do I honor my day-to-day social media addiction and my desire to share even the most mundane thoughts and feelings when there are so many people I know being affected by yet another tragedy? I guess I could make this argument about any random day in America, not just this set of disasters. I sit up in my little Portland apartment physically away from harm. I am privileged to not have to look close up. It’s easy for me to take time out of my day to write this newsletter or create art with the intention to share. In theory. But, this all feels weird. Feels off. I have no desire to share—BUT I want to honor this as a practice. I want writing and creating to be my sweetest ritual. A non-negotiable. I feel this sweetness sprouting new leaves these days.
Overcoming this misplaced imposter syndrome has been quite the bitch. She’s always ready to give her two cents. Never down to get the fuck on. Last week I talked about learning how to say hello to an emotion but not open the door for them. I let her in and threw her a dinner party. Sick work on my part. I calmly allowed her to let herself out this morning. With all of these thoughts swirling, my question is, Can art save us? Even if it’s just a moment that steals us from our reality and shows us a brighter one? Is art always worth our time? Why do I question the importance —necessity of my art as a practice when my skyline turns into suffering?
This week I want to pose a question to you: In what ways have you abandoned yourself in the name of doing what you think is right?
Resources on how to help those affected: