Happy 5783 (as of last week) to the chosen and everyone who celebrates with the chosen! You know I'm not a religion guy, but I believe in the power of community, culture and the mindful observance of the holidays that are important to my family.
The past year has been bonkers with tragedy, on the global stage. I'm fortunate that few truly bad things have visited my doorstep, but it's all just one degree away, isn't it? Climate change, the never-ending assault on human rights, it's all everybody's problem even if we have the luxury of not recognizing it in real time. Not being lecture-y, here, just re-iterating that I'm aware that the comfort afforded me by existing as a middle class white woman in this society is at the expense of other people and if I'm not finding ways to get uncomfortable and push back on that, I'm part of the problem. Even if it's the right thing to do for everyone, it's with self-interest because if they can take fundamental rights away from one part of the population one day, well baby, it stands to reason that I'm in the queue. If you've had a conversation with me in the past few years, it's likely you've heard me say, "Safety is an illusion" and I'm just getting started in my career as a professional buzz kill. Invite me to all your parties! There's so much more to be said about that, so many others have said it better already, but I'm working on the ways I can meaningfully interact with people who disagree with me about what I believe is right (or who may fundamentally agree but don't know it yet) and that's my touchstone for the coming year.
I won't rehash the past year, but I'd be remiss if I didn't pause and reflect on how much good was crammed in between now and the last time I atoned. I lead a very lucky life, full of love and abundance, and I'm grateful for every experience, every person who makes me be here now. I went into the specifics of that a bit in my last blog entry, and it's preposterous that there's so much to add to the roster in the month since. I will also say that there are two things beyond the joys of travel, live music, great food, creature comforts and being surrounded by the best people that elevated the past year and will be a boon in the new one:
1) Writing and the process of acquiring an agent. The grind continues, but the purposeful creative outlet is medicine.
2) Investing in good sleepwear. I'm not even kidding. I bought two of the most comfortable, soft, non-slipping-off nightgowns and I am an unapologetic nightgown mom now. Game. Changer.
That's my Yom Kippur inspired missive. Here's a couple more scenes, for good measure.