Cruel Compendium #46 🗯️
Summertime sadness
It’s another cruel summer in the United States. I’ve been in a low valley, feeling lonely, disconnected, and dejected.
But not hopeless.
It is a necessity to hope, and hope is a discipline. Start practicing it today. And make a plan for how you are going to show up.
Hitha Palepu has a great plan of action in her newsletter, including: pick your issue, focus on it, then act in your community. Actually taking the small actions we are individually able to is important to combat hopelessness. Reading the news, feeling angry, talking to like-minded friends, and even going to protests can all have limited utility. But there is real usefulness in showing up for the cause you believe in, in a way that impacts others. Choose one way to show up for your cause every week, or month, or whatever you can commit to. Then keep showing up—and don’t let anyone or anything stop you.
I’m reading
Republicans don’t know shit about abortion by Jessica Valenti, who’s also publishing daily audio commentary about abortion in America.
How women’s lives have changed since 1970, and Roe v. Wade. Telling data from the last 50 years.
The Republican war on sex by Mara Gay (gift link). “I have sex just because I like it. Sex is fun.” Amen.
People hate the idea of car-free cities—until they live in one by Andrew Kersley. “If you propose this idea to the average American, the response is: if you take my car away from me, I will die.”
Gratitude for shedding by Alex Elle. This showed up in my inbox right when I needed it.
I’m listening to
Things that make me laugh:
A lot of episodes of Celebrity Book Club
Celebrity news that absolutely does not matter on Who? Weekly
ANY podcast that has Jason Mantzoukas on it
Seek Treatment, where I can hear the sweet voice of my favorite comedian, Pat Regan, talking about nothing at all
Questionable self-care advice
Ask yourself some questions.
Support system
Vision board
Obsessions
🌈 Graying Rainbows, a podcast about coming out later in life. I learned about it in this QA from Gloria, one of my fave newsletters.
🌍 Not too late — a site to give help and hope to those new to the climate movement
🐵 Check out these bizarre Jelly Gummies (via swissmiss)
📚 On Shepherd, you can find books by Wikipedia topic, or similar to those of your favorite book or author. Or try What Should I Read Next?
👂 Earth.fm lets you listen to natural soundscapes around the world (via Dense Discovery)
🗣️ Want to listen rather than read? Use this tool to convert text to speech (via Dense Discovery)
ℹ️ Have you joined your local Buy Nothing group? I LOVE mine!
🛋️ Use Spoken.io to get that piece of furniture you’ve been looking at for the lowest price
🙅♀️ What someone does at the end of your relationship with them is none of your business.
👁️ “There is no such thing as a coincidence.” Still so glad this exists.
🕛 “When husband is asleep that’s the time I get up to mischief.” Cryinglaughing.
Anthem
“Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey
Minerva moment
Mood
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You are not alone!
yes good advice / i show up on my podcast/newsletter every week and it gives me a great sense of elation / it also gives me a focus during the week while i'm writing it / i'm a bit of a recluse so don't have many social outlets / should probly try to change that