If you are interested to watch the proceedings live today, you can view them here:
Freedom
Keep Yourself Sane When Things Feel Crazy
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed about recent events. There are a lot of really overwhelming, scary, and depressing things happening! What can you do to maintain your balance, stay grounded, and keep a sense of optimism?
Dr. Glenda Russell is a licensed psychologist and researcher in Colorado with whom I had the great fortune to work during my training in Michigan. In the short video below, she has some really important and reassuringly concrete things to say about moving forward during frightening times.
This clip is only five minutes long, but it can really help.
Did you find this message encouraging? I hope so, and I hope you have friends and loved ones to connect with!
If you need additional support dealing with symptoms of depression, PTSD, or anxiety from a qualified therapist, please review our quick chart to see how you can access our therapeutic services from anywhere in Pennsylvania!
Postpartum Peer Support Helps Physical and Mental Health
Find parent-to-parent nursing support BEFORE your baby is born so you can get real help and information for when you need it most (instead of too late)!
Having support makes it far more likely that you will be able to successfully initiate and maintain nursing and lactation.
Nursing your baby is not only good for the physical health of you and your child, but is also very helpful in promoting bonding and mental well-being for both. And having regular peer support and validation helps to alleviate postpartum mental health issues!
Also, remember that LaLecheLeague International supports the lactation needs of nonbinary / trans parents!
Happy Star Wars Day! And Free Comic Book Day!
It’s national Free Comic Book Day, support local business!
Some good recommendations for comics by BIPoC:
Bridging the gap from comics to Star Wars, here’s a cool illustrated book of the women of Star Wars:
Black characters of Star Wars:
Speaking of inclusivity, here are 5 Queer Things You Didn’t Know About Star Wars (or maybe you did!):
Finally, it’s no secret on what historical premise Star Wars was based. Here Alegria Barclay nicely breaks down the social justice lessons found in Star Wars:
2019: United Nations’ International Year of Indigenous Languages
Emma Stevens, a high school student in Eskasoni, Cape Breton, sings a gorgeous rendition of classic McCartney track in her native language, Mi’kmaq, as part of an effort to bring awareness to the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages.
(Full Mi’kmaq lyrics on YouTube page)
“Wherever you live, indigenous peoples are your neighbors”
To hear more about why it’s important to keep indigenous languages alive, see the video below:
Indigenous people of southeast Pennsylvania:
One expression of genocide is destroying the language of a culture. Maintaining and reviving language is an important aspect of resisting cultural destruction and genocide!
Holocaust Remembrance Day
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” (– Attributed to Anne Frank)
Stanton’s 10 Stages of Genocide and how the US stacks up:
Reflect on your own values, and see what you may do to “start to improve the world.” ❤
Anti-Semitism Still Active
In 2019 in the United States of America, the Jewish community still experiences life-threatening anti-Semitism:
We don’t want more people to have to die singing.
Antisemitism is real and being stirred.
If the Jewish and Muslim communities can support one another, then others can–and must–also learn to de-escalate.
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, of Chabad of Poway, who was injured in the shooting today, wrote this post in March:
If you would like to help in a concrete way, donations are being collected:
Be mindful of neighbors and coworkers who may be very affected by these events and check in with them if you can.
Be safe, and help others feel safe, too. ❤
Notre Dame Fire: Sic Transit Gloria Mundi
Header photo via Westcoaster
Millions around the world grieve a significant piece of European and world history:
As civilizations have experienced throughout the history of humanity:
When there is a loss grieved by so many at once, we may feel very connected to others or very isolated. Both are normal. You may have never been to the Cathedral, but it’s part of our communal knowledge and experience.
It can also feel strange and even dissociative to witness historic events–especially painful ones–as though we are observing history passing instead of being “inside” it, as usual. A significant historic event can bring up issues of mortality, death, and existential issues.
Make sure to take care of your physical body and to connect with others in a positive, everyday way as best you can when catastrophic events occur. Eat a meal with someone, stop for a drink, talk on the phone, stop at someone’s house to say “hi,” hold someone’s hand, go to a service, hug your children.
Targeted Violence in New Zealand Shatters the Peace for All
We are saddened and outraged to hear of the deaths of 49 Muslim worshippers at the mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We extend our condolences to the Muslim community in New Zealand and also our Muslim neighbors locally.
A reminder to all that it is important to avoid sharing harmful imagery and materials that primarily publicize terrorist acts and terrorists. This includes the video livestreamed by the shooter, but also stills from the video. One reason is to avoid giving terrorists the publicity they crave, which can also encourage terrorist acts by others.
Another reason is to minimize traumatizing people by making exposure to images of actual violence and killings practically unavoidable as they go about their everyday lives. Traumatic material can severely affect not only those in the specific target group of the violence, but many others as well.
As the above Twitter user has pointed out, instead of giving terrorists free publicity, find ways to help, locally and internationally. Some ideas from others include: showing support and solidarity online or in person, contacting local Muslim organizations to offer help, or donating to specific victim aid.
For Muslims anywhere,
Be mindful of neighbors and coworkers who may be very affected by these events and check in with them if you can.
Be safe, and help others feel safe, too. ❤
Happy International Women’s Day!
Happy International Women’s Day to ALL women ❤❤❤
