Hello dear reader!
As more people wander over to Substack, I’m simultaneously daunted and excited. This platform pushes me to write more, a practice I ebb in and out of really inconsistently. I started it as a place to process the loss of my dad, half hoping it wouldn’t get much visibility because it was so vulnerable. Still, I needed a place to click publish and feel a sense of connectivity in the hidden corners of loss.
Now, while trying to keep the semblance of my little business afloat during constant changes personally and globally, I often don’t feel like I have profound things to say that hasn’t already been put into the ether. But since I still believe whole heartedly that there’s room and value and even importance in everyone’s self expression, I’ll dust off my keyboard and return.
Firstly, I want to point you over to my Etsy shop where there’s a flash sale of 20% off for another day. I’m preparing for another move, locally, but would love to do less packing of pots for a move and send them to you instead! Inventory on Etsy is updated and I’m starting to churn out new work to take advantage of my current kiln set up before shuffling around the East Bay. Sales are a great time to try out an herbal formula or buy that little ceramic treat you’ve been eyeing and the discount helps cover the extra costs of shipping. Your support means the world and I love continuing to make beautiful things for your well being and routines!
I’m writing from a sweet little patio at a cafe in sunny Berkeley, CA hoping this message finds you amidst people you love and support systems that are sure and solid as we kick off a turbulent and uncertain 2025.
I’ll be honest with y’all, as I write this to avoid watching news of the inauguration, I’m nervous about a lot of things for us. I believe a growing awareness of class consciousness and people uniting to protect our planet and neighbors is inevitable, but the road there will be shaky enough to be on edge. In order to not be swayed by the propaganda pointing at immigrants and trans people as our enemies, we must remember it's the systems which are committed to pitting us against each other that cause the real harm.
It takes work, to stay open to love, to believe in possibilities for the future that live beyond the cycles of electoral politics, while still fighting to protect vulnerable populations under the incoming administration.
It's taken me years to sink into this core belief, but tapping into nervous system regulation tools so that we can act from our places of bravery and integrity rather than scarcity and fear is absolutely vital to our interpersonal relationships AND political activism (no matter how small!). I’m writing all this out because on my darker days of hopelessness and despair, I need others to remind me of this. So today, dear reader, I’m reminding you! I believe in us!
And I want to hear what you are doing for your own nervous system. Here's some mini practices I tend to return to: taking deep breaths, going for a long walk, holding a loved one's hand, snuggling my pets, getting a massage, taking my meds, a bath, and staying hydrated. And this week during a break from social media, I'll be sending recently screen grabbed memes to friends. I think it's reasonable to anticipate things happening very fast in the coming months. While some stuff we will have to respond to just as quickly, I am here to remind you that we’ll also have to remember to slow down.
I hope you are live laugh loving your way toward liberation. Seriously, if you feel compelled, click reply and tell me what’s in your toolbox for tending to yourself so you can stay connected to the collective. This is not a time to self-isolate, my friends. However things change, we still have each other.
thanks for being here,
Meghan
